The Department of Defense (DoD) established the Hazardous  Material  Information  System  (HMIS)  to acquire, stow, and disseminate manufacturer’s data on hazardous  material  (HM).  The  system  provides  a means to share and communicate information on HM procured  by  a  single  DoD  activity  with  all  other commands, activities, and units within DoD. HAZARDOUS WASTE AND THE SEABEE As you read the above paragraphs, you may have been inclined to think that the message and warnings could not possibly apply to you at your level. If this is what you thought, you were definitely wrong. It is true that the above instructions, along with a few others, give us the rules and regulations we must follow in regard to hazardous material, but they were also written for your protection. You, as a DoD employee, are ensured that the information on hazardous materials you may come in   contact   with   will   be   available   to   you.   This information  is  to  be  made  available  by  means  of comprehensive  hazard  communication  programs, which  are  to  include  container  labeling  and  other  forms of warning, Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), and training. As a member of today’s Navy, you must be aware of the importance of hazardous material, used hazardous material  and  hazardous  waste.  You  also  must  recognize the hazards of hazardous material, used hazardous material and hazardous waste to personnel and the environment.     You must pay particular attention to OPNAVINST 4110.2 and OPNAVINST 5100.23C on the use, stowage, and disposal of hazardous material in your workplace. MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEETS (MSDS) To  comply  with  the  OSHA  Hazard  Communication Standard,  29  CFR  1910.1200,  manufacturers  of chemical products must use an MSDS, OSHA Form 174, or an equivalent form containing the identical data elements to inform the users of the chemical, physical, and  hazardous  properties  of  their  product.  The completed form identifies key information about the product; name, address, and emergency contact for the manufacture;  the  identity  of  hazardous  ingredients; physical/chemical  characteristics;  fire  and  explosion hazard  data;  reactivity  data;  health  hazard  data; precautions for safe handling and use; and control measures (fig. 1-23). All data submitted must comply with the provisions of FED-STD 313C (NOTAL). You must be aware of any chemical hazards that are used in your work spaces or on the jobsite.   An MSDS must   be   available   in   the   workplace   or   posted conspicuously on all hazardous materials. The MSDS must be provided by the supply department and also by suppliers   of   any   hazardous   material   issued   or purchased. The MSDS must contain all the information you will need to work, stow, and dispose of hazardous material  safely.  In  addition,  the  MSDS  will  identify  any personnel protective clothing or equipment needed, as well as first aid or medical treatment required in case of exposure. LABELED  HAZARDOUS  MATERIAL AND HAZARDOUS WASTE CONTAINERS Each container of material possessing hazardous ingredients   should   be   properly   labeled   by   the manufacturer, importer, and or shipper(s) to warn personnel of the potential dangers of the material.  In the event warning labels are inadvertently removed or damaged in shipping before receipt by shore activities, commercial  suppliers  should  be  required  to  provide OSHA Hazard Communication (HAZCOM) compliant replacement labels. Activities are not required to put DoD or other hazardous material warning labels on new stocks because the manufacturer is responsible for placing a warning label on it that conforms with the HAZCOM standard. OSHA  labeling  requirements  are  provided  in reference 29 CFR 1910.1200 for workplace use of hazardous material. This OSHA standard requires that containers of hazardous material be labeled, tagged, or marked with the identity of the hazardous chemical(s); appropriate  hazard  warnings;  and  the  name  and  address of  the  chemical  manufacturer,  importer,  or  other responsible  party.     Further information on hazard- ous  material  labeling  can  be  found  in  DODINST 6050.5. HAZARDOUS  MATERIAL LABEL Labeling  and  marking  of  hazardous  material containers is a function of the manufacturer, importer, or distributor. Your supply department should not accept  improperly  or  incompletely  labeled  hazardous material. They should refuse to accept it and return it. However, if you need to relabel a container because the original label becomes damaged, unreadable, or is missing, use the DoD Hazardous Chemical Warning 1-18