Hazard communication

Employees who work with hazardous chemicals outside a laboratory must receive Hazard Communication Training (formerly known as Worker Right-to-know) as OSHA requires. Supervisors are encouraged to provide site-specific training covering the unique chemical hazards their staff may encounter. Contact EH&S for assistance.

The Hazard Communication Plan (PDF) details the requirements of the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard and are summarized below:

  • Assign staff to ensure compliance with the standard.
  • Prepare and submit an inventory of hazardous chemicals.
  • Ensure all chemical containers are labeled.
  • Obtain a safety data sheet for each chemical.
  • Make safety data sheets available to employees.

Accessibility

The Hazard Communication Plan and Laboratory Safety standards require that Iowa State University make safety data sheets (SDSs) accessible to employees at all times. Because computer power loss or breakdown may not always allow SDSs to be obtained online, EH&S recommends that each department maintain paper copies of SDSs to ensure continuous compliance.

External resources

  • Avantor Performance Materials: Chemicals sold by J.T. Baker and Macron. A good source for many laboratory chemical SDSs. Select SDS from the Products pull-down list.
  • Fisher Scientific SDSs: Chemicals sold by Fisher Scientific. A good source for many laboratory chemical SDSs. Follow the directions in Fisher Scientific's How to Find an SDS.
  • Sigma, Fluka, Aldrich, Supelco and Riedel-deHaen: SDSs for the Sigma-Aldrich companies. Select SDS from the main page.
  • Infectious Agent SDSs: Health Canada's Laboratory Centre for Disease Control SDSs for infectious agents. Intended for personnel working in the life sciences as quick safety references for infectious microorganisms. This site contains infectious dose information, decontamination methods, medical information, special laboratory hazards, recommended precautions, and spill procedures.