NYS Right-to-Know Law Protects your rights to information about hazardous materials that are used or stored at your place of work.
RTK Enforcement NYS RTK law is enforced in public schools through the NYS Department of Labor, as part of the Public Employees Safety & Health (PESH) Act of 1980.
WHAT IS REQUIRED OF YOUR EMPLOYER? Employer must have a written HAZCOM Program Employer must provide you with annual training & information about hazardous chemicals Employer must maintain a hazardous materials inventory Employer must maintain Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for hazardous chemicals
Globally Harmonized System (GHS) GHS is an internationally agreed upon system of classification and labeling of hazardous materials. It is being phased-in in the United States over the next two years. 12/01/13 is the first deadline. It requires that GHS be included in Hazard Communication Training.
GHS Pictograms The GHS chemical hazard pictograms are intended to provide the basis for or to replace national systems of hazard pictograms.
Pictograms 1 EXPLOSIVE FLAMMABLE
Pictograms 2 OXIDIZER Compressed Gas
Pictograms 3 Corrosive Toxic
Pictograms 4 IRRITANT HEALTH HAZARD
Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) Under GHS SDSs replace MSDSs Still developed by the manufacturer but in a standardized format MSDSs could have an undetermined number of sections SDSs must have standardized 16 sections Manufacturers are replacing MSDSs with SDSs already but have until June 1, 2015 to fully comply
Safety Data Sheets 1 Section 1- Product Identification Section 2 Hazard Identification Section 3 Information on Ingredients Section 4 First Aide Measures Section 5 Fire Fighting Measures Section 6 Accidental Release Measures Section 7 Handling & Storage Section 8 Exposure Control/PPE
Safety Data Sheets 2 Section 9 Physical & Chemical Properties Section 10 Stability & Reactivity Section 11 Toxicological Information Section 12 Ecological Information NM Section 13 Disposal Considerations NM Section 14 Transport Information NM Section 15 Regulatory Information NM Section 16 Other Information
What hazardous chemicals might be found in a school building? Laboratory chemicals & waste Cleaning supplies Office products Construction & maintenance materials
Toxicity vs. Hazard TOXICITY - The ability of a substance to harm living cells, tissue, or tissue systems HAZARD - The likelihood harm will occur under certain conditions (dose, susceptibility)
Routes of Exposure 1. Inhalation 2. Skin Contact 3. Ingestion
HEALTH EFFECTS FROM CHEMICAL EXPOSURE ACUTE Generally occur shortly after exposure Usually resolve themselves Headache Nausea/Vomiting CNS disturbances Dead CHRONIC Long latency period Generally result from long-term exposure Cancer Heart disease Pulmonary disorders Kidney disease
CHEMICAL HAZARDS 1 Carcinogens Substances capable of producing cancer (abnormal cell growth). May be genotoxic or epigenetic. Asbestos (Group 1) Benzene (Group 1) Benzo(a)pyrene (Group 2A) Formaldehyde (Group 1)
CHEMICAL HAZARDS 2 Substances capable of causing irreversible alteration to living tissue. Very low or high ph. Hydrochloric Acid Ammonium Hydroxide Sulfuric Acid Corrosives/Caustics Sodium Hydroxide
CHEMICAL HAZARDS 3 Irritants Substances capable of causing reversible inflammation of living tissue. Generally affect skin and upper respiratory tract. Ammonia Pepper Spray Volatile Organic Compounds
CHEMICAL HAZARDS 4 Sensitizers Substances capable of causing an enhanced immune system response. Reactions become more serious over time. Formaldehyde Isocyanates Metals Vinyl Chloride
CHEMICAL HAZARDS 5 Substances capable of perinatal aberrations in an exposed embryo or fetus (i.e. birth defects). Ethanol (beverage alcohol) Lead Thalidomide Teratogens
Controlling Chemical Hazards in the Workplace Engineering Controls Ventilation Dilution and local Administrative Controls Training & Education Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Gloves, respirators, clothing
29 CFR 1910.1030 The OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard
Bloodborne Pathogens Pathogenic microorganisms (e.g. viruses, bacteria) that are present in human blood and can cause disease. The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the hepatitis B virus (HBV) are examples of bloodborne pathogens.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) HIV was identified in 1983 as the agent that caused the disease that became know as Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) While there are drug therapies that can be used to treat HIV infection and AIDS, there is no cure for this disease at this time
HIV Life Cycle Viruses cannot replicate themselves so they use host cells for replication The HIV uses T Cells HIV drugs act by inhibiting some aspect of this replication process
HIV-Infection As the HIV replicates T Cells are destroyed T Cells are an important part of the body s immune system which helps us fight off infection As more T Cells are destroyed HIVinfected individuals are less able to fight off infection
AIDS Individuals with advanced HIV-infection are susceptible to opportunistic infections Opportunistic infections are those rarely seen in healthy individuals with normal immune systems. These include toxoplasmosis, tuberculosis, Kaposi's Sarcoma, & pneumocystis carinii pneumonia
HIV/AIDS Overview Affects the body s immune system There is no known cure at this time HIV does not live for very long outside the body Virus is transmitted via unprotected sex, sharing of needles, and through blood-toblood contact
What is a Blood-to-Blood Contact Blood-to-blood contacts other than unprotected sex or the sharing of needles include: Another person s blood or bodily fluids coming into contact with your non-intact skin, eyes, mouth or nose Non-intact skin is cut, abraded or chapped skin
Hepatitis Inflammation of the liver May be caused by viral infection, exposure to toxic chemicals, or an obstruction in the organ itself Symptoms include liver inflammation, fever, abdominal pain & jaundice
Viral Hepatitis There are several types They are designated Hepatitis A, B, C, D and E Hepatitis B, C and D are spread in much the same fashion as HIV A & E are spread through more casual contact
Hepatitis B Virus is transmitted via unprotected sex, sharing of needles, and through blood-to-blood contact The virus uses hepatocytes (i.e. liver cells) to reproduce Most people who are infected develop a subclinical case and have few or no symptoms Some people with acute Hepatitis B have serious symptoms including abdominal pain, fever and jaundice Treatment is common sense medicine Most people recover completely from Hepatitis B About 10% of adults and 50% of children under 5 never develop antibodies and become long term carriers of the virus Some of these individuals will die early from liver complications
Hepatitis B Vaccination Series Vaccine contains no human blood products Vaccination is given in a series of three shots over a six month period Side effects are generally mild - injection soreness, headache, fatigue Vaccine is contraindicated for those who are allergic to baker s yeast Consult your primary health care provider for additional information
Hepatitis B Overview Affects the liver There is no cure other than to let the infection run its course There is an effective vaccine HBV can live for up to 10 days outside the body Virus is transmitted via unprotected sex, sharing of needles, and through blood-to-blood contact
What is required of your employer under the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard Identify those employees with occupational exposure to blood or OPIMs Develop and update an Exposure Control Plan to protect at risk employees Provide annual information and training to at risk employees Offer the Hepatitis B vaccine, at no cost, to at risk employees Offer post-exposure evaluation to all employees in the event of an exposure incident
INFECTION CONTROL Always utilize universal precautions when dealing with blood or body fluids Gloves and other barrier protection should be used for skin, eyes and mucous membranes when handling blood or body fluids Always decontaminate environmental surfaces that have been in contact with blood or body fluids Always wash hands with soap and water anytime you handle blood or other body fluids
Additional Information The Occupational Safety & Health Administration - www.osha.gov The Centers for Disease Control - www.cdc.gov The NYS Health Department - www.health.state.ny.us
If you have any questions please contact Michael O Rourke Ulster BOCES (845)255-1400 morourke@ulsterboces.org