Answers to HAZCOM compliance questions

By Roger L. Myers and John V. Morris Loss Prevention Director Safety Coordinator

(Questions about how to comply with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's hazard communication standard are coming in hot and heavy despite the delay granted by the U,S. Court of Appeals, We hope that the approach taken by Dixieline Lumber Co. will be helpful to others -ed. ) lA OMPLIANCE with federal V guidelines concerning the recently expanded Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) hazard communication standard is causing considerable confusion among the businesses concerned.

Many business owners, especially those smaller non-manufacturing concerns, are still asking questions relative to their responsibilities if any. Add to the confusion the numerous other related state, county, and city ordinances which have all been recently implemented and the potential for investment of time and funds seems to be enormous.

We will not attempt to interpret the laws.in this article. That is a matter best left to the legal community. The potential for years of litigation surely exists in this controversial arena. We will at best offer some guidelines for other businesses to consider when designing their programs.

The single most important issue, as we see it, is the existence of a hazard communication program which is formalized in writing. This program must include: (1) informing employees of the presence of all known chemically hazardous substances in their workplace operations; (2) provisions for training all employees in the safe handling and use of any hazardous materials found in or around their workplace; (3) current and continuous records documenting this training, and by most recent interpretations, (4) a method for informing the surrounding communities of the existence of such hazardous chemicals or substances in your business establishment. California's recent enforcement (Feb. 27, 1988) ofwhat is referred to as "prop 65" is a good example of the requirements for the fourth item above, only at the state level.

A part ofthe training program for training employees must include their becoming familiar with Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS). Although very technical in many respects, these sheets contain valuable information for employees' use when learning to work with and around substances that may require

Story at a Glance

Suggestions for complying with OSHA's hazard communication standards. answers to common questions. what one lumber company has done to meet its responsibilties.

special hrst aid, storage, clean-up and disposal methods.

In answering the obvious question as to what constitutes a chemically hazardous substance, your nearest OSHA office or a state, county or city hazardous materials management unit can provide you with lists of all those substances considered and labeled in these categories. Do not overlook such simple residuals as wood dust which is considered a hazardous substance and is therefore not exempt. Obtain at the minimum, the OSHA toxic and hazardous substances list and the threshold limit values for chemical substances and physical agents and determine if any of these substances are present in your workplace.

Dixieline Lumber Co. has endeavored to meet and exceed compliance standards with the goal of providing a safe and healthy work environment as well as providing our consumers with relative and pertinent data as required and as may be requested in individual cases. To achieve these standards, our safety program was reviewed and updated. Our existing hazard communication program was rewritten to be as all inclusive as possible while maintaining brevity and comprehension. Training programs have been designed and are being implemented on a regular basis for existing and new hire employees.

Procedures for handling accidents

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Payless Casltways' board of directors had approved a $909 million leveraged buyout by senior management to take the company private and thwart a proposed hostile takeover. Offer was to expire Aug. 3

Hayward Lumber, Salinas, Ca.. has added garden centers at its Salinas and Hollister, Ca., locations, while expanding its Salinas home design center

Danvi/le I{ome Improvement llir'., Danville, Ca., has opened Brentwoad Lumber & Home Cenlet Brentwood. Ca.. John Krammerer, mgr.: Kathy Riley, asst. mgr. . . Michael O'Malley Remodeling & Building Centers, Phoenix, Az., is a new flrm founded by its namesake, former retail div. mgr. of The O'Malley Lumber Co.; first store is set to open March, 1989 . .

The O'MalleyLumber Co., Phoenix, Az,, plans to permanently close its Bell Rd. and Tempe, Az., units in Sept.; the company is contemplating a complete cxit from consumcr sclling to concentrate on builder/ contractortrade...

Butler's Basic Lumber & Hardware, Montrose, Co., held an Aug. I grand opening... McCoy's Building Supply of San Marcos, Tx., has opened stores in Hobbs and Roswell. N.M. . .. Red Barn Lumber, Durango, Co., has opened a second location on the former Ray Lumbersite in Pagosa Springs, Co. .

Frank Rima, Rima Building Supply. Pullman, Id., has purchased ,Jtandard Lumber Co.,

Moscow, Id., Bob Seabolt, mgr.; Craig Wagner.asst. mgr. Rick Byers has bought Standard Lumber Co., Pullntan, Id., Joe Campero rcmains mgr.

Standard Builders .Srqpl1', Salt Lake City. Ut., has remodeled, increasing display space by 800 sq. ft. WhiteRock Builders Supply, White Rock, N.M., has been bought by Sam and Cherie Napier and renamed lYapier Hardv'ara& Lunber...

M& W Building .Supply has added a Keizer, Or., sales office . . Leo Sanchcz and Manucl Galicia have opened Amer-Ma.r. Albuquerque. N.M. . C'oo,s Heorl Forest Prarlucts. Coos Bay, Or., has been named the exclusive Hi. sales agent for Paci/it' Koogyo, /lc'., Scappoose, Or.

HomeClub, Inc. will open its fourth warehouse in Spokane, Wa.. Aug. 25. Rick Capagna mgr.

Recent annitersaries celebrated : Lumber Produc'ts. Portland, Or., 50 years in business Long Beach Plywood, Long Beach, Ca., 50 years; An/inson Lurnber .Sales, Fontana, Ca., 33 years; 3C Trucking, Long Beach, Ca., 10 years; .lohn T. Cole & Associates. Beaverton, Or., 10 years

Trusstvay, Inc., has a new lumber sales branch in Lompoc. Ca., staffed by Nick Berry . Burns Lumber Co. has moved its offices from Encino, Ca.. to nearby Van Nuys: 16380 Roscoe Blvd., Ste. I 15, their phonenumber remainsunchaneed...

The Merchant Magazine

,lensen-Ryrd. Spokane, Wit., has purchased Wells & Wade In{'., Wenatchee, Wa.... Steve and Vicki Firkins have repurr chased Ilonte Lumber, Monte Vista, Co., christening it Monte LurnberMart...

Trttpit'al & lilestent I:rmber Co.. Long Beach, Ca.. has been fornred by Mark Michie... Sagebruslt .9ales Co., Albuquerque, N.M., has opened a sales office in Phoenix, Az.,Don Lue, mgr. , Pan Pot'i/ic Forest Prodlcls has moved to new offices in Bend.Or....

Stone Forest Industries has moved its Pacific Coast Div. sales office to Medford, Or. . . Walerhaauscr Co. has moved its Irresno CSC's satellite yard from Paso Robles to Santa Margarita, Ca. The new facility has a 20,000 sq. ft. bldg. and 30,000 sq. ft. yard.

.lunctionC'iryLumber Co., Junction City, Or., has agreed to buy Clark & Povvell Lurnber Co., Junction City Armstrong World lndustries has set a ntid1989 reopening for the St. Helens. Or., ceiling plant purchased from Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corp. last year flousing slcrrts for June (latest figs.)rose 5.1%; single family starts climbed lA.2o/r'multifamily home construction fell 8.2"1,'. building permits rose 3.7t'1, .. McGraw-Hill predicts starts will finish 90li off this year at 1.45 n'rillion units.

GAf' Corp. has been indicted on 10 securities law violation charges for allegedly manipulating the price of LJnion Carbide stock two years ago, according to the federal government. . Spokanc Moulding Corp.. Spokane, Wa., has been acquired by Senec'a Moulding Corp, no pricerevealed...