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Safe Use and Handling of Hazardous Chemical Products 

Many areas of the Capitol complex contain 

chemicals that are potentially hazardous 

to employees’ health. These items include 

cleaningagents,weldingandcuttingsupplies, 

acids, alkalis, finishing products, and 

flammables.Employeescanbeover-exposed 

to some chemicals through inhalation and 

some—like carbon tetrachloride—can be 

absorbed through the skin. Others—like 

lead—can pose a significant risk when 

amounts of hand contaminant get transferred

to food, cigarettes or any other item put in 

the mouth. 

Figure 1: Damage to container labels reduces their 

usefulness and can lead to mishaps. 

Hazard Communications Programs 

Employers are required to inform workers 

of the potential dangers of hazardous 

chemicals through implementation of a 

written“HazardCommunicationProgram,” 

or HCP. The HCP requires employers to 

make a list of all products in the work area 

that contain hazardous chemicals and to 

obtain a material safety data sheet for each. 

By law, labels must identify hazardous

chemicals and provide hazard warnings for 

physical and health hazards. If a chemical 

is transferred into another container, that

container must also be properly labeled. 

Transferred chemicals that are expected to 

be used the same day by the person who

transferred them do not need to be labeled. 

Employers should use less hazardous 

chemicals when effective substitutes are 

available, and make sure appropriate 

proctective measures are available. Further, 

the Office of Compliance suggests that an 

effective hazard determination, conducted 

as part of the HCP, be integrated with

the chemical purchasing and distribution 

processes. 

Material Safety Data Sheet 

An important part of any HCP is for 

employers to make available to employees 

a “Material Safety Data Sheet,” or MSDS, 

of each hazardous chemical product in the 

work area. An MSDS includes information 

about the identity of hazardous chemicals 

in the product, flammability and other 

physical hazards, possible health effects, 

recommended exposure controls (including 

personalprotective equipment),whattodoif 

apersoncomesincontactwiththe chemical, 

how to properly handle it, and what to do if 

the material is spilled or ignited. 

Although MSDS formats may vary, all 

are required to contain certain categories of 

information: a list of ingredients, their 

exposure limits, signs and symptoms of

exposures, medical conditions that can be 

www.compliance.gov


October 2007


Figure 2: A well-organized MSDS binder. 

aggravated by exposure, its routes of entry into

the body, precautions for safe handling and

use, proper personal protective equipment 

and other controls, and emergency and first 

aid procedures. 

Employers are also responsible for ensuring

that MSDSs are available to employees and 

for ensuring all containers have adequate 

labels. MSDSs are often provided in 

alphabetical order within a binder kept in 

an area of the work area where they can be 

quicklyused,especiallyduringanemergency. 

Each employee must also be provided with 

effective information and training on the 

natureofphysicalandhealthhazardspresent, 

operations where hazardous chemicals are 

present during routine and non-routine 

tasks, and the location and availability of the 

written HCP. Employees must be provided 

with documented information and training 

at the time of their initial assignment, and 

whenever a new physical or health hazard is

introduced into their work area. 
Proper Handling and Storage 

Proper handling and storage also plays an 

important role in chemical safety. Chemicals 

need to be handled, transported and stored in 

a responsible manner to ensure the chemical

staysinits container.Only compatiblematerials 

should be stored together. For example, 

strong oxidizers should not be stored with 

organic materials. All flammable liquids and

aerosols need to be stored in specially designed

flammable storage cabinets (See 29 CFR 

1910.106(d)). See the Office of Compliance’s 

“Pressurized Cylinders” Fast Fact for more 

information on compressed gases. 

Figure 3: An unlabeled bottle in a storage cabinet for flammable chemicals risks misuse or consumption. 

fast stats 

• In 2004, 17,880 injuries involving days from work due to contact with chemicals and chemical products 

were reported by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and 126 fatalities due to contact with chemicals and chemical 

products were reported.

• During Office of Compliance inspections of the 109th Congress, the following violations involving chemical 

hazards and deficient Hazard Communication Programs were found:

- Four locations with no Material Data Safety Sheets for specific chemicals

- Six locations with deficient Hazard Communication Programs

- Seven locations with improper labeling of chemicals

- One location with no readily available Material Data Safety Sheet

- 15 locations were issued a Notice of Serious Deficiency Needing Prompt Attention

• Important Standards

29 CFR 1926.59: Hazard Communication

29 CFR 1910.1200: Hazard Communication

29 CFR 1910.1450: Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories

Peter Ames Eveleth 

General Counsel 

Rachel Berg Scherer 

Editor 

If you spot a safety hazard in your legislative branch 

workplace, contact the Office of Compliance to report it: 

Room LA 200, John Adams Building 

110 Second Street, SE 

Washington, DC 20540 

t/ 202-724-9250; tdd/ 202-426-1912; f/ 202-426-1913 

Recorded Information Line/ 202-724-9260 

www.compliance.gov 

The Office of Compliance advances safety, health,

and workplace rights in the U.S. Congress and the 

Legislative Branch. Established as an independent

agency by the Congressional Accountability Act of 

1995, the Office educates employees and employing 

offices about their rights and responsibilities under the 

Act, provides an impartial dispute resolution process,

and investigates and remedies violations of the Act. 

This information does not constitute advice or an official ruling of the Office of Compliance or the Board of Directors and is intended for educational 

purposes only. For further information, please refer to the Congressional Accountability Act (2 U.S.C 1301 et seq.) and the regulations issued by the 

Board, or you may contact the Office of Compliance.