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H Azards

The OSHA Hazard Communication Standard aims to ensure employers and employees are aware of workplace chemical hazards and how to protect themselves. It requires employers to create a written hazard communication program addressing container labeling, material safety data sheets, and employee training. The standard covers millions of workers and hundreds of thousands of chemicals, helping to reduce work-related illness and injury from chemical exposure.

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34 views17 pages

H Azards

The OSHA Hazard Communication Standard aims to ensure employers and employees are aware of workplace chemical hazards and how to protect themselves. It requires employers to create a written hazard communication program addressing container labeling, material safety data sheets, and employee training. The standard covers millions of workers and hundreds of thousands of chemicals, helping to reduce work-related illness and injury from chemical exposure.

Uploaded by

sntripathibilt
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Hazard Communication

Introduction
About 32 million workers work with and are
potentially exposed to one or more chemical hazards
There are approximately 650,000 existing chemical
products, and hundreds of new ones being
introduced annually
Chemical exposure may cause or contribute to many
serious health effects such as heart ailments, central
nervous system damage, kidney and lung damage,
sterility, cancer, burns, and rashes
Some chemicals may also be safety hazards and
have the potential to cause fires and explosions and
other serious accidents
Purpose of OSHA’s Hazard
Communication Standard
To ensure that employers and employees know
about work hazards and how to protect themselves
so that the incidence of illnesses and injuries due to
hazardous chemicals is reduced.

Hazard Container Material Safety


Communication Labeling Data Sheet
Program

Program MSDS
Label
Who is covered?

OSHA’s Hazard Communication (HazCom)


standard applies to general industry, shipyard,
marine terminals, longshoring, and construction
employment and covers chemical manufacturers,
importers, employers, and employees exposed to
chemical hazards.
Employer Responsibilities
Identify and list hazardous chemicals in their
workplaces
Obtain Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) and
labels for each hazardous chemical, if not provided
by the manufacturer, importer, or distributor
Implement a written HazCom program, including
labels, MSDSs, and employee training
Communicate hazard information to employees
through labels, MSDSs, and formal training programs
How can workplace hazards be minimized?

The first step in minimizing workplace hazards is to


perform a thorough hazard assessment
Employers can rely on the evaluations performed by
the manufacturers or importers to establish the hazards
of the chemicals they use
This information is obtained from MSDSs and labels
Why is a written program required?

Ensures that all employers


HazCom Program
receive the information they
need to inform and train their (f) "Labels and other
employees forms of warning."
(g) "Material safety data
Provides necessary hazard sheets."
(h) "Employee information
information to employees and training."
Written HazCom Program
Requirements

Describes container labeling, MSDSs, and employee


training for each workplace
List of the hazardous chemicals
Make information regarding hazards and protective
measures available to other employers onsite
How must chemicals be labeled?

Each container of hazardous


chemicals entering the workplace
must be labeled or marked with:
Identity of the chemical
Appropriate hazard warnings
Name and address of the
responsible party
Container Labeling in the Workplace

The hazard warning can


be any type of message,
picture, or symbol that
provides information on
the hazards of the
chemical(s) and the
targeted organs affected, if
applicable
Labels must be legible, in
English (plus other
languages, if desired), and
prominently displayed
Material Safety Data Sheets
Prepared by the chemical manufacturer or importer
and describe:
Physical hazards, such as fire and explosion
Health hazards, such as signs of exposure
Routes of exposure
Precautions for safe handling and use
Emergency and first-aid procedures
Control measures
Material Safety Data Sheets (cont’d)
Must be in English and include information regarding the
specific chemical identity and common names
Must provide information about the:
Physical and chemical characteristics
Health effects
Exposure limits
Carcinogenicity (cancer-causing)
Identification (name, address, and telephone number) of
the organization responsible for preparing the sheet
Must be readily accessible to employees in their work area
Material Safety Data Sheets (cont’d)

MSDSs have no prescribed


format
If no MSDS has been
received for a hazardous
chemical, employer must
contact the supplier,
manufacturer, or importer to
obtain one and maintain a
record of the contact
Training
Training is required for employees who are exposed to
hazardous chemicals in their work area:
At the time of initial
assignment
Whenever a new hazard
is introduced into their
work area
What training is needed
to protect workers?
Explanation of the HazCom program, including
information on labels, MSDSs, and how to obtain and
use available hazard information
Hazards of chemicals
Protective measures such as engineering controls,
work practices, and the use of PPE
How to detect the presence or release of a hazardous
chemical (using monitoring devices, observation, or
smell)
What information must
be provided to workers?
Employees must be informed of:
The HazCom standard and its requirements
Operations in their work areas where hazardous
chemicals are present
Location and availability of the written hazard
evaluation procedures, communications program, lists
of hazardous chemicals, and the required MSDSs
Summary
OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard is based
on a simple concept - that employees have both a
need and a right to know the hazards and identities of
the chemicals they are exposed to when working
Employees also need to know what protective
measures are available to prevent adverse effects
from occurring

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