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NIOSH - National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

NIOSH Safety and Health Topic:

Chemical Safety

 

NIOSH Databases and Other Resources

NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2005-149
Exposure limits, Respirator Recommendations, First Aid, more...
The Pocket Guide is a source of general industrial hygiene information on several hundred chemicals/classes found in the work environment. Key data provided for each chemical/substance includes name (including synonyms/trade names), structure/formula, CAS/RTECS Numbers, DOT ID, conversion factors, exposure limits, IDLH, chemical and physical properties, measurement methods, personal protection, respirator recommendations, symptoms, and first aid.

NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods (NMAM)
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 94-113 (1994)
NMAM is a collection of methods for sampling and analysis of contaminants in workplace air, and in the blood and urine of workers who are occupationally exposed.

International Chemical Safety Cards (WHO/IPCS/ILO)
IPCS cards summarize essential health and safety information on chemicals for their use at the "shop floor" level by workers and employers in factories, agriculture, construction and other work places.

Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health (IDLH)
IDLHs document the criteria and information sources that have been used to determine immediately dangerous to life or health concentrations of workers.

The Emergency Response Safety and Health Database (ERSH-DB)
Developed by NIOSH for the emergency response community, The ERSH-DB contains accurate and concise information on high-priority chemical, biological and radiological agents that could be encountered by personnel responding to a terrorist event.

NIOSH Chemical Agent Information for Emergency Responders
Includes NIOSH Emergency Response Cards, information on Cyanide, Sarin, Nitrogen Mustard, Sulfur Mustard, VX, other chemicals.

Other NIOSH Databases
Additional data resources on Chemical Hazards, Agriculture, Construction, Respirators, more...

Personal Protective Equipment

NIOSH Respirator Topic Page
Provides information on respiratory protection, including user notices, respirator selection, certification and standards.

NIOSH Protective Clothing and Ensembles Topic Page
Recommendations for selection, other resources.

A Guide for Evaluating the Performance of Chemical Protective Clothing
DHHS (NIOSH) Pub. No. 90-109 (June 1990)
Outline of the selection process for CPC, including examples.

Other Government Agency Resources

US Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board
External Link: http://www.chemsafety.gov/

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)
External Link: http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/2p-hazardous-substances.html

Hazardous Materials Safety (HAZMAT)—Emergency Response Guidelines
External Link: http://hazmat.dot.gov/gydebook.htm

Acute Exposure Guideline Levels (AEGLs)
EPA web site describes dangers from exposure to airborne chemicals and recommends guideline levels for short-term exposures to airborne hazardous substances.
External Link: http://www.epa.gov/oppt/aegl/

International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Monographs
External Link: http://monographs.iarc.fr/

New Jersey Right to Know Fact Sheets
External Link: http://www.state.nj.us/health/eoh/rtkweb/rtkhsfs.htm

National Toxicology Program (NTP)
External Link: http://ntp-server.niehs.nih.gov/NewHomeRoc/AboutRoC.html

Toxicology Data Network (TOXNET)—National Library of Medicine

ChemIDplus Chemical Search Input Page (NLM)
External Link: http://chem.sis.nlm.nih.gov/chemidplus/

Hazardous Substance Data Bank (TOXNET)
External Link: http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/htmlgen?HSDB

Non-Governmental Resources

Mixtures of Substances in the Workplace: Utility for Evaluating the Chemical Risk (Calculation of the Rm)
External Link: http://www.irsst.qc.ca/en/_outil_100037.html
This utility is an aid in decision-making for occupational health professionals. It provides information about the additivity or interaction potential between chemical substances in a mixture found in the workplace. It cannot replace the informed judgement of an occupational health professional. Note that PELs listed are from the Québec regulations.

Material Safety Data Sheets

Regulatory Information -Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA):

OSHA Hazard Communication Standard
External Link: http://www.osha-slc.gov/OshStd_data/1910_1200.html

OSHA Form 174: Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)
External Link: http://www.osha-slc.gov/Publications/MSDS/msdsform.html

MSDS Resources:

MSDS-Search
External Link: http://www.msdssearch.com/

Oklahoma State University—Environmental Health and Safety (Material Safety Data Sheet sites)
External Link: http://www.pp.okstate.edu/ehs/links/msds.htm

Safety Information Resources, Inc. (SIRI)—MSDS Index
External Link: http://hazard.com/msds/

MSDA Search
External Link: http://www.hardwarestore.com/msds-search.aspx

Safety Information Resources, Inc. (SIRI)—MSDS Index
External Link: http://hazard.com/msds/

Chemical Safety

Cleaning up chemical waste, lab worker, chemical plant

 
Page last updated: August 26, 2008
Page last reviewed: July 24, 2008
Content Source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)