Hazard Communication Program/ Material Safety Data Sheets

The purposes of the Hazard Communication Program (HAZCOM) is to ensure that the hazards of all chemicals purchased, used and maintained at the NIU facility are evaluated and controlled and that all information concerning these hazards are communicated to all affected employees. Under this program, employees will be informed of the contents of the HAZCOM standard, the hazardous properties of the chemicals with which they work, safe handling procedures, hazards associated with non-routine tasks, and measures to take to protect employees from these chemicals.

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) describes the particular hazards of each chemical; NIU currently maintains a database of MSDS's for all chemcals used at the university.  Copies of MSDS's are maintained in each department.  In additon EH&S maintains a database of MSDS's.  Hard copies MSDS' are available from EH&S.