8/9/2004
[OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1200] OSHA Toxic Chemicals
The OSHA hazard communication standard at 29
CFR 1910.1200 regulates chemicals
that pose either a physical or health hazard to workers. Toxicity is one of
the several OSHA health hazards that are frequently misunderstood. As defined
in 29
CFR 1910.1200 Appendix A, a highly toxic chemical is one that falls within
any of the following categories:
- A chemical that has a median lethal dose (LD50) of 50 milligrams or less
per kilogram of body weight when administered orally to albino rats weighing
between
200 and 300 grams each
- A chemical that has a median LD50 of 200 milligrams
or less per kilogram of body weight when administered by continuous contact
for 24 hours (or less if
death occurs within 24 hours) with the bare skin of albino rabbits weighing
between two and three kilograms each
- A chemical that has a median lethal
concentration (LC50) in air of 200 ppm by volume or less of gas or vapor,
or 2 milligrams per liter or less
of mist,
fume, or dust, when administered by continuous inhalation for one hour
(or less if death occurs within one hour) to albino rats weighing between
200 and
300 grams each
A “toxic” chemical is one that:
- Has an LD50 of more than 50 milligrams per kilogram but not more
than 500 milligrams per kilogram of body weight when administered orally
to albino rats weighing between 200 and 300 grams each
- Has an LD50 of more than 200 milligrams per kilogram but not more
than 1,000 milligrams per kilogram of body weight when administered by
continuous contact for 24 hours (or less if death occurs within 24 hours)
with the bare
skin of albino rabbits weighing between two and three kilograms each
- Has a median lethal concentration LC50 in air of more than 200 parts
per million but not more than 2,000 parts per million by volume of gas
or vapor, or more than two milligrams per liter but not more than 20 milligrams
per liter
of mist, fume, or dust, when administered by continuous inhalation for
one hour (or less if death occurs within one hour) to albino rats weighing
between
200 and 300 grams each
Work places with toxic or highly toxic chemicals (as well as any of the other
OSHA physical or health hazards) are required to comply with OSHA’s MSDS,
hazard communication plan, training, and labeling requirements.