Right-To-Know

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General

• Or-OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (HCS, Right-to-Know Act) specifies that both employees and employers know the identity and safety/health hazards of substances used in the work place, in order to reduce occupational illnesses due to harmful chemical exposures
• HCS requires manufacturers of substances that are a health or physical hazard to prepare a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) and provide it to purchasers
• Employers who use these substances must retain the MSDS's and provide hazard training to all employees who may be exposed
• Exposure includes both normal work operations and emergency situations
• Most chemical products used at OSU are considered hazardous

Exempted Products

• Tobacco and tobacco products
• Wood and wood products
• Articles, manufactured items, or products that do not release or otherwise result in exposure to hazardous chemicals under normal conditions of use
• Foods, drugs, and cosmetics (regulated by FDA) intended for personal consumption or use by the employees in the work place
• Hazardous substance while in transport regulated by DOT

What Is On A Safety Data Sheet (SDS)?

• Identity of chemicals found in the substance (chemical and trade names)
• The immediate and long term health effects of exposure
• The routes of exposure and symptoms of overexposure
• The potential for fire, explosion, and reactivity
• Emergency procedures for spills, fire, disposal, and first aid
• Appropriate protective equipment and clothing

Where are SDS Kept?

• EH&S maintainslinks for chemical companies that supply non-lab chemicals
• Most lab chemical SDS's are available through supplier web sites
• OSU maintains a paper copy file of all SDS's in the EH&S office
• Employees can request specific SDS's from EH&S
• In an emergency, OSU employees may call Public Safety @ 7-3010 for 24 hour access to the SDS data file

OSU Hazard Communication Program

• EH&S is responsible to implement and administer the University's Hazard Communication Program
• All departments have been included in order to comply with the rule
• This written program is in the Safety Procedures Handbook section of the Administrative Policies and Procedures Manual 

Employee Training

• EH&S has a Right-to-Know training program that is offered to all departments
• Program covers the contents of the data sheets, the basic information about chemical toxicity, and how to avoid exposure
• Further training is performed on specific hazardous substances in each department or job classification on request
• Hazard Communication handbook

Your Right-To-Know

• If you are concerned about any substance you are working with, call EH&S at 7-2273
• EH&S can provide more complete information, help interpret data sheets, and evaluate potential health effects of exposure based on your job environment.