2.1 Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to ensure that the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is in compliance with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Hazard Communication (HAZCOM) standard.

2.2 Scope. This chapter applies to all Service employees and volunteers with potential on-the-job exposure to hazardous chemicals. This chapter does not apply to laboratories with written laboratory hygiene plans as described in 242 FW 8.

2.3 Objectives. The objectives of this program are as follows:

A. Provide employees and volunteers with information concerning chemical hazards in their workplace.

B. Reduce or eliminate the incidence and/or likelihood of workplace injuries and illnesses resulting from chemical exposures.

C. Define the roles of managers, supervisors, employees, and volunteers.

D. Establish key elements for Servicewide implementation of a successful HAZCOM program.

E. Develop a framework for providing safety and health information and training for special emphasis programs such as, but not limited to, asbestos, formaldehyde, and radon.

2.4 Policy. The Service recognizes that a well informed work force is a critical component of an effective safety and health program. It is the Service's policy to comply with all aspects of the OSHA HAZCOM standard.

2.5 Authority.

A. Executive Order 12196, Occupational Safety and Health Programs for Federal Employees.

B. 29 CFR 1960 - Basic Program Elements for Federal Employees, Occupational Safety and Health Programs.

C. 29 CFR 1910.1200 - Hazard Communication.

D. 485 DM

2.6 Definitions.

A. Chemical is any element, chemical compound, or mixture of elements and/or compounds.

B. Exposure or Exposed means that an employee is subjected to a hazardous chemical in the course of employment through any route of entry, inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact.

C. Hazardous Chemical is a chemical for which there is statistically significant evidence that the chemical presents a health or physical hazard as defined in this chapter. Chemicals listed in the following references are considered to be hazardous:

(1) 29 CFR 1910, Subpart Z, Toxic and Hazardous Substances.

(2) 29 CFR 1910.1200, Hazard Communication, Appendix A.

(3) Threshold Limit Values for Chemical Substances and Physical Agents in the Work Environment, American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, Latest Edition.

(4) Annual Report on Carcinogens, National Toxicology Program, Latest Edition.

(5) Monographs, International Agency for Research on Cancer, Latest Edition.

D. Chemical Hazard is an exposure to a chemical for which there is statistically significant evidence, based on at least one study conducted in accordance with established scientific principles, that acute or chronic health effects may occur in exposed employees.

E. Physical Hazard means the exposure to a substance for which there is scientifically valid evidence that it is a combustible liquid, a compressed gas, explosive, flammable, an organic peroxide, an oxidizer, corrosive, pyrophoric, unstable, or water-reactive. Other applicable physical hazards are heat stress, ionizing radiation, laser radiation, continuous impulse and impact noise, radio frequency/microwave radiation, ultraviolet radiation, airborne upper sonic and ultrasonic acoustic radiation, cold stress, hand/arm vibration, static magnetic fields, light and near infrared radiation, and extremely low frequency (ELF) radiation.

2.7 Responsibilities.

A. The Chief, Office of Safety and Health is responsible for:

(1) Providing assistance to Regional safety managers in developing Regional HAZCOM programs upon request.

(2) Providing reviews and monitoring functions for Regional HAZCOM programs to ensure uniform quality and implementation.

B. Regional Directors are responsible for ensuring the effective operation of the HAZCOM program in their respective Regions.

C. Regional Safety Managers are responsible for:

(1) Developing and reviewing the Regional HAZCOM program.

(2) Providing assistance and comments in the review of chemical lists, material safety data sheets (MSDS), and/or suitability of products for their proposed use.

(3) Providing, arranging, or monitoring the employee/volunteer training as required.

F. Project Leaders are responsible for:

(1) Ensuring that a MSDS is available for all hazardous chemical products at their facilities. Chemical products requiring a MSDS include those identified in 2.6C.

(2) Ensuring that all employees/volunteers at their facilities have completed the required training.

(3) Requiring the implementation of all aspects of the HAZCOM program at their facilities.

G. Employees/Volunteers will:

(1) Consult and use the information contained in the MSDS.

(2) Label containers as required.

(3) Attend and participate in required training.

(4) Inform supervisors of health and safety related concerns.

H. Contractors are responsible for:

(1) Complying with all provisions of the HAZCOM program.

(2) Notifying project leaders of any intended use of hazardous chemicals prior to bringing the hazardous chemicals on to Service property or projects.

2.8 Program Requirements. Each Regional office and its field units, as applicable, shall have a written HAZCOM program. The program shall contain the following key elements:

A. Material Safety Data Sheet.

(1) The MSDS (OSHA Form 174) or the equivalent is required for all hazardous chemicals in use at Service facilities. These sheets are not required for consumer products which are used in a generally accepted fashion.

(2) The MSDS shall be requested when new products or formulations are ordered. Purchase and delivery orders and OF 347, Order for Supplies or Services, shall contain the following statement:

The material safety data sheet, OSHA Form 174, or one essentially similar approved by OSHA and pertinent to the product being ordered, must be provided by the distributor with shipment or under separate cover. The MSDS shall be considered a mandatory part of this order. If the MSDS is not provided with shipment at the time of delivery or under separate cover, the order shall not be accepted.

Alternative Regional HAZCOM program procedures are authorized to satisfy the intent of 2.8 A. Sample language for a purchase order requesting a MSDS can be found in Exhibit 1.

(3) The MSDS shall be obtained prior to the use of a new product.

(4) The MSDS shall be reviewed for completeness and acceptability. The Regions shall determine the personnel responsible for the review function. A MSDS with missing, inaccurate, or inadequate information should be brought to the attention of the Regional safety manager. The manufacturer or distributor of the product should be contacted to provide the required information. Service personnel should not complete or alter a MSDS provided by a manufacturer or distributor.

(5) The MSDS shall be reviewed by the immediate supervisor and the employees/volunteers using the product.

(6) The MSDS should be specific for the product being used.

(7) The MSDS must be readily available to the employees or volunteers. Readily available means in the employee work or break area, not in a supervisor's office or other similar area.

B. Chemical Inventory (Lists).

(1) A list of all hazardous chemicals will be maintained for each Service facility. Lists may be further subdivided to provide inventories for individual buildings or workplaces.

(2) Hazardous chemical lists will be updated annually and as new products are received.

(3) Each item on the inventory shall have a corresponding MSDS.

(4) Sample hazardous chemical inventory sheets can be found in Exhibit 2. Regions are authorized to develop equivalent inventory records.

C. Training. Employees/volunteers using hazardous chemicals shall receive initial training and supplemental training as appropriate. New employees/volunteers or employees/volunteers with minimal experience with hazardous chemicals shall receive training in the handling and use of these chemicals prior to any use or operations involving hazardous chemicals. Records of all training will be maintained at a location designated by the Regional office. Typically, the training records are maintained in the employee's personnel file. Training shall contain, as a minimum, the following elements:

(1) A review of the HAZCOM standard.

(2) The location of the MSDS and other information resources.

(3) Meanings and terms of MSDS. A directory of MSDS terminology and definitions may be obtained from the Regional Safety manager.

(4) The specific hazards of the products to be used.

(5) Identification of the physical properties of the products to be used.

(6) Health hazard information.

(7) Protective equipment and work procedures.

(8) Emergency procedures.

D. Container Labeling.

(1) All containers of hazardous chemicals shall be labelled, with the exception of those containers identified in D(4).

(2) Inadequately labelled products shall not be accepted by the receiving official.

(3) Transfer of chemical products from one container to another is permissible provided that the new container is properly labelled and suitable for the substance to be held. The transfer point should be properly ventilated and spill precautions must be considered when selecting the transfer site.

(4) Transfer containers do not need to be labelled if they are intended for individual day use by the original transferee. Transfer containers shall be free of residues and contamination from previously stored chemicals.

E. Non-Routine Chemical Use.

(1) Supervisors planning a non-routine task will ensure that a review of the chemical handling procedures has been conducted with employees prior to the start of such activity.

(2) Where Job Hazard Analyses (JHA) are used, the MSDS will be incorporated into the JHA.

(3) Emergency situations such as fires, spills, or leaks shall be handled according to the procedures listed on the MSDS.

(4) Only those employees/volunteers who have had training in the required clean-up procedures and protective equipment shall respond to a chemical emergency. In the event that adequate personnel and equipment are not available, emergency procedures shall be limited to evacuation only.

F. Medical Surveillance.

(1) Employees/volunteers with exposure to hazardous chemicals or those developing symptoms of overexposure may require medical evaluation. The Chief, Medical Services Division, Department of the Interior, shall determine the appropriateness, content, and frequency of any indicated medical surveillance.

(2) Preventive medical services shall be made available to employees after consultation with the Chief, Medical Services Division in consonance with existing rules and regulations. Regions are encouraged to submit their requests for medical assistance to the Chief, Medical Services Division, using existing protocol.

G. Employee/Volunteer Exposure Records.

(1) Records pertaining to employee/volunteer exposures, hazardous chemical inventories, and hazard chemical use shall be retained for at least 30 years.

(2) Medical records shall be retained by the employee's/ volunteer's servicing personnel office in a separate file folder (SF 66-D) apart from other personnel records. Employee medical files are confidential records and will be properly safeguarded and disclosed only to authorized officials. Medical records are available to the employee upon written request to the servicing personnel office in accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act.