Right to Know

Policy Number: 8.2.94
Effective Date: April 18, 2023
Revision History: Reviewed May 26, 2016
Policy Contact: AVP of Operations/ Chief of Police

I. Purpose and Policy Statement

In compliance with the law, and in an effort to help ensure the health and safety of its employees, Georgia Gwinnett College has established a “Hazardous Communication Program.” This brief explanation of that program should answer many of the questions about hazardous chemicals at Georgia Gwinnett College and provide the resources for any further information.

In 1988, the Georgia State Legislature passed the Public Employee Hazardous Chemical Protection and Right-To-Know Act. This Act provides public employees with the same protection and rights in this area as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) provides to employees in private industry. More specifically, the law provides that:

• There must be documentation that each employee has participated in a training session.
• All hazardous substances be properly stored and labeled.
• Material Safety Data Sheets (“MSDS(s)”) be provided on all hazardous chemicals and stored in a general location as well as in job-specific areas.
• Any contractors bringing hazardous chemicals onto a site must provide all protection and MSDSs as provided by the law.

Questions concerning Right to Know or requests for MSDS information should be forwarded to the GGC Director of Facilities Management at 678-407-5853 or to the GGC Environmental Health and Safety Officer at 678-407-5034. The Right-to-Know Plan is available by contacting Environmental Health & Safety at https://my.ggc.edu/group/environmental-health-and-safety.

II. Scope

All employees who are “subjected to a hazardous chemical in the course of employment through any route of entry including, but not limited to, inhalation, ingestion, skin contact or absorption, including potential or accidental exposure” (GA D.O.L. Safety Engineering Section Chapter 300-3-19-.01, 1993) in all workplaces of GGC shall comply with this policy.