Right-to-Know Coordinator:   Dr. Bernard F. Majdi (Office 146 - Administrative Building)
 

Waycross College always strives to maintain a safe work environment for both its staff and students.  However, hazardous chemicals are located on campus, and if misused or mishandled these compounds may pose a danger to a person's health.

In order to help protect its citizens, the State of Georgia passed the Right-To-Know Act in 1988.  The purpose of this law is 1) to guarantee that all employees who may work with chemical compounds have been informed of safe handling procedures before encountering those substances on the job; 2) to provide open access to information so that any state employee can find out more about compounds they may encounter in the workplace and possible dangers of exposure; and 3) to ensure that no employee will be penalized for exercising their right to know.  One condition of this law is that every state agency, including Waycross College, has an appointed Right To Know Coordinator.

The purpose of this Hazard Communication Plan is, first, to inform staff and students of the steps taken by Waycross College to ensure the safest possible working environment; and second, to outline the appropriate steps each person should take to maintain a safe environment.

Waycross College has a number of policies and procedures in place to minimize exposure to hazardous compounds:

1)  Hazardous chemicals are stored at only a few sites on campus.  Most hazardous compounds are stored in the Chemistry stockroom; compounds used regularly by the Physical Plant, such as paints, are stored in a separate location.  Both locations are kept locked and access to the sites is closely monitored.

2)  Hazardous chemicals are stored in such a way as to maximize safety.  For example, in the chemistry stockroom, chemicals are segregated by the type of danger they present (corrosive, toxic, reactive, or flammable) and incompatible compounds are stored in separate locations.  Acids are stored in an acid cabinet and flammable liquids are stored in a flame-proof cabinet or an explosion-proof freezer, and tie-downs are used for gas cylinders.

 3) All chemicals are properly labeled according to the standards of the Right-to-Know law.  Furthermore, the amount of hazardous compounds on campus is kept to a minimum.  For example, most solid compounds stored in the chemistry weigh less than a pound, and liquid volumes are generally less than a quart.

 4) Both the physical plant and the chemistry program strive to use the safest possible chemicals and to minimize exposure for those who use them.

 5) Waycross College maintains high quality safety equipment in or near the storage areas.  This equipment includes fume hoods in the chemistry laboratory, fire blankets, an eye wash and a safety shower.
 
 

 To help us maintain a safe working environment, please take the following actions:

 1) To minimize exposure, please keep out of areas where hazardous compounds are stored if at all possible.

 2) For more information about any hazardous compound, examine its Material Safety Data Sheet, or MSDS.  An MSDS book is located in Room 230 A in the cabinet next to the chemistry stockroom, and an MSDS electronic software program is located in the library.  Please feel free to ask the Right-To-Know Coordinator for assistance in reading the MSDS, or obtaining further information about any chemical compound.

 3) Anyone believing that a hazardous compound is being stored inappropriately in a work area should contact the Right-To-Know Coordinator.

 4) If a hazardous compound has spilled in a work area and a person trained in the appropriate method for cleaning it up is not on site, please contact the Physical Plant and report the spill.  A trained staff person will handle the clean-up.

 5)  Air quality is an important component of environmental health and safety. If there is a strange or unfamiliar odor in your work area, please report it.
 

The Waycross College grievance procedure with respect to the Right To Know law is the same as any other College grievance.  The College procedure is given in both the Faculty Handbook and the Classified Employee's Handbook.