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Systemwide Safety Programs → Hazardous Chemicals

Hazardous Chemicals

Safety Data Sheets (SDS)

Chemical Information List (CIL)

Hazardous Chemical Spills 

MCPS Approved Products List

Science - Prohibited Chemicals

Science Chemical Inventory 

 

Safety Data Sheets (SDS)

A safety data sheet (SDS) is a document that provides safety and health-related information for a specific chemical product. Chemical manufacturers, distributors, and vendors are required to provide SDSs for all chemical products they supply to employers. Employers are required to collect and maintain SDSs for all chemical products their employees use. Employers must also provide ready access to SDSs for employees and train employees how to read and understand them.

Information provided by SDSs include:

  • Hazardous chemical ingredients
  • Properties of each chemical (odor, appearance, flammability, reactivity, etc.)
  • Associated physical, health, and environmental health hazards
  • Appropriate protective measures and personal protective equipment for product use
  • Safety precautions for handling, storing, and transporting the chemical.

Secondary Container Labels

Information from a chemical product's SDS can be used to create a label for a secondary container.  Secondary containers are containers into which a chemical product is transferred from the original manufacturer-provided container.  Only appropriate containers may be used as secondary containers.  Do not use empty food or beverage containers, containers that are not resistant to the chemicals that will be placed into them, containers that are dirty or contaminated, containers that are fragile, or containers that cannot be securely closed.  Secondary containers must include a prominent, durable, and legible label that includes at least:

  • Product identifier (product name)
  • Words or GHS pictograms providing information about the product's physical and health hazards 
Additional information that is recommended for secondary container labels are the hazardous chemical ingredients and PPE that should be used.  Questions and requests for assistance may be directed to Peter Park, Team Leader, Systemwide Safety Programs, at 240-740-7710 or via email.

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Chemical Information List (CIL)

A list of hazardous chemicals stored in the workplace must be maintained, and MCPS requires that all facilities maintain and update a Chemical Information List (CIL) listing all their hazardous chemical products. Common hazardous chemical products include science chemicals, cleaning products, paints, glues, compressed gases, fuels, oils and greases, art products, and wood that will be sawn or sanded.

Hard copy CILs must be maintained in the main administrative office and made available upon request to employees, SSP, and government regulators.

 

Chemical Information Lists

Additions to Chemical Information List (CIL)

All MCPS facilities are required to provide information for CIL additions to Systemwide Safety Programs. Additions should be reported using the Additions to Chemical Information List (CIL) form below.

 

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Hazardous Chemical Spills

Response Procedures for a Significant Hazardous Chemical Spill, Including Any Mercury Spill:

*Incidental spills may be cleaned up by facility staff.

  • Evacuate, isolate the room or immediate area;
  • Call 911 if immediate help is needed as a result of severe hazards or injuries;
  • Provide first aid, as needed;
  • Open windows and turn off HVAC, if safe to do so;
  • Contact the Office of Systemwide Safety and Emergency Management 240-740-3066 immediately;
  • If safe to do so, sequester potentially contaminated materials and occupants in nearby hall or room;
  • Implement 'Shelter In Place', if needed;
  • Do not attempt to clean the spill. 

*An incidental spill is a spill of a hazardous substance that does not pose a significant safety or health hazard to employees in the immediate vicinity or to the employee cleaning it up, and does not have the potential to become an emergency within a short time frame. Incidental spills are limited in quantity, exposure potential, or toxicity and present minor safety or health hazards to employees in the immediate work area or those assigned to clean them up. An incidental spill may be safely cleaned up by employees who are familiar with the hazards of the chemicals with which they are working.

 

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MCPS Approved Products List

Only MCPS-approved chemical products (on current procurement bid list) may be used and/or stored at MCPS schools/facilities.  Any new products must be reviewed and approved by Systemwide Safety Programs before they may be brought to MCPS facilities.  For the safety/health of students and employees, the use of hazardous chemicals should be minimized as much as feasible.  Unnecessary and redundant chemicals should not be used.   

The MCPS Approved Products List, which lists all chemical products reviewed for use in MCPS facilities, is currently under review.  For information related to approval status for chemical products not currently available from the MCPS warehouse, please contact Systemwide Safety Programs at 240-740-7710 or Laurie_E_Lyons@mcpsmd.org.  MCPS employees may submit chemical products for evaluation using the MCPS Chemical Product Evaluation Request Form.  

 

Approved Products for Building Service Operations

The following chemical products are approved for use by MCPS building service staff.  Click on the link next to the product name for the Safety Data Sheet (SDS).

 

The following cleaning and disinfectant products are approved for MCPS use.  Click on the link next to the product name for the SDS.

 

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Science - Prohibited Chemicals

Substances listed below are PROHIBITED for use or storage in schools.

Explosive and flash fire hazard substances (This is not a complete list.):

  • Benzoyl Peroxide
  • Carbon Disulfide
  • Diisopropyl Ether
  • Ethyl Ether
  • Picric Acid
  • Perchloric Acid
  • Potassium metal
  • Sodium metal
  • Sodium Azide

Known or probable human carcinogenic substances listed below shall not be used or stored by MCPS and are prohibited:

  • Acrylonitrile
  • Ammonium chromate
  • Aniline (or any of its salts)
  • Anthracene
  • Antimony trichloride
  • Arsenic Pentoxide
  • Arsenic Trioxide
  • Asbestos
  • Benzene
  • Benzidine
  • Beryllium Carbonate
  • Cadmium Powder
  • Cadmium Sulfate
  • Carbon Tetrachloride
  • Chloroform
  • Chromium (IV) Oxide
  • Chromium Powder
  • Colchicine
  • Dichloroethane
  • Diethyl Sulfate
  • Dimethyl Sulfate
  • Dioxane (p-Dioxane)
  • Ethylene Oxide
  • Formaldehyde
  • Hexachlorophene
  • Hydrofluoric acid
  • Hydroquinone
  • Lead Acetate
  • Lead Arsenate
  • Lead carbonate
  • Lead Diacetate
  • Mercuric chloride
  • Methyl methacrylate
  • Nickel Carbonyl
  • Nickel Powder
  • Nickel Subsulfide
  • Nicotine
  • Osmium Tetraoxide
  • O-Toludine
  • p-Dichlorobenzene
  • Phthalic anhydride
  • Pyrogailic Acid
  • Sodium Arsenate
  • Sodium Arsenite
  • Sulfuric Acid, Fuming (= Oleum)  [regular sulfuric acid is NOT banned]
  • Thioacetamide
  • Toluene
  • Urethane (Ethyl Carbamate)
  • Vinyl Chloride

Highly toxic substances:

  • Mercury (shall not be used or stored under any conditions)
  • Phosphorus (white)
  • Phosphorus Pentoxide
  • Potassium Cyanide
  • Potassium Periodate
  • Silver Cyanide
  • Sodium Cyanide

 

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Science Chemical Inventory

Secondary school science departments are required to complete a thorough science chemical inventory annually. A job hazard analysis describing required safety procedures for conducting a science lab chemical inventory is provided below.

 

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Chemical Information List Form

A spreadsheet, which may be used to create chemical information lists (CILs), is provided below. CILs and safety data sheets (SDSs) for science lab chemicals should be printed and stored near the chemical storage room. Please note the following when entering chemical data:

    • When entering chemical names, CAS numbers should be included, if possible
    • ‘Container Type’ can include: glass bottle, plastic jar, glass vial, aluminum can, cardboard drum, plastic bag, metal can, etc.
    • ‘Total Amount’ is the estimated maximum quantity expected to be at the facility at any time during the year
    • ‘Date Brought’ is the date on which the chemical was introduced to the facility