ASK THE EXPERTS - Submit a Question, Win a Hard Hat!

Submit your safety questions to bhintch@douglaspublications.com. The reader who submits the best question receives a Compliance Magazine hard hat and is recognized in the print and online version of Compliance Magazine! This week's question is on material safety data sheets (MSDS).

Question:

I was informed that we are supposed to be archiving obsolete MSDS pages for 30 years. Is this true?

C.B., submitted online

Answer:

Maintaining obsolete material safety data sheets (MSDSs), those associated with hazardous materials no longer in inventory, is one means of complying with OSHA's Access to Employee Exposure and Medical Records regulation found in 29 CFR Part 1910.1020.

Archived MSDSs are considered employee exposure records, in that they represent a history of hazardous materials usage and provide data indicating that the materials posed a hazard to human health. When employed as worker exposure records, MSDSs must be maintained for "at least 30 years." Thereafter, an employer must notify the director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in writing of the impending disposal of preserved MSDSs at least three months prior to their disposal.

As an alternative, an employer may discard obsolete MSDSs if a record is created and maintained for the 30-year retention period that includes the following information:

1. The identity of the hazardous material, including ingredient chemical names if available.

2. Information on where and when the hazardous material was used.

Obviously, this approach provides substantially more useful information than a collection of MSDSs. Acceptability of these two approaches was quite purposeful, resulting from a desire to provide employees with access to meaningful exposure records and a simultaneous desire to minimize employer objections to this standard during the rulemaking process. In either case, employers have an annual obligation to inform employees of the existence, location and availability of relevant employee exposure records, regardless of their format.

Michael Beckel

3E Co.

http://www.3Ecompany.com

 Seven Habits of Safety-Conscious Supervisors

Presenter: Scott Geller

A 1-Hour Audio Conference Scheduled for:

April 26, 2006
2:00 - 3:00 PM Eastern Time

Numerous studies have shown that "when you change the supervisor, you change the results." It's true for all areas within a business, including safety. Effective leaders simply do things differently – they communicate better, they coach better, they inspire better, they model behavior better. But how do they do it, and can it be learned by others?    

The answer is "yes". We asked Scott Geller, the nation's leading authority on workplace safety, to put together a conference outlining the seven key habits that effective safety leaders practice daily to achieve an injury-free workplace. The rationale for the following seven habits will be discussed, as well as practical ways to reach this level of leadership

For more information, please call 1-800-223-1797, ext. 228 or visit http://www.compliancemag.com/Audio/Audio141.asp

Tyvek Coveralls

Redesigned DuPont Tyvek Coveralls offer comfort and improved mobility for the worker. The garments also are designed to resist tears, with a tailored fit and reinforcement in high stress areas. DuPont Personal Protection, Richmond, Va.

For more information, visit http://personalprotection.dupont.com.

CBRN Face Piece

The M120 CBRN face piece is an air-purifying respirator offering chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) protection. The respirator's two-piece construction of hypoallergenic, halobutyl rubber mask, and silicone nose cup materials make the face piece simple to disinfect, decontaminate, and maintain. It also provides maximum comfort and permeation resistance to a wide variety of toxic industrial materials and CBRN agents. Scott Health & Safety, Monroe, N.C.

For more information, visit http://www.scotthealthsafety.com

(New Products continued after sponsor message.)

An effective safety committee is vital to the health of your facility's work force, and conducting regular safety committee meetings is the key to managing this important safeguard.

Many states already require safety and health committees.

The Safety Committee Meetings-in-a-Box series is designed to give you the tools you need to organize and conduct safety committee meetings that will have a positive impact both on the safety of your employees and your facility's financial standing.    
    
Each module includes:
· A Microsoft Power Point Presentation
· Meeting Lesson Plan and Agenda
· Checklists and Handouts
· Printable Safety Posters
For more information or to see a sample, visit