HAZARD COMMUNICATION PROGRAM

I. General Program
In order to comply with Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act WAC 296-62-054, Hazard Communication, the following written Hazard Communication Program has been established for the Highline School District No. 401. All work units of the school district are included within this program. The written program will be available in the Purchasing Department for review by any interested employee. Any questions should be directed  to the Purchasing Department.

A. Container Labeling

1. The head custodian at each work site will ensure that all bottles, cans, or jugs containing district provided custodial cleaning supplies are labeled with either an extra copy of the original manufacturer's label with the "central stores" generic labels or the district labels, both of which have a block for identity and blocks for the hazard warning. For assistance with labeling contact the district consultant through the Purchasing Department for classroom materials or the operations supervisor for custodial and cleaning supplies.

2. The hazard materials consultant, operations supervisor, and warehouse person will review the district's labeling system every odd-numbered year and update as required.

B. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)

1. The Purchasing Department director will be responsible for obtaining and maintaining the data sheet system for the school district. A stamp will be placed on each purchase order to read as follows:

"The State of Washington's Right-to-Know Law and the Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 296-62-054/05425 Hazard Communication Standard requires manufacturers, importers and suppliers to label containers of toxic substance, gases or materials and hazardous chemicals with the chemical   name  and   hazard  warning. Manufacturers, importers and distributors, and suppliers must also provide Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS's) for these products before they will be received and/or payment made for them. Appropriate labels and MSDS's shall be provided for all shipments. Send MSDS's to the Purchasing Department of the Highline School District at 15675 Ambaum Blvd. S.W., Burien, Washington, 98166 prior to initial shipments and whenever chemical formulation and/or hazard, shown on your MSDS, change."

2. All MSDS's received from manufacturers during the year will be sent to the appropriate "ship to" and added to the master inventory. The master  file will contain MSDS's filed by location and commodity code/common name.

3. Each building principal and/or supervisor will review incoming data sheets for new and significant health/safety information. He/she will see that any new information is passed on to the affected employees. Copies of MSDS's for hazardous chemicals to which employees of the school district may be exposed in each building will be kept in the main office of each location. The master file for the entire district will be kept in the district Purchasing office at 15675 Ambaum Blvd. S.W., Burien, Washington. If MSDS's are not available or new chemicals in use do not have MSDS's, immediately contact the Purchasing Department. A letter requesting the MSDS will be sent to the manufacturer.

C. Employee Training and Information

1. The hazard materials consultant, operations supervisor, and the food service supervisor are responsible for the employee training program in their respective areas. They will ensure all elements specified below are carried out.

All new employees of the Highline School District No. 401 will attend a health and safety orientation and will receive information and training on the following:

a. An   overview   of   the  requirements   contained    in   the   Hazard Communication Standard, WAC 296-62-054.

b. Chemicals present in their workplace operations.

c. Location and availability of the district's written hazard program.

d. Physical and health effects of hazardous chemicals.

e. Methods and observation techniques used to determine the presence or release of hazardous chemicals in the work area.

f. How to lessen or prevent exposure to hazardous chemicals through usage of control/work practices and personal protective equipment.

g. Steps the district has taken to lessen or prevent exposure to chemicals.

h. Emergency procedures to follow if an employee is exposed to chemicals.

i. How to read labels and review MSDS's to obtain appropriate hazard information.

j. Location of MSDS file and location of hazardous chemical lists.

k. Viewing of the training film "TEACH".

3. Laboratory, art and industrial art teachers will receive a more comprehensive training program on the particular chemical hazards with which they work.

4. After attending the training class, each employee will sign a form to verify that he/she has attended the training, received the district's written materials booklet and understood the district's policies on hazard communication.

5. Each head custodian has a custodial handbook that contains all of the above information plus a complete set of MSDS's for all custodial supplies at each site.

6. Prior to a new chemical hazard being introduced into any section of this school district, each employee of that section will be given information as outlined above. The director of Purchasing is responsible for ensuring that MSDS on the new chemical(s) are available.

II. List of Hazardous Chemicals
A complete list of all known hazardous chemicals used by employees of the district will be on file in the Purchasing office. Further information on each noted chemical can be obtained by reviewing Material Safety Data Sheets located in each building where the chemical is located and/or in the Purchasing Department.

III. Hazardous Non-Routine Tasks

A. Periodically, employees are required to perform hazardous non-routine tasks. Prior to starting work on such projects, affected employees will be given information by their section supervisor about hazardous chemicals to which they may be exposed during such activity.  This information will include:

1. Specific chemical hazards.

2. Protective/safety measures the employee can take.

3. Measures the district has taken to lessen the hazards including ventilation, respirators, presence of another employee, and emergency procedures.

D. Examples of non-routine tasks performed by the employees of the district:

Task                                                                      Hazardous Chemicals

1.   Boiler cleaner                                                1.    Soot from scraping and vacuuming

2.   Changing fluorescent tubes                          2.    Coating inside tubes

IV.   Informing Contractors

A.   It is the responsibility of the director of Purchasing to provide contractors with the following information:

1.   Hazardous chemicals to which they may be exposed while on the job site.

2.   Precautions employees may take to lessen the possibility of exposure by usage of appropriate protective measures.

B.   This information will be provided to each contractor at the time the purchase order is issued.

C.   The district's assigned contract supervisor will be responsible for contacting each contractor before work is started in the district to gather and disseminate any information concerning chemical hazards that the contractor is bringing to our workplace.

V. Asbestos

Asbestos is the name for a group of minerals that occur naturally in the ground. Bundles of fibers make up asbestos minerals. Inhalation of airborne asbestos fibers may lead to risk of developing asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma, which can cause death or lifelong debilitating illnesses.

1. Staff Training
   1. Highline School District Facilities Services Department management is required to provide annual Asbestos Awareness Training for all staff.
   2. Staff shall be informed that asbestos is present in most buildings constructed prior to 2016. They should also be made aware of the district’s process for inspecting all pre-2016 buildings for asbestos-containing materials (ACM) and potentially asbestos-containing materials (PACM). This information is included in the district’s asbestos management plan, which can be accessed in the main office of each school. Additionally, a master Asbestos Management Plan is available at the main Facilities Services office.
   3. Facilities Services staff shall be trained to immediately secure any area, then notify management if any PACM or ACM is identified or disturbed during their work activities. In such cases, management will arrange for abatement services to be performed by a certified asbestos removal contractor.

Highline School District 401
Approved by the Superintendent: November 28, 1989
Revised by the Superintendent: 11.24