CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL HAZARDS
Purpose_______________________________________________________________
This program provides a plan for the control of any chemical or biological substance used, produced, stored or disposed of at the workplace and is critical to the overall safety and health of the employees of Selkirk Chrysler.
Policy Statement________________________________________________________
All existing and potential risks to the health or safety of employees will be identified through Selkirk Chrysler's hazard assessment process.
There will be written procedures to respond to an emergency situation (See Selkirk Chrysler's Emergency Action Plan)
Selkirk Chrysler shall take all measures reasonably necessary in the circumstances to protect workers from exposure to a hazardous biological or chemical agent because of the storage, handling, processing or use of such agent in the workplace.
Health and safety will be considered in all tendering and purchasing decisions. Selkirk Chrysler shall keep under constant review the use or presence of chemical substances which may be hazardous to the health or safety of employees and shall wherever and so far as is reasonably practical substitute a safe or less hazardous substance.
Responsibilities_________________________________________________________
The company
Managers and Supervisors
Employee
Joint Health and Safety Committee
Procedure for Identifying and Controlling Harmful Substances_____________________
Define Types of Hazards
A hazard is any activity, situation or substance that can cause harm. Categorizing the hazard(s) helps to determine the type of control(s) that may be necessary to protect employees. Biological hazards and chemical hazards are tow of the categories and examples are noted below.
Assessing Potential Exposure to Harmful Substances____________________________
Selkirk Chrysler shall develop procedures to address how potential exposure to harmful substances is assessed to ensure exposure does not exceed occupational exposure limits. Selkirk Chrysler shall assess all information that is practicably available to Selkirk Chrysler respecting a chemical or biological substance present in the workplace to determine if the substance creates or may create a risk to the safety or health of a worker in the workplace.
If a worker is, or may be, exposed to an airborne chemical or biological substance in the workplace at a concentration in excess of the occupational exposure limit for the substance, Selkirk Chrysler must conduct monitoring of the substance on a regular basis to determine the airborne concentration of the substance.
Identify Chemical and Biological Hazards in the Workplace _____________________
Supervisors and safety staff are responsible for identifying potential chemical and biological hazards and risks to employees. Chemical and biological hazards may be identified through data gathered by any of the following processes:
Determine the Degree of Risk to the Employee
Hazards need to be assessed by the degree of risk or harm posed to employees. When determining the degree of risk to employees, consider not only the probability or likelihood of the hazard causing harm, but also the potential severity of the harm. Probability is the chance that a hazard will cause harm. Severity is the seriousness of the harm that could be suffered. Risk represents the odds that a hazard will cause harm.
Common questions to ask that will help with assessing the degree of risk include:
Control Measures _____________________________________________________________
Selkirk Chrysler shall use control measures to ensure that workers may not be exposed to a concentration of a harmful substance above its Occupational Exposure Limits. If a worker is, or may be, exposed to an airborne chemical or biological substance in the workplace at a concentration in excess of the occupational exposure limit for the substance, Selkirk Chrysler will implement control measures sufficient to ensure that no worker is exposed to the substance in excess of the occupational exposure limit for that substance.
Controls may be implemented at the source of the hazard, along the path between the hazard and the employee, and/or at the employee level. Selkirk Chrysler shall protect workers from exposure to a hazardous biological or chemical agent without requiring the workers to wear and use personal protective equipment.
Often, more than one control method needs to be implemented in order to protect the health and safety of employees. Strategies used to reduce, eliminate or control hazards may include anyone of the following:
Controls at the Source
Controls along the Path to the Employee
Controls at the Employee
Written Safe Work Practices _____________________________________________
Once chemical and biological hazards have been identified and control measures have been selected to reduce, eliminate or control the hazard, the safest way to perform the task must be put in writing. Safe work practices outline the step-by-step method for performing a particular task, including any potential or existing hazards present and the control measures that must be taken to eliminate, reduce or manage the risk. Safe work practices should also outline any emergency procedures required in the event that control measures are sufficient to protect the employee from harm.
Eye Wash Equipment
Emergency eye washing equipment is readily available. Selkirk Chrysler will ensure that the emergency washing equipment is located in the workplace and clearly identified and unimpeded access to the equipment is provided.
The worker may use the unit to immediately flush an eye injury. When a worker has used eyewash equipment to flush an eye injury, Selkirk Chrysler will ensure that the worker immediately uses the emergency washing equipment provided in the workplace.
If an eyewash unit is used it shall be refilled and made ready by a competent person following manufacturer's instructions.
Prohibited Activities
Employees shall not eat, drink or smoke tobacco in an area of a work site that is contaminated with a harmful substance.
How potential exposure to harmful substances is assessed to ensure exposure does not exceed occupational exposure limits
Where Selkirk Chrysler or an employee has reason to believe that the level of concentration of an air contaminant may be approaching 50% of the threshold limit value, Selkirk Chrysler will ensure that the air is tested to determine the level of concentration of the air contaminant.
Storage of Harmful Substances ___________________________________________
Selkirk Chrysler will ensure that a harmful substance used or stored at a work site:
Procedures to be Followed in the Event of an Uncontrolled Release or Spill _________
Selkirk Chrysler will ensure that emergency equipment appropriate for use in the event of escape of a hazardous substance is readily available, any spillage of a hazardous substance is immediately and adequately cleaned up, and a hazardous substance is disposed of so that it will not create a hazard to the health or safety of employees.
Ensure Employee Compliance
Supervisors are responsible to ensure that employees comply with safe work procedures. Procedures are written to provide information and guidance to anyone performing a hazardous task or work process. Employees must comply with safe work procedures by using equipment and/or tools provided in order to do the task safely. Non compliance with safe work practices may result in disciplinary action of the employee. Working safely is a condition of employment.
Training _____________________________________________________________
Workers are provided training on the chemical and biological hazards they may be exposed to. Selkirk Chrysler will ensure workers are trained in the safe work procedures respecting the use, production, storage, handling and disposal of any chemical or biological substance that an assessment has determined creates or may create a risk to the safety or health of a worker in that workplace.
Selkirk Chrysler will ensure that, prior to performing any hazardous task(s), employees are trained in:
Purpose_______________________________________________________________
This program provides a plan for the control of any chemical or biological substance used, produced, stored or disposed of at the workplace and is critical to the overall safety and health of the employees of Selkirk Chrysler.
Policy Statement________________________________________________________
All existing and potential risks to the health or safety of employees will be identified through Selkirk Chrysler's hazard assessment process.
There will be written procedures to respond to an emergency situation (See Selkirk Chrysler's Emergency Action Plan)
Selkirk Chrysler shall take all measures reasonably necessary in the circumstances to protect workers from exposure to a hazardous biological or chemical agent because of the storage, handling, processing or use of such agent in the workplace.
Health and safety will be considered in all tendering and purchasing decisions. Selkirk Chrysler shall keep under constant review the use or presence of chemical substances which may be hazardous to the health or safety of employees and shall wherever and so far as is reasonably practical substitute a safe or less hazardous substance.
Responsibilities_________________________________________________________
The company
- Identify, assess and properly control chemical and biological hazards
- Shall develop and maintain a list of all chemical and biological substances that are regularly handled, used, stored, produced or disposed of in the course of work processes and that may be hazardous to the health and safety of the workers at the workplace. All chemical and biological substances that are controlled products must be identified on the list. This list must be readily available to the workers at the workplace.
- Shall take all reasonable steps to ascertain and record the precautions that need to be taken with respect to the substances to ensure the health and safety of workers. Clearly mark the containers holding the substances with the the name of the substance as set out in the list of substances.
- Maintain hazard identification and control lists and maintain written procedures that are prepared and implemented to prevent exposure by any route that could cause an adverse health effect, and to address emergency and cleanup procedures in the event of a spill or release of the substance.
- Ensure that atmosphere contamination of the workplace by chemical substances is kept as low as is reasonably practical.
- Every employee is to be informed of the nature and degree of health effects of the chemical substances to which the employee is exposed by virtue of his or her work the exposure of employees to harmful chemical substances is as little as is reasonably practical
- If a worker is or may be exposed to a chemical or biological substance which could cause an adverse health effect, Selkirk Chrysler must ensure that the content and meaning of the information is clearly communicated to the employee.Train employees with regards to required control measures to keep them safe at work and ensure that the supervisors and the employees are trained in and follow the established procedures for safely handling, using, storing and disposing of the substance, including emergency and spill cleanup procedures.
- Ensure that an emergency response plan is developed for tasks involving chemical and biological substances.
- Maintain a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) control system.
- Place MSDS sheets in a highly visible area and to be readily available for staff use as required.
- Update the material safety data sheets every 3 years.
Managers and Supervisors
- Identify all potential chemical and biological hazards and risks to employees in their work area.
- Develop and implement measures to reduce, eliminate or control the identified risks.
- Develop procedures to respond to an emergency.
- Train employees about these hazards and the control strategies.
- Include all chemical and biological hazard identification and control strategies as part of the new employee orientation process.
- Ensure employee compliance with safe work procedures.
- Train employees in safe work procedures and inform them of chemical and biological hazards.
- Supervise employees to ensure employee compliance.
Employee
- Comply with safe work practices.
- Inform their supervisor of chemical and biological hazards encountered in their workplace.
- Work with their supervisor to resolve hazardous situations.
Joint Health and Safety Committee
- Assist the supervisors to identify, assess and control chemical and biological hazards.
- Monitor the effectiveness of the implemented controls.
- Ensure training programs regarding identified chemical and biological hazards are developed and implemented for employees.
Procedure for Identifying and Controlling Harmful Substances_____________________
- Define the types of hazards
- Determine the degree of risk to employees.
- Determine appropriate control measures for each chemical and biological hazard.
- Develop written safe work practices that identify the hazard(s) and state the control measures required, including any written emergency procedures to be implemented in the event of an accumulation, spill or leak.
- Train employees to identify chemical and biological hazard(s) and proceed with tasks using safe work procedures.
- Ensure the identity of the substance, its possible effects on employee health and safety and any precautions required for the health and safety of the employee are clearly indicated by label, MSDS sheets, signs, tags or any other means.
- Ensure employee compliance.
Define Types of Hazards
A hazard is any activity, situation or substance that can cause harm. Categorizing the hazard(s) helps to determine the type of control(s) that may be necessary to protect employees. Biological hazards and chemical hazards are tow of the categories and examples are noted below.
- Biological hazards: caused by organisms such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites, dusts, molds or other living organisms
- Chemical hazards: caused by solids, liquids, vapours, gasses, dust, fumes or mists, such as battery acids, solvents, etc.
Assessing Potential Exposure to Harmful Substances____________________________
Selkirk Chrysler shall develop procedures to address how potential exposure to harmful substances is assessed to ensure exposure does not exceed occupational exposure limits. Selkirk Chrysler shall assess all information that is practicably available to Selkirk Chrysler respecting a chemical or biological substance present in the workplace to determine if the substance creates or may create a risk to the safety or health of a worker in the workplace.
If a worker is, or may be, exposed to an airborne chemical or biological substance in the workplace at a concentration in excess of the occupational exposure limit for the substance, Selkirk Chrysler must conduct monitoring of the substance on a regular basis to determine the airborne concentration of the substance.
Identify Chemical and Biological Hazards in the Workplace _____________________
Supervisors and safety staff are responsible for identifying potential chemical and biological hazards and risks to employees. Chemical and biological hazards may be identified through data gathered by any of the following processes:
- Workplace inspections
- Job safety analysis (JSA)
- Dangerous occurrences
- Workplace incident reports (types and causes)
- Incident investigations
- Concerns raised by employees
- Employees' Compensation Board (WCB) claims
- Joint Health Safety and Health Committee minutes
- New or modified jobs
- New or modified equipment or job procedures
- New scientific information regarding hazards or risks
- Legislation (WSH, Transportation of Dangerous Goods, WHMIS)
- Industry standards (infection control)
- Regulatory (codes of practice, ANSI, CSA, provincial and local)
- Supplier, client or manufacturer information.
Determine the Degree of Risk to the Employee
Hazards need to be assessed by the degree of risk or harm posed to employees. When determining the degree of risk to employees, consider not only the probability or likelihood of the hazard causing harm, but also the potential severity of the harm. Probability is the chance that a hazard will cause harm. Severity is the seriousness of the harm that could be suffered. Risk represents the odds that a hazard will cause harm.
Common questions to ask that will help with assessing the degree of risk include:
- How likely is the hazard to cause harm?
- Under what conditions is harm likely to occur?
- How quickly could an unsafe condition arise?
- What type of harm is involved?
- How many employees could get hurt?
- Is there a history or problems, incidents or dangerous occurrences resulting from this hazard?
- What monitoring is required to evaluate the risk?
- When looking for hazards for a specific task, ask questions such as:
- Can any body part be exposed to the substance?
- Do tools, equipment or processes present any problems?
- Can the employee make harmful contact with any materials?
- Is there a danger from falling/spilling objects?
- Is lighting a problem?
- Can weather conditions affect the chemical or biological substance?
- Is contact possible with hot, toxic or caustic substances?
- Are there fumes, dusts, mists or vapours in the air?
- What are the task and job specific risks?
Control Measures _____________________________________________________________
Selkirk Chrysler shall use control measures to ensure that workers may not be exposed to a concentration of a harmful substance above its Occupational Exposure Limits. If a worker is, or may be, exposed to an airborne chemical or biological substance in the workplace at a concentration in excess of the occupational exposure limit for the substance, Selkirk Chrysler will implement control measures sufficient to ensure that no worker is exposed to the substance in excess of the occupational exposure limit for that substance.
Controls may be implemented at the source of the hazard, along the path between the hazard and the employee, and/or at the employee level. Selkirk Chrysler shall protect workers from exposure to a hazardous biological or chemical agent without requiring the workers to wear and use personal protective equipment.
Often, more than one control method needs to be implemented in order to protect the health and safety of employees. Strategies used to reduce, eliminate or control hazards may include anyone of the following:
Controls at the Source
- Engineering controls either reduce or remove the hazard at the source or isolate employees from the hazard.
- Eliminate the risk by getting rid of the hazardous substance.
- Substitute the hazard with a less hazardous process or material.
- Redesign the layout of the workplaces, workstations, work processes and jobs.
- Isolate, contain or enclose the hazard, often used for chemical or biological hazards
- Automate dangerous work processes by using mechanical equipment
Controls along the Path to the Employee
- Relocate by moving the hazard a safe distance from the employee.
- Create barriers between employee and the hazard to block the hazard path. For example, use of screens, walls, aprons or other personal protective equipment.
- Absorb the hazard by using local exhaust ventilation to remove toxic gases (airborne hazards) at the source where they are produced.
- Dilute the hazard, such as hazardous gases, by mixing with clean outside air.
Controls at the Employee
- Work practice controls alter the manner in which a hazardous task is performed, such as minimizing exposure, prohibiting smoking, inspecting equipment and eating in regulated areas.
- Administrative controls such as implementation of new policies, improved and standardized work procedures, job rotations, shift scheduling and good supervision.
- Housekeeping, maintenance and repair to ensure cleaning, waste disposal and spill clean-up at the workplace, as well routine preventive maintenance and repair of equipment.
- Hygiene practices that can reduce the spread of infections such as frequent hand washing, separate eating areas away from the hazardous work area, etc.
- Personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves, eye protection and face shields are to be used as controls when other controls are not feasible are reasonably practicable, or where additional protection is required.
- Selkirk Chrysler will provide, and employees shall wear and use, personal protective equipment appropriate in the circumstances to protect the employees from exposure to a hazardous biological or chemical agent.
Written Safe Work Practices _____________________________________________
Once chemical and biological hazards have been identified and control measures have been selected to reduce, eliminate or control the hazard, the safest way to perform the task must be put in writing. Safe work practices outline the step-by-step method for performing a particular task, including any potential or existing hazards present and the control measures that must be taken to eliminate, reduce or manage the risk. Safe work practices should also outline any emergency procedures required in the event that control measures are sufficient to protect the employee from harm.
Eye Wash Equipment
Emergency eye washing equipment is readily available. Selkirk Chrysler will ensure that the emergency washing equipment is located in the workplace and clearly identified and unimpeded access to the equipment is provided.
The worker may use the unit to immediately flush an eye injury. When a worker has used eyewash equipment to flush an eye injury, Selkirk Chrysler will ensure that the worker immediately uses the emergency washing equipment provided in the workplace.
If an eyewash unit is used it shall be refilled and made ready by a competent person following manufacturer's instructions.
Prohibited Activities
Employees shall not eat, drink or smoke tobacco in an area of a work site that is contaminated with a harmful substance.
How potential exposure to harmful substances is assessed to ensure exposure does not exceed occupational exposure limits
Where Selkirk Chrysler or an employee has reason to believe that the level of concentration of an air contaminant may be approaching 50% of the threshold limit value, Selkirk Chrysler will ensure that the air is tested to determine the level of concentration of the air contaminant.
Storage of Harmful Substances ___________________________________________
Selkirk Chrysler will ensure that a harmful substance used or stored at a work site:
- It shall be clearly identified or the container clearly identified
- Be used and stored in such a way the use or storage is not a hazard to any person
- WHMIS guidelines must be adhered to when working with and/or storing harmful substances.
- All containers, used or handled at a workplace, which by reason of toxicity, flammability or reactivity create risk to the health or safety of employees shall be contained, so far as is reasonably practicable in a suitable container which is clearly labelled to identify the substance, the hazards associated with its use or handling, the workplace uses for which it is intended, and protective measures to be taken by employees before, during and after its use.
- Selkirk Chrysler will ensure that residue or waste from the substance or materials used for cleaning or wiping it is placed into suitably labelled containers for safe disposal.
- Harmful substances are to be stored in a self-contained enclosure, room or building that is isolated from work related areas and is adequately ventilated and protected from conditions, including excessive temperature, shock or vibration that could reduce the stability or increase the potential hazard of the substance.
Procedures to be Followed in the Event of an Uncontrolled Release or Spill _________
Selkirk Chrysler will ensure that emergency equipment appropriate for use in the event of escape of a hazardous substance is readily available, any spillage of a hazardous substance is immediately and adequately cleaned up, and a hazardous substance is disposed of so that it will not create a hazard to the health or safety of employees.
Ensure Employee Compliance
Supervisors are responsible to ensure that employees comply with safe work procedures. Procedures are written to provide information and guidance to anyone performing a hazardous task or work process. Employees must comply with safe work procedures by using equipment and/or tools provided in order to do the task safely. Non compliance with safe work practices may result in disciplinary action of the employee. Working safely is a condition of employment.
Training _____________________________________________________________
Workers are provided training on the chemical and biological hazards they may be exposed to. Selkirk Chrysler will ensure workers are trained in the safe work procedures respecting the use, production, storage, handling and disposal of any chemical or biological substance that an assessment has determined creates or may create a risk to the safety or health of a worker in that workplace.
Selkirk Chrysler will ensure that, prior to performing any hazardous task(s), employees are trained in:
- If a worker is or may be exposed to a chemical or biological substance which could cause an adverse health effect, Selkirk Chrysler will ensure that the supervisor and the worker are trained in and follow the established procedures for safely handling, using, storing and disposing of the substance, including emergency and spill clean-up procedures.
- Work procedures developed and the proper use of any personal protective equipment required by regulations.
- The health hazards associated with exposure to that substance.
- Informed of measurements made of airborne concentrations of harmful substances in the work area.
- Emergency procedures developed that require the involvement of the worker or are necessary to protect the health and safety of the worker.