Hazardous Communication Program

The following Hazard Communication Program has been established for Grand Ledge Public Schools. The Hazard Communication (HAZCOM) Program is required by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration’s (OSHA) Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200). The HAZCOM Program covers all Grand Ledge Public Schools employees that work with chemicals and may be exposed to the effects of those chemicals.

The purpose of the HAZCOM Program is to ensure that employees who handle, use, or store chemicals in the workplace are knowledgeable of the hazards associated with the chemicals in their workplace and the methods that may be used to reduce the risk of an accident or illness resulting from the use of these chemicals. This information shall be communicated to all employees by means of:

  • A written HAZCOM Plan

  • An accurate chemical inventory of all chemicals

  • Adherence to chemical labeling requirements

  • Availability and familiarity with MSDS/SDS

  • Employee training regarding the HAZCOM Plan: chemical hazards, protective measures, and emergency procedures.

The Assistant Superintendent is responsible for reviewing and overseeing the implementation of the HAZCOM Plan. Building Engineers or Head Custodians are responsible for ensuring that all requirements of the HAZCOM plan that apply to their individual work areas are carried out properly. This program is available for review by all employees.

Hazard Classification

Chemical manufacturers or importers shall evaluate chemicals they produced or import to classify the chemicals in accordance with the revised Hazard Communication Standard.

Effective June 1, 2015 - For each chemical, the chemical manufacturer or importer shall determine the hazard classes, and where appropriate, the category of each class that apply to the chemical being classified. This information will be placed in the Material Safety Data Sheet/Safety Data Sheet (MSDS/SDS) and on the product label. Grand Ledge Public Schools will rely on MSDS/SDSs obtained from product suppliers to determine which chemicals are classified as hazardous for employees.

Labeling

The Custodial Supervisor or Head Custodians will be responsible for seeing that all containers entering the workplace from a manufacturer, importer or distributer are properly labeled. If a container enters the workplace without proper labels, the Custodial Supervisor or Head Custodian shall contact and inform the Assistant Superintendent, or his designee.

All labels shall be checked for:

  • Product Identifier
  • Signal Word
  • Hazard Statement(s)
  • Pictogram(s)
  • Precautionary Statement(s)
  • Name, Address and Telephone Number of the chemical manufacturer, importer or other responsbile party.

Each employee shall be responsible for ensuring that all secondary containers used in their work area are labeled with the appropriate product identifier and provide employees with the specific information regarding the physical and health hazards of the hazardous chemical.

Note: The employer shall ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace is labeled, tagged or marked with either the information specified for labels on shipped containers; OR, product identifier and words, pictures, symbols, or combination thereof, which provide at least general information regarding the hazards of the chemicals, and which, in conjunction with the other information immediately available to employees under the hazard communication program, will provide employees with the specific information regarding the physical and health hazards of the hazardous chemical.

Safety Data Sheets (SDS):

Changes to MSDS/SDS format effective June 1, 2015 - Chemical manufacturers or importers shall ensure that MSDS/SDSs for their products include the following Sections in order:

  Section 1. Identification;
  Section 2. Hazard(s) identification;
  Section 3. Composition/information on ingredients;
  Section 4. First-aid measures;
  Section 5. Fire-fighting measures;
  Section 6. Accidental release measures;
  Section 7. Handling and storage;
  Section 8. Exposure controls/personal protection;
  Section 9. Physical and chemical properties;
Section 10. Stability and reactivity;
Section 11. Toxicological information;
Section 12. Ecological information;
Section 13. Disposal considerations;
Section 14. Transport information;
Section 15. Regulatory information;
Section 16. Other information, including date of preparation or last revision.

The Assistant Superintendent, or his designee, is responsible for compiling and maintaining the master MSDS/SDS file. MSDS/SDS will be available to all employees during their normal working hours in their work areas. Copies are also available using the link on the right side of this page, which will take you to the SafeSchools SDS to see Material Safety Data Sheets for each building. Additional copies of MSDS/SDSs for employee use are located at the Administration Building, Assistant Superintendent’s office located at: 220 Lamson Street, Grand Ledge, MI, 48837. For assistance locating the MSDS/SDS’s, please contact the Operations Office at (517) 925-5430.

MSDS/SDS sheets are available for review to all employees during each work shift. Copies will be available upon request to the Assistant Superintendent, or his designee.

Posters identifying the person responsible for maintaining MSDS/SDSs and where the MSDS/SDSs are located are posted in the break rooms of each building. Posters notifying employees when new or revised MSDS/SDSs are received will be located in the same location(s).

If a required MSDS/SDS is not received, the Assistant Superintendent shall contact the supplier, in writing, to request the MSDS/SDS. If an MSDS/SDS is not received after two such requests, the Assistant Superintendent or his designee shall contact the MIOSHA's Construction Safety and Health Division at (517) 322-1856 or General Industry Safety and Health Division (GISHD) at (517) 322-1831, for assistance in obtaining the MSDS/SDS.

Employee Information and Training

The Assistant Superintendent, or his designee, shall coordinate and maintain records of employee hazard communication training, including attendance rosters.

As soon as possible after their initial work assignment, each new employee will receive hazard communication training. This will include the following information and training:

Information:

The requirements of the MIOSHA Hazard Communication Standard All operations in their work area where hazardous chemicals are present Location and availability of the written hazard communication program, the list of hazardous chemicals, and the MSDS/SDS

Training:
 

  • Methods and observations that can be used to detect the presence or release of hazardous chemicals in the work area;

  • The physical, health, simple asphyxiation, combustible dust and pyrophoric gas hazards, as well as hazards not otherwise classified, of the chemicals in the work area;

  • Measures the employees should take to protect themselves from these hazards;

  • Details of the hazard communication program-- including an explanation of the new label elements [product identifier; signal word; hazard statement(s); pictogram(s);

  • Precautionary statement(s) on shipped containers and the workplace labeling system used by their employer;

  • The new SDS format/sections;

  • How employees can obtain and use hazard information

The employee shall be informed that:

Grand Ledge Public Schools ("The employer") is prohibited from discharging, or discriminating against an employee who exercises his/her rights to obtain information regarding hazardous chemicals used in the workplace.

As an alternative to requesting an MSDS/SDS from "the employer", employees may seek assistance from the MIOSHA Construction Safety and Health Division, at (517) 322-1856, or the MIOSHA General Industry Safety and Health Division at (517) 322-1831, to obtain the desired MSDS/SDS. A sign or MIOSHA poster will be posted with the address and telephone number of the MIOSHA Divisions responsible for such requests.

Before any new physical or health hazard is introduced into the workplace, each employee who may be exposed to the substance will be given information in the same manner as during the hazard communication training.

Hazardous Non-Routine Tasks:

Occasionally, employees are required to perform non-routine tasks (i.e., clean reactor vessels, enter confined spaces, etc.). Prior to starting work in such areas, each employee will be given information about the hazards of the area or procedure.

This information will include:

  • Specific chemical hazards.

  • Protection/safety measures the employee can take to lessen risks of performing the task.

  • Measures the company has taken to eliminate or control the hazard, including:

- air monitoring;

- ventilation requirements;

- use of respirators;

- use of attendants to observe procedures;

- emergency procedures

It is the policy of Grand Ledge Public Schools that no employee will begin performance of a non-routine task without first receiving appropriate safety and health training.

Hazardous non-routine tasks we have at our facility include:

  • Entry of Confined Spaces
  • ​Line-breaking
  • Hot Work

Multi-Employer Worksites -- Informing Contractors

If Grand Ledge Public Schools exposes any employee of another employer to any hazardous chemicals that we produce, use, or store, the following information will be supplied to that employer:

  1. The hazardous chemicals they may encounter.

  2. Measures their employees can take to control or eliminate exposure to the hazardous chemicals.

  3. The container and pipe labeling system used on-site.

  4. Where applicable MSDS/SDSs can be reviewed or obtained.

Periodically, our employees may potentially be exposed to hazardous chemicals brought on our site by another employer. When this occurs we will obtain from that employer information pertaining to the types of chemicals brought on-site, and measures that should be taken to control or eliminate exposure to the chemicals.

It is the responsibility of the Assistant Superintendent or his designee to ensure that such information is provided and/or obtained prior to any services being performed by the off- site employer.

To ensure this is done the following mechanism will be followed:

(Italics) All off-site employers will be provided with a contractor information form which provides information available to GLPS on chemicals they may be exposed to, and require them to either verify that they are not exposing employees to hazardous chemicals, or requiring submission of SDS’s and meeting with the Supervisors of Buildings and Grounds to manage any risks presented by the hazardous chemicals.

Pipes and Piping Systems

Information on the hazardous contents of pipes and piping systems will be identified by Labeling and verification by the Assistant Superintendent or his designee.

List of Hazardous Chemicals

A list of all hazardous chemicals used by Grand Ledge Public Schools is located at 220 Lamson Street, Grand Ledge, MI, 48837. You may use the link on the left side of this page for a list of chemicals and further information regarding any of these chemicals can be obtained by reviewing its respective MSDS/SDS.

 

 

Prepared: June 2, 2015

Prepared By: Anthony R. Smykla, Testing Engineers & Consultants, Inc.

Approved By: Andrew George, Assistant Superintendent Grand Ledge Public Schools

SafeSchools SDS

Click here to see Material Safety Data Sheets for each building.