The Hazardous Material Safety Program is a Navywide program designed to ensure the safe usage of hazardous materials. Hazardous Material Control and Management (HMC&M), OPNAVINST 4110.2, establishes the policies, guidance, requirements, and management of hazardous material used by the Navy.

Materials ordinarily considered to be safe maybe rendered hazardous under certain conditions by the uninformed user. Therefore, it is imperative that accident prevention actions designed to control and regulate the identification, transportation, storage, and use of hazardous materials be implemented to protect both the user and the general public.

Except as noted, hazardous material is any material that by virtue of its potentially dangerous nature requires controls to ensure adequate protection of life, health, and property. For the purpose of this program only, this definition excludes ammunition, explosives, propellants, pyrotechnics, chemical and biological warfare materials, medical and pharmaceutical supplies, and bulk fuels.

OPNAVINST 4110.2 gives guidelines for the reporting, management, and record keeping of hazardous materials. It also requires that activities ensure that all personnel coming into contact with hazardous materials be (1) indoctrinated and trained in the proper handling procedures of hazard materials, and (2) provided with and required to use personal protective equipment. It also contains information on host-tenant command relationships with regard to hazardous materials.

This section discusses material safety data sheets and hazardous-materials warning labels. MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEETS

To comply with the Hazard Communication Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1200, a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) (OSHA Form 174) must be used by manufacturers of chemical products to communicate to users the chemical, physical, and hazardous properties of their product. (An equivalent form may be used if it contains the identical data elements.)

The completed form identifies key information on the product, such as the name, address, and emergency contact for the manufacturer; the identify of the hazardous ingredients; the physical and chemical characteristics; the fire and explosion hazard data; the reactivity data; the health hazard data; the precautions for safe handling and use; and the control measures. The use of the MSDS, or a narrative summary of the MSDS information, should be included as a part of hazardous-material training programs.

HAZARDOUS-MATERIALS WARNING LABELS

Hazardous-materials warning labels are necessary to clearly show the hazardous nature of the contents of the packages at all stages of storage, handling, use, and disposal. When unit packages are removed from shipping containers, the continuity of the information must be maintained.

If you must relabel a hazardous-material container, use the labeling system for DOD hazardous-chemical warnings. As of September 1990, you can print labels directly from you HMIS CD-ROM computer disk on plain paper and put them on unlabeled containers. The label should identify the hazardous chemical contained and should provide the appropriate warnings.

The labeling of hazardous materials is governed by 29 CFR 1910.1200. The Department of Defense (DOD) adopted the regulations in DOD Hazardous Materials Information System Procedures, DODINST 6050.5. All hazardous materials procured by DOD must meet OSHA labeling requirements, and DOD activities are not required to relabel hazardous-material containers.