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Hamilton College has a number of non-laboratory departments that regularly rely upon chemical materials. These include administrative departments such as Facilities Management and the Print Shop, and academic departments such as art and theatre.
The use of chemicals in non-laboratory settings is subject to the Occupational Health & Safety Administration’s (OSHA’s) Hazard Communication regulations. The Hazard Communication Plan is a formal, written document required by OSHA, and is intended to give the Hamilton College community the necessary guidance with regard to the management of chemical hazards outside of lab settings.

Hazard Communication Plan

 

Sources of Chemical Safety Information

SDS Search Engines

Safety Data Sheets (SDS’s) provide information and instructions regarding the safe use of hazardous chemicals. While OSHA traditionally expected employers to maintain SDS’s (and their predecessors known as MSDS’s) in hard copy, Hamilton relies upon an electronic database to facilitate SDS access for all employees and students. This database is known as MSDSonline.

Hazard Communication

Departments whose employees are required to use hazardous chemicals are encouraged to utilize the quick reference “HAZCOM” training form that summarizes a chemical’s hazard information found on its Safety Data Sheet (SDS). This short form can be used by departments to facilitate chemical safety training, or as a posting tool to remind users of the specific nature of the chemical hazards within their respective workstations.

Contact

Brian Hansen

Director of Environmental Protection, Safety and Sustainability

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