SECTION III: BASIC
ELEMENTS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL
HEALTH AND
SAFETY PROGRAM
H) HAZARDOUS
MATERIALS MANAGEMENT
PURPOSE
The hazardous materials management program at CCS is
designed to:
A waste is any solid, liquid or
contained gaseous material that is no longer used. Non-hazardous waste includes ordinary trash,
glass and some non-hazardous
chemicals.
Wastes which are considered hazardous
are regulated by federal and state public health and environmental safety laws,
and can cause serious problems if not handled and disposed of properly.
Included in this category are waste
materials which are reactive, toxic, ignitable, corrosive, infectious, phytotoxic,
mutagenic, or radioactive, and which could cause injury or death, or damage or
pollute land, air, or water.
PROCEDURES
1. Hazardous Materials Purchase
The first choice in management of
hazardous waste is to avoid the
generation of hazardous wastes. The best way to not generate hazardous wastes
is to minimize the purchase and use of
hazardous materials.
A.
Each purchase of a
hazardous chemical is to be carefully evaluated by the department making the
purchase prior to actual purchase, with application of the following criteria
(as feasible and appropriate):
·
Process
modification to avoid the need for hazardous chemicals.
·
Product
substitution, with purchase of the least toxic substance available to
accomplish the intended purpose. (Staff
of the Environmental Health and Safety Office are
available for consultation in working through this issue.)
·
Purchase of the
minimum quantity of the substance needed to meet the requirements of intended
usage, to avoid stockpiling and associated storage hazard and/or eventual
disposal problems.
·
Initial purchase
of the chemical substance in small containers to avoid hazards associated with
transfer and repackaging from bulk containers.
B.
State and federal
regulations require that a material safety data sheet (MSDS) must be requested
and received on any chemical substance purchased. If the MSDS is sent directly to the
department which initiated the purchase, it is their responsibility to ensure
that a copy of the MSDS is sent to the CCS Environmental Health and Safety Office,
for entry into the hazard communication program.
§ This requirement pertains to all chemical
substances purchased, whether acquired through a regular purchase requisition,
an open account with a vendor or across-the-counter purchase from a local vendor.
C.
No container of a
chemical or cylinder of a compressed gas is to be accepted on college premises
without an adequate identifying label and provision of a material safety data
sheet specific to the chemical.
2. Use and Storage of Hazardous Materials
A.
Prior to
introduction of a hazardous chemical substance into a work area, information and
training on proper handling, storage and disposal is to be provided by the
immediate supervisor to all employees who will be using the material or have
potential exposure to the material. Staff of the Environmental Health and Safety Office are
available for consultation as needed.
B.
Unlabeled
containers of chemicals should not be opened.
If newly received, the materials should be returned to the vendor. If they are chemicals which have been on hand
for a period of time but have lost their labels, the CCS Environmental Health
and Safety Office should be contacted for assistance.
C.
Storage of large
quantities of chemical substances should be avoided whenever feasible.
D.
Stored chemicals
are to be inventoried and examined periodically to ensure that:
·
they are not kept
beyond their appropriate shelf life;
·
labels remain
readable;
·
containers have not deteriorated to allow leakage of the substance.
E.
Where a variety of
chemicals are stored, incompatible materials shall be segregated to avoid
possible mixing and resultant hazards (which can be sudden, unforeseen and
dangerous).
F.
Flammable liquids
are to be stored only in approved containers or cabinets, away from potential
ignition sources and segregated from other hazardous materials, such as acids,
bases or strong oxidizing agents. The
quantity of flammable liquids on hand is not to exceed the guidelines set by
WISHA and NFPA. Staff
of the CCS Environmental Health and Safety Office are available to
assist in this determination.
G.
Only minimum
quantities of highly toxic materials are to be present in a work area. Toxic substances should be stored only in
well-defined and identified areas which are cool, well-ventilated and away from
light, heat, acids, oxidizing agents and moisture. Unbreakable, chemical resistant secondary
containers should be provided for the storage of highly toxic chemical
substances.
H.
Compressed gas
cylinders should be stored in an upright position, securely strapped or chained
to a wall or bench top, in a well-ventilated, dry area, away from sources of
ignition.
I.
The generation of
unknown chemicals is to be avoided.
J.
Precautions should
be followed at all times to avoid spills and leaks of hazardous materials.
K.
Where hazardous
chemicals are routinely used or stored, procedures should be in place for
proper response to an accidental spill or release. Emergency response supplies and equipment,
both for purposes of cleanup and protection of the staff involved, should be on
hand, appropriate to the hazards and quantities of the chemical substances
present in the location.
L.
Where chemical
wastes are routinely generated, waste receptacles should be clearly identified
for the type(s) of waste which can be safely deposited.
3. Spill Response
Procedures
In areas where there is a high
potential for chemical spill, the following supplies should be readily
available:
·
absorbent material
(e.g., Vermiculite);
·
clean-up equipment
(shovel and/or broom, dust pan, brush);
·
collection
containers (empty drums and/or heavy-duty plastic bags);
·
personal
protective equipment: gloves, chemical
splash goggles;
·
fire extinguisher.
A.
Identify the
released material, its characteristics (e.g., flammability, toxicity, etc.),
the exact source, the amount and the area it covers.
B.
Attend to any
persons who may have been contaminated; notify persons in immediate area about
the spill; evacuate nonessential personnel from the spill area; secure the site
to prevent unauthorized persons from entering the contaminated area (as
appropriate to the situation).
C.
Confine and
contain the spill by shutting off the source (e.g., upright a tipped container;
close a valve; shut off a pump; patch a hole, etc.).
D.
The individual in
charge of an area may clean up a chemical spill, according to established
cleanup and disposal procedures, only when all
these conditions are present. The
chemical spill or release:
·
does not involve
injury;
·
does not represent
a fire or life hazard;
·
involves less than
one gallon of a substance which is not highly toxic or volatile;
·
involves a
substance which is known by the individual (exact substance, known hazards,
etc.); this means you have reliable information regarding the material involved
in the spill and can read the label on the chemical container;
·
that substance is
one of these chemicals: waste oil;
contaminated parts washing solution; parts
·
cleaning tank
sludge; used antifreeze; carburetor cleaner; caustic hot dip tank solution;
·
spill occurred
within a contained area and has not contacted soil, ground or surface water;
·
the individual in charge of the area has proper training and
appropriate protective equipment specific to the chemical(s) involved.
For any spill
which does not meet all of the criteria noted above, immediately contact staff of the
CCS Environmental Health and Safety Office, 475-7041, for consultation and/or
assistance.
Note: ALL chemical
spills or accidental releases should be reported to the CCS Environmental
Health and Safety Office.
4. Clean Up Procedures: Waste Oil (less than one gallon)
A.
wear gloves
B.
cover spill with
sawdust
C.
sweep up material
D.
place in regular
refuse container
Clean Up Procedures: Automotive-Related Chemical Spills (e.g., less than one gallon of contaminated parts
washing solution; parts cleaning tank sludge; used antifreeze; carburetor
cleaner; caustic hot dip tank solution)
A.
wear gloves and
chemical splash goggles
B.
absorb material
with vermiculite
C.
sweep up material
D.
place in hazardous
waste drum specifically designated for this chemical waste clean-up material
5. Disposal of Hazardous Materials
Where hazardous materials are in use,
the following concepts are to be applied:
A.
All chemical
wastes shall be evaluated to determine their proper waste designation. Once properly characterized, they are to be
segregated according to type; mixing of types of wastes is to be avoided.
B.
There shall be no
intentional discharge of any hazardous waste to the environment. Required practices include:
·
no chemical evaporation (e.g., in a fume hood; by removing
lids from containers or parts washers, etc.);
·
no silver
containing wastes discharged to the wastewater system;
·
no un-neutralized chemical disposed of by sink drain.
C.
All hazardous
waste containers shall be properly labeled at all times. Avoid the generation of unknown wastes. Labeling should include:
·
Hazardous Waste
designation (either handwritten on the drum or container, e.g., with a grease
pen or by use of a decal with this wording);
·
the generic waste
category (e.g., “Chlorinated Solvents”; “Fuels”; “Antifreeze”; “Paint-Related Materials”; “Waste Oil”;
etc.);
·
the proper hazard
warning (e.g., “Corrosive,” “Flammable,” “Oxidizer,” “Poison”)
D.
An inventory sheet
(with separate entries indicating date, specific product and amount each time
more product is added to the container) must be maintained on containers which
are being bulked at a satellite location (a location at or near any point of
generation where wastes initially accumulate and which is under the control of
the operator of the process generating the waste) prior to disposal. For example, an automotive shop might have a
collection drum for nonchlorinated solvents; the inventory sheet for this drum
would itemize the specific solvent products being bulked into the drum, and
might have these types of entries:
5/28/96 - Safety-Kleen Solvent - 10 gallons; 5/30/96 - Safety Solvent
Brake Cleaner - 3 gallons; etc.
E.
No chemical waste
products are to be combined or mixed together without prior consent of the CCS
Environmental Health and Safety Office, 475-7041.
F.
All hazardous
waste containers are to be kept fully closed at all times except when it is
necessary to add to or remove waste (examples include parts washers, used
solvent drums, etc.). Do not over-fill a
hazardous waste container; e.g., waste product in drums should not exceed 3
inches below top of drum.
G.
Hazardous wastes
or potentially hazardous wastes must be stored only in containers which are in
good condition and are to be inspected weekly, with the inspection documented
on the “Hazardous Waste Satellite Accumulation Area Weekly Inspection”
form. Containers should be compatible
for the specific waste product(s) and should be free of defects, rust or leaks.
H.
Hazardous waste
storage areas shall be clearly separated from new product storage areas or
in-use chemical products. Containers of
ignitable and reactive wastes are to be stored according to the Uniform Fire
Code.
I.
No chemical
containers are to be stored outside unless pre-approved by the CCS
Environmental Health and Safety Office.
J.
Each area which
makes routine use of hazardous chemicals is to designate an individual(s) who
is responsible to ensure that hazardous wastes generated are properly
collected, identified, segregated, packaged and held prior to pick-up for
disposal by staff of the CCS Environmental Health and Safety Office.
K.
Notification of
the need for hazardous waste pick-up is accomplished by completion of the
Chemical Wastes Report form. If the
waste product is an unknown, the Unknown Preliminary Analysis Checklist should
also be completed.
STAFF OF THE CCS ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY OFFICE
HAVE OVERSIGHT AND COORDINATION OF ALL HAZARDOUS MATERIALS DISPOSAL FROM CCS
PREMISES AND SHOULD BE CONTACTED TO DETERMINE PROPER PROCEDURES FOR MANAGEMENT
OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS AND EVENTUAL DISPOSAL.