| A | B |
|---|
| Chemical | Any element, chemical compound, or mixture of elements or compounds |
| Chemical distributors | A business, other than a chemical manufacturer or importer, that supplies hazardous chemicals to other distributors or to an employer |
| Chemical manufacturers and importers | An employer with a workplace where chemical (s) are produced for use or distribution |
| Employee | A worker who may be exposed to azardous chemicals under normal operating conditions or in foreseeable emergencies; some workers, such as office workers, encounter hazardous chemicals only in nonroutine, isolated instances and are not covered by the Hazard Communication Standard |
| Employer | A person engaged in a business where chemicals are used, distributed, or produced, for use or distribution including a contractor or subcontractor |
| Engineering controls | Procedures and materials that help prevent employee exposure to hazardous chemicals. Examples include changing a chemical to a less problematic form or subcontracting a process to another location of facility |
| Exposure | Subjection of an employee to a hazardous chemical in the course of employment through any route of entry (inhalation, ingestion, skin contact, absorption), including potential (accidental or potential) exposure |
| Hazardous chemicals | A chemical for which statistically significant evidence based on a scientifically designed and conducted study indicates the acute or chronic health effects that may occur to exposed employees; many chemicals used within the dental office are considered hazardous |
| Hazard warning | Words, pictures, symbols, or combinations appearing on a label or other appropriate form of warning that convey the specific physical or health hazard, including target organ effects, of the chemical(s) present in the container |
| HazCom compliance officer | An employee responsible for office compliance with the HazCom Standard; the person is responsible for listing all hazardous chemicals, collection of matching safety data sheets (SDS's), preparation of labels and warning signs, and the transfer of necessary safety information and training employees |
| Written HazCom program (WHCP) | A compliance process for the Hazard Communication Standard that includes a written office program manual, containing labeling, and other forms of information transfer and warnings and employee training; best if administered by a HazCom compliance officer |
| HazCom Standard | The Hazard Communication Standard (aka "Employee Right To Know") that has the goal of preventing employee exposures to hazardous chemicals; information from manufacturers of hazardous chemicals mush be conveyed by employers to employees; facilities are responsible to ensure that the information is received and understood; facilities enhance safety through their HazCom program |
| Health hazard warnings | Words, pictures, symbols, or combinations appearing on a label or other appropriate form of warning that convey the specific physical or health hazard, including target organ effects, of the chemical(s) present in the container |
| Label | Any written, printed or graphic material displayed on or affixed to containers of hazardous chemicals that provides necessary information |
| Safety Data Sheets (SDS's) | Written or printed material concerning a hazardous chemical; an SDS for each hazardous chemical listed within a facility must be obtained |
| Performance standard | A combination of procedures and materials (work practices, engineering controls, ppe, and training) to comply with an OSHA standard; OSHA does not usually dictate what process is to be followed; rather it describes the outcome of some behavior, for example, keeping exposures within some limit; how well this is done can be called proper performance or proper achievement (level of compliance) |
| Personal protective equipment and devices | Specialized clothing or equipment worn by an employee for protection against a hazard; general work clothes usually are not designed or intended to prevent exposure to hazardous chemicals |
| Physical hazard | A chemical for which scientifically valid evidence indicates that it is a combustible liquid, a compressed gas, explosive, flammable, an organic peroxide and oxidizer, pyrophoric, unstable (reactive), or water reactive |
| Work practice controls | Means that reduce the likelihood of exposure by altering the manner in which a task is performed; for example, the use of a fume hood or vacuum evacuation |
