5 Elements of Hazard Communication Standard

Site specific safety and health program

Chemical Inventory [SDS]

Standard Operating Procedures [SOP]

Labels & identification systems

Training

The written program must be made available to all employees

Inventory of Hazardous Chemicals and Hazard Assessment

This is a list of the hazardous materials present in your work area. When creating your inventory, be sure to:

Take a physical inventory of chemicals used and create a list
Determine if an SDS is on file for each chemical
Contact the supplier to provide a copy if any SDSs are missing
Document the request and keep a record on file until the SDS is received

System for Maintaining SDSs

This is a detailed description of each hazardous material listed in the Materials Inventory. The Globally Harmonized System for Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) aims to standardize how workplaces define hazards related to a chemical, classify them and then communicate the hazards and relevant protective measures on labels and safety data sheets. As such, SDSs are required to contain 16 sections (four of which aren’t mandatory) and OSHA mandates that they should include:

The properties of each chemical
The physical and health hazards posed by the chemical
Environmental health hazards
Protective measures
Safety precautions for handling, storing and transporting the chemical.

Safety data sheets must be available for all the hazardous materials present in a work area and the information provided in them should be helpful and easily accessible to anyone who needs to get it quickly.

Chemical Labels and Warning Signs

Containers of hazardous materials must have labels which identify the material and warn of its potential hazard to employees. Employers purchasing chemicals rely on the manufacturer to supply the proper label on the chemical container. Chemical manufacturers, importers, and distributors must be sure that containers of hazardous chemicals leaving the workplace are labeled, tagged, or marked with:

The identity of the chemical
Appropriate hazard warnings
The name and address of the chemical manufacturer, importer, or other responsible party

If the chemical is transferred to another container, the employer is responsible for properly labeling the new container.

Training Programs

All employees who may be exposed to hazardous chemicals in the workplace must be trained to identify and work safely with hazardous materials before their initial assignment and whenever the hazard changes. Employees should be trained by:

Discussing SDSs, explain hazards of the chemicals, safety measures, PPE, what to do if there is an exposure, and cleanup of a chemical spill
Using a variety of audiovisuals, classroom instruction, interactive videos for the training
Training in a language and literacy level that is comprehensible to the employees
Training by grouping the like chemicals together rather than training for each individual chemical
Training based on what chemicals each employee will be potentially encountering during the course of his or her normal duties

Written Hazard Communication Program

A written program must be developed if a company makes use of or produces hazardous chemicals. The plan should include steps to ensure that all workers are familiar with the risks involved in chemical handling and understand the labeling and symbols associated with each type of chemical hazard.

The written program must include labeling, materials inventory, safety data sheets and training, and should be implemented, maintained and readily available to employees. In addition, reviews and revisions are required on a regular basis to address changing conditions such as new chemicals or new PPE.

Remember, the purpose of the Hazard Communication Program is to reduce the likelihood of illness and injury related to chemical exposure. The employer is responsible for increasing understanding and reducing risks for your employees.