THE ORCBS > Occupational Safety > Programs & Guidelines > Right To Know > Hazard Communication Document >

SCOPE AND APPLICATION This document serves as the written guide for MSU compliance to the Federal and State of Michigan's Right to Know Laws. All units who use hazardous chemicals, with the exception of laboratories, are required to comply with this document.The primary objective of this document is to provide a general guide for handling hazardous chemicals in the workplace. The Hazard Communication Document establishes the basic safety principles, equipment and work practices that are capable of protecting employees from physical and health hazards of hazardous chemicals.This document is intended only to highlight those safety measures necessary for achieving a safe and healthy work environment. Where the scope of hazards are not adequately addressed by this general document, the Supervisor must develop specific Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).The Hazard Communication Program does not apply to chemicals in the following categories:

  1. Any hazardous waste as defined in the Solid Waste Disposal Act, as amended by the Resource Conservation Recovery Act (RCRA) (See the MSU Hazardous Waste Disposal Guide).
  1. Any hazardous substance defined by the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) when the hazardous substance is the focus of remedial or removal action being conducted under CERCLA.
  1. Tobacco or tobacco products.
  1. Wood or wood products.
  1. Manufactured items (articles), which
    1. Are formed to a specific shape of design during manufacture.Have an end use that is contingent upon its shape or form as manufactured.
    2. Do not release or in any way expose an employee to a hazardous chemical during normal use.
  2. Food or alcoholic beverages in a retail food establishment that are packaged for sale to consumers.
  1. Food intended for personal consumption by employees at the workplace.
  1. Any drug defined in the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act when it is in the solid final form for direct administration to the patient.
  1. Any drug defined in the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act intended for personal consumption by employees in the workplace.
  1. Cosmetics, which are packaged for sale to consumers in a retail establishment, and cosmetics intended for personal consumption while in the workplace.
  1. Any consumer product or hazardous substance if the product is used in the workplace in the same manner as normal consumer use and if the use results in a duration and frequency of exposure that is not greater than exposures experienced by consumers.
  1. A hazardous chemical in a sealed and labeled package that is received and subsequently sold or transferred in that package if the seal and label remain intact while in the workplace.
  1. Nuisance particulates where the chemical manufacturer or importer can establish that they do not pose any physical or health hazard.
  1. Ionizing and non-ionizing radiation.
  1. Biological hazards.

Reference Regulations

Right to Know Table Contents

 

Office InformationRadiation SafetyChemical SafetyBiological SafetyOccupational Safety
Animal Handler
Hazardous Waste EnvironmentalTrainingManuals & FormsMSDSLinks

orcbs@msu.edu • MSU Home PageOffice of Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies

© MSU Board of Trustees, All Rights Reserved