Appendix A: Glossary of Terms, Abbreviations, and Acronyms

MSDSs

Hazard Communication Program

Appendix A

GLOSSARY OF TERMS, ABBREVIATIONS, AND ACRONYMS

ACGIH: American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists.

Acute Effect: A health effect that occurs soon after a brief exposure to the offending agent.

Carcinogen: A chemical that is capable of causing cancer. Under the HCS a carcinogen is any chemical that has been found to be a carcinogen or potential carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, is listed as a carcinogen or potential carcinogen in the Annual Report on Carcinogens published by the National Toxicology Program, or is regulated by OSHA as a carcinogen.

Chemical and Biological Safety in Laboratories: The University's general chemical hygiene plan, as required by the OSHA Laboratory Standard.

Chronic Effect: A health effect that occurs over a long period of time as a result of continued or periodic exposure to the offending agent.

Combustible Liquid: Any liquid having a flash point at or above 100 degrees F (37.8 degrees C), but below 200 degrees F (93.3 degrees C).

Compressed Gas: I. a gas or mixture of gases having, in a container, an absolute pressure exceeding 40 psi at 70 degrees F (21 degrees C); or II. a gas or mixture of gases having, in a container, an absolute pressure exceeding 104 psi at 130 degrees F (54.4 degrees C) regardless of the pressure at 70 degrees F; or III. a liquid having a vapor pressure exceeding 40 psi at 100 degrees F (37.8 degrees C) as determined by ASTM D-323-72.

Corrosive: A chemical that causes visible destruction of, or irreversible alterations in, living tissue by chemical action at the site of contact.

Employee: An individual receiving a paycheck from the University.

EPA: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Explosive: A chemical that causes a sudden, almost instantaneous release of pressure, gas, and heat when subjected to sudden shock, pressure, or high temperature.

Flammable: A chemical that catches on fire easily and burns readily.

Hazardous Chemical: Defined by OSHA as any chemical that is a health hazard or a physical hazard.

Hazard Warning: Any words, pictures, symbols, or combination thereof appearing on a label that convey the hazards of the chemical(s) in the container.

Health Hazard: 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. Chemicals covered by this definition include carcinogens, toxic or highly toxic agents, reproductive toxins, irritants, corrosives, sensitizers, hepatotoxins, nephrotoxins, neurotoxins, that which act on the hematopoietic system, and agents that damage the lungs, skin, eyes, or mucous membranes.

Hematopoietic System: The body's blood system, including the production and circulation of blood and the blood itself.

Hepatotoxins: Chemicals that cause liver damage.

HSC: Hazard Communication Standard (OSHA: Title 29 Code of Federal Regulations 1910.1200).

Importer: The first business with employees working with the Customs Territory of the United States that receives hazardous chemicals produced in other countries for the purpose of supplying them to distributors or employers within the United States.

Irritant: A chemical that is not corrosive but causes a reversible inflammatory effect on living tissue by chemical action at the site of contact.

Label: Any written, printed, or graphic material displayed on or affixed to containers of hazardous chemicals.

Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS): Written or printed material concerning a hazardous chemical that includes information on the chemical's identity; physical and chemical characteristics; physical and health hazards; primary routes of entry; exposure limits; whether the chemical is a carcinogen; precautions for safe handling and use; control measures; emergency and first aid procedures; the date of preparation of the MSDS or the last change to it; and the name, address, and telephone number of the manufacturer, importer, or employer distributing the MSDS.

Mixture: A heterogeneous association of substances where the various individual substances retain their identities and can usually be separated by mechanical means. Includes solutions or compounds but does not include alloys or amalgams.

MSDS: Material Safety Data Sheet.

Nephrotoxins: Chemicals that cause kidney damage.

Neurotoxins: Chemicals that produce their primary toxic effects on the nervous system.

Organic peroxide: An organic compound that contains the bivalent -O-O-structure and may be considered to be a structural derivative of hydrogen peroxide where one or both of the hydrogen atoms has been replaced by an organic radical.

OSHA: Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Oxidizer: A chemical other than a blasting agent or explosive that initiates or promotes combustion in other materials, thereby causing fire either of itself or through the release of oxygen or other gases.

Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL): An exposure limit that is published and enforced by OSHA as a legal standard.

Physical Hazard: 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.

Pyrophoric: A chemical that will ignite spontaneously in air at a temperature of 130 degrees F (54.4 degrees C) or below.

Readily Available: To be quickly and easily accessible at any time for information and emergency use.

Reproductive Toxins: Chemicals that affect the reproductive capabilities including chromosomal damage (mutations) or effects on fetuses (teratogenesis).

Responsible Party: Someone who can provide additional information on the hazardous chemical and appropriate emergency procedures, if necessary.

Safety Desk Book: A central safety resource for the laboratory, shop, and department safety documents.

ISIS Safety Profile : A laboratory-specific chemical hygiene plan required by the OSHA Laboratory Standard for research labs, teaching labs, and common facilities (those shared by more than one researcher).

SARA Title III: Title III of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act, it is also known as the Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act (EPCRA).

Sensitizer: A chemical that causes a substantial proportion of exposed people or animals to develop an allergic reaction in normal tissue after repeated exposure to the chemical.

Threshold Limit Value (TLV): A time-weighted average concentration under which most people can work consistently for eight hours a day, day after day, with no harmful effects. The values are published in a table annually by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists.

Toxic: Causing acute or chronic injury to the human body or suspected of being able to cause disease or injury under some conditions. The HCS defines "toxic" and "highly toxic" specifically by the chemical's median lethal dose and median lethal concentration for laboratory animals.

Unstable (reactive): A chemical that in the pure state, or as produced or transported, will vigorously polymerize, decompose, condense, or will become self-reactive under conditions of shocks, pressure, or temperature.

Water-reactive: A chemical that reacts with water to release a gas that either is flammable or presents a health hazard.

Work area: A room or defined space in a workplace where hazardous chemicals are produced or used and where employees are present.

Workplace: An establishment, job site, or project at one geographical location containing one or more work areas.

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