New RoC May Impact HazCom Programs

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has added eight substances to its Report on Carcinogens (RoC), a science-based document that identifies chemicals and biological agents that may put people at increased risk for cancer. OSHA suggests that employers that manufacture, distribute or use any of the chemicals determine if there is any pact on their hazard communication (HazCom) programs.

The industrial chemical formaldehyde and a botanical known as aristolochic acids are now listed as known human carcinogens. Six other substances: captafol, cobalt-tungsten carbide (in powder or hard metal form), certain inhalable glass wool fibers, o-nitrotoluene, riddelliine, and styrene: are added as substances that are reasonably anticipated to be human carcinogens. With these additions, the 12th Report on Carcinogens now includes 240 listings. It is available at http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/roc12.

Chemicals included in the RoC are considered carcinogens under the HazCom standard and must be listed on a company’s Material Safety Data Sheet if present at a concentration of 0.1% or greater or if they could be released in concentrations that pose a health risk to workers.