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 The Hazard Communication Program (HAZCOM) is designed to maintain a healthy work environment by increasing employee awareness about the hazards of the chemicals that they work with. A Hazard Communication Program is required by Cal/OSHA. A major component of the Hazard Communication program is Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS). These sheets are a valuable source of information on physical properties and hazards of chemicals.
An MSDS should be obtained for each and every one of the chemicals that is used by your department, division, laboratory or shop. Each MSDS has to be specific to the product that it describes and specific to the manufacturer of the substance.
Environment, Health and Safety recommends that each division or lab which uses chemicals place one person in charge of maintaining the Material Safety Data Sheets. This person is responsible for making sure that there is a MSDS on file for every hazardous substance in the area. The MSDSs need to be kept in a location where everyone in the division or lab group can access the information. EH&S recommends filing MSDS in a brightly colored binder, labeled “MSDS”, and located in an area where safety and emergency information is kept.
Another component of Hazard Communication is container labeling. All containers of chemicals at UCR should be labeled as to the contents even if it is known what is in the container.
Labels on purchased chemicals must contain:
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The identity of the chemical
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Appropriate hazard warnings
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The name of the company that manufactured or distributed the chemical
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
The manufacturer or distributor of hazardous substances is required to provide a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for every substance that they distribute. The manufacturer is often the best source of the MSDS, since the information provided by the manufacturer is usually the most current and most accurate. Additionally, Cal/OSHA requires that MSDS must be manufacturer specific. Additional MSDS resources are available.
For More Information
UCR - Campus Emergency Contact Infromation System (labeling) must have UCR Net ID
Cal-OSHA 5194 Hazard Communication Standard
Federal OSHA - Hazard Comunication Index
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