3.0 References and Definitions

3.1 References

3.1.1 U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Hazard Communication, 29 CFR 1910.1200.

3.2 Definitions

3.2.1 Article means a manufactured item:

1. Which is formed to a specific shape or design during manufacture;
2. Which has end use function(s) dependent in whole or in part upon its shape or design during end use; and
3. Which does not release, or otherwise result in exposure to, a hazardous chemical, under normal conditions of use.

3.2.2 Chemical means any element, chemical compound or mixture of elements and/or compounds.

3.2.3 Chemical manufacturer means an employer with a workplace where chemical(s) are produced for use or distribution.

3.2.4 Common name means any designation or identification such as code name, code number, trade name, brand name or generic name used to identify a chemical other than by its chemical name.

3.2.5 Container means any bag, barrel, bottle, box, can, cylinder, drum, reaction vessel, storage tank, or the like that contains a hazardous chemical. For purposes of this section, pipes or piping systems, and engines, fuel tanks, or other operating systems in a vehicle, are not considered to be containers.

3.2.6 Employee means a worker who may be exposed to hazardous chemicals under normal operating conditions or in foreseeable emergencies. Workers such as office workers or bank tellers who encounter hazardous chemicals only in non-routine, isolated instances are not covered.

3.2.7 Employer means a person engaged in a business where chemicals are either used, distributed, or are produced for use or distribution, including a contractor or subcontractor.

3.2.8 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, skin contact or absorption, etc.), and includes potential (e.g. accidental or possible) exposure.

3.2.9Foreseeable emergency means any potential occurrence such as, but not limited to, equipment failure, rupture of containers, or failure of control equipment which could result in an uncontrolled release of a hazardous chemical into the workplace.

3.2.10 Hazardous chemical means any chemical which is a physical hazard or health hazard.

3.2.11 Hazard warning means any words, pictures, symbols, or combination there of appearing on a label or other appropriate form of warning which conveys the hazard(s) of the chemical(s) in the container(s).

3.2.12 Health hazard means 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. The term health hazard includes chemicals which are carcinogens, toxic or highly toxic agents, reproductive toxins, irritants corrosives, sensitizers, hepatotoxins nephrotoxins, neurotoxins, agents which act on the hematopoietic system, and agents which damage the lungs, skin, eyes, or mucous membranes.

3.2.13 Identity means any chemical or common name which is indicated on the material safety data sheet (MSDS) for the chemical. The identity used shall permit cross-references to be made among the required list of hazardous chemicals, the label and the MSDS.

3.2.14 Immediate use means that the hazardous chemical will be under the control of and used only by the person who transfers it from a labeled container and only within the work shift in which it is transferred.

3.2.15 Label means any written, printed, or graphic material, displayed on or affixed to containers of hazardous chemicals.

3.2.16 Laboratory means a facility where the "laboratory use of hazardous chemicals" occurs. It is a workplace where relatively small quantities of hazardous chemicals are used on a non-production basis.

3.2.17 Laboratory Scale means work with substances in which the containers used for reactions, transfers, and other handling of substances are designed to be easily and safely manipulated by one person. "Laboratory scale" excludes those workplaces whose function is to produce commercial quantities of materials.

3.2.18 Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) means written or printed material concerning a hazardous chemical prepared by the manufacturer in order to comply with the Hazard Communication Standard.

3.2.19 Mixture means any combination of two or more chemicals if the combination is not, in whole or in part, the result of a chemical reaction.

3.2.20 Physical hazard means a chemical for which there is scientifically valid evidence that it is a combustible liquid, a compressed gas, explosive, flammable, an organic peroxide, an oxidizer, pyrophoric, unstable (reactive) or water-reactive.

3.2.21 Unstable ( reactive ) means a chemical which in the pure state, or as produced or transported, will vigorously polymerize, decompose, condense, or will become self-reactive under conditions of shocks, pressure or temperature.

3.2.22 Use means to package, handle, react, or transfer.

3.2.23 Work area means a room or defined space in a workplace where hazardous chemicals are produced or used, and where employees are present.

3.2.24 Workplace means an establishment, job site, or project, at one geographical location containing one or more work areas.