RE:  Minnesota Employee Right-to-Know Act

The Minnesota Right-to-Know Act is intended to ensure that employees are aware of the dangers associated with hazardous substances, harmful physical agents, or infectious agents (in hospitals and clinics) that they may be exposed to in their workplaces.  The Act requires employers to evaluate their workplaces for the presence of hazardous substances, harmful physical agents, and infectious agents and to provide training to employees concerning those substances or agents to which employees may be exposed.  Written information on hazardous substances, harmful physical agents or infectious agents must be readily accessible to employees.  Employees have a conditional right to refuse to work under imminent danger conditions.  Labeling requirements for containers of hazardous substances and equipment or work areas that generate harmful physical agents are also included in the Act.

If your job requires you to be routinely exposed to products, compounds or work processes which contain or generate hazardous substances or harmful physical agents, you are entitled to receive training and specific information to enable you to perform your work safely.  Your supervisor will contact you concerning any necessary training.  In addition, all employees have the opportunity to view the videotape, “Health Hazards in the Workplace”.  You will be informed of scheduled showings or you can contact the Office of Human Resources to arrange to see the tape.

Many of your information needs may be met by data contained in Product Safety Manuals located in certain work areas.  Please consult the listing below to find out where the manual is located for your building or department.  You will also see informative posters, which provide additional information, located in various work areas.  If you need to request additional information, please contact your supervisor or the Director of Human Resources.

Art Department – Art Department office

Dining Service – Manuals are located in each of the three dining service areas

  (Knutson Center, Grant Center, Normandy).  Check with your supervisor to determine exact location.

Field House – Field House office

Francis Frazier Comstock Theatre – located in the theatre

Graphics – Aasgaard House

Health Service – Health Service office

Instructional Media – Instructional Media office

Knutson Center/Academy Hall – one manual is available in the Information Office and one manual is

  available in the Placement Office

Library – Library office

Lorentzsen Hall main floor and second floor – Business Office

Lorentzsen Hall basement – Print Shop

Music Building – Music office

Old Main – Economics and Business Administration Department Office

Outreach Center – Risk Management and Safety Office

Physical Plant – There is a manual for each physical plant department.  Check with your supervisor to

  determine the exact location of the manual which applies to you.

Science Building – There is a manual in the office of each of the following departments –

  Biology, Chemistry, Home Economics, Psychology, Physics.

TV Production Studio – located in the studio