OSHA DEFINITION OF HAZARDOUS CHEMICAL
Hazardous chemicals are defined as those materials which possess either a health and/or physical hazard (See PG 4 of Hazard Communication Program).
Health hazard means a chemical for which there is statistically significant evidence based on at least one study conducted in accordance with established scientific principles that acute or chronic health effects may occur in exposed employees. The term "health hazard" includes chemicals which are carcinogens, toxic or highly toxic agents, reproductive toxins, irritants, corrosives, sensitizers, hepatotoxins, nephrotoxins, neurotoxins, agents which act on the hematopoietic system, and agents which damage the lungs, skin, eyes, or mucous membranes.
Physical hazard means a chemical for which there is scientifically valid evidence that it is a combustible liquid, a compressed gas, explosive, flammable, an organic peroxide, an oxidizer, pyrophoric, unstable (reactive) or water-reactive.
What would be a simplest way to determine whether or not the product or material contains hazardous chemical(s)? Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)
Why? It is manufacturer’s responsibility to list:
- The chemical characteristics of all ingredients which have been determined to be health hazards;
- The chemical characteristics of all ingredients which have been determined to present a physical hazard when present in the mixture;
- The physical and chemical characteristics of the material (such as vapor pressure, flash point);
- The physical hazards of hazardous chemicals, including the potential for fire, explosion, and reactivity.