Chemicals

Today sustainability is not just a buzzword. Captains of commerce, like Wal-Mart, Target, Virgin, and Apple are championing the drive to improve the chemical footprints of entire supply chains. In the past, the word “sustainability” conjured images of extreme environmentalism at the cost of all else; today it encompasses a wide-angled view of the relationships […]

This second post in a series on the NAEM Report, “Planning for a Sustainable Future,” focuses on the growing challenge of enforcing supply chain compliance in a tangled and constantly fluctuating regulatory environment. Supply chain compliance is an ever-evolving global issue. Unless all materials right down to chemical makeup or raw minerals are sourced locally, […]

Sodium Hypochlorite (Bleach) Safety Information It whitens your whites, cleans your floors and acts as a great sanitizer. But bleach, (also known as its chemical name, sodium hypochlorite) can be quite hazardous when not handled properly. What Is Bleach AKA Sodium Hypochlorite? Sodium hypochlorite is a green/yellow liquid that smells like chlorine. It is a […]

Safety & Care When Working with Crystalline Silica Crystalline Silica is a mineral found in the Earth’s crust and comes in several forms, most commonly in quartz; the other two forms are cristobalite and tridymite.  It is so widely used in various industries that people come into contact with it literally every day. Used in […]

1.       Saves Time 2.       Saves Money 3.       It’s Efficient 4.       Sustainability 5.       Risk Reduction It would be easy to think that most companies choose to manage their safety data sheets (MSDSs and SDSs) electronically because they are concerned with OSHA compliance or the transition to GHS. However, the truth is, most companies choose electronic management […]

OSHA discussed the use of HMIS and NFPA labels during a Webinar on HazCom 2012 today. The main focus of the presentation was preparing employers for meeting the Dec. 1, 2013 training deadline and answering implementation questions OSHA’s received in the last year since the HazCom Standard was revised first implemented. Jennifer Lawless, directorate of […]

What Is Acetone? Acetone, also known as propanone, is a clear, colorless liquid that is highly flammable. It is not necessarily a household word, but this will ring a bell: nail polish remover. Acetone is also used as a degreaser, for thinning fiber glass resin, and helps remove adhesives and vinyl resins. While it is […]

Now that OSHA has revised its Hazard Communication Standard to align with GHS, the big question many employers, chemical manufacturers and distributors have is, “Can I continue to use NFPA and HMIS systems and labels?” The short answer is yes. However, whether or not they should (or will even want to over the long run) […]

State of Washington Updates HazCom Program The State of Washington officially joined the GHS bandwagon on April 15, 2013. State OSHA plans must have standards that are at least on par with Federal OSHA guidelines. To that end, Washington is amending its state Hazard Communication laws. The phase in period for Washington is as follows: […]

When we think about dangerous workplaces, nail salons and beauty shops don’t immediately come to mind; however, maybe they should. Many products used in the giving of manicures and pedicures often contain chemicals with well-known health effects. Nail salon employees are especially at risk given their long-term exposure and/or their exposure to high concentrations of […]