Skip to main content
ARS Home » Northeast Area » Docs » Safety, Health and Environmental Training » Hazard Communication
Hazard Communication
headline bar
1 - Hazard Communication
2 - Page 3
3 - Page 2

 HOME

 Hazard Communication Diamond

The Federal OSHA Standards, 29 CRF 1910 and 1926, better known as the"Hazard Communications" or "Right-to-Know" standards, apply to the state government and its political subdivisions.


You Have A Right To Know

Employees of USPSNL have the right to know the properties and potential safety and health hazards of substances to which they may be exposed. Such knowledge is essential to reducing the risk of occupational illness and injury.

Goals of Right to Know:

  • To help you reduce the risks involved in working with hazardous materials

  • To transmit vital information to employees about real and potential hazards of substances in the work place

  • To reduce the incidence and cost of illness and injury resulting from hazardous substances

  • To promote public employer's need and right to know

  • To encourage a reduction in the volume and toxicity of hazardous substances

 Hazard Communication Diamond

The following video is a supplement to the training session.

Right Red PointerHaz Comm Talk Radio in Quicktime Movie
RunningTime: 8 minutes

Labeling and Marking Systems

Proper labeling of chemical containers is fundamental to protecting your safety and health. In addition, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires labeling on containers of hazardous chemicals in the workplace.

Reading the Label

Always read the labels provided on the products
you use!!!

OSHA requires hazardous chemcial labels to contain the following information:

  • Identity of the material
  • Name and address of manufacturer
  • Precautionary hazard warnings

In addition to the manufacturers' labels which are provided on most chemical products, there are also the:

  • National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) diamonds
  • Hazard Assessment Signage Program (HASP) system

The first rely on color coding and a numerical rating system to identify the hazard and its severity. The HASP system identifies the areas where hazardous substances are used or stored through pictograph symbols.

NFPA Diamonds

USPSNL building have a NFPA diamond located on the door of the Chemical Storage Room. Each diamond represents a different hazard.

Blue = Health Hazard
Red = Flammability
Yellow = Instability
White = Special Hazard Information

A numerical rating will also be provided in the blue, red, and yellow diamonds. This number indicates the severity of the hazard, with a 0 indicating no hazard and 4 indicating the most severe hazard.

These placards represent the "worst" of what is in the building, but they will not provide specific chemical names, quantities, or locations. They are designed to give emergency personnel a general idea of the worst hazards present in a building or area.

Key to the NFPA Diamond

NRPA diamondSpecial Hazards
This section is used to denote special hazards. There are only two NFPA 704 approved symbols:

OXThis denotes an oxidizer, a chemical, which can greatly increase the rate of combustion/fire.
Unusual reactivity with water. This indicates a potential hazard using water to fight a fire involving this material.


Hazard Assessment Signage Program

HASP signLaboratories should be marked with the appropriate pictographic symbols to warn employees, visitors, and emergency responders what precautions should be observed when entering the laboratory, as well as what hazards to expect inside.



[1] 2 3 Next >>