As an employer, it’s your job to provide your employees with a safe work environment. If your business involves the use of hazardous chemicals, you need to take appropriate actions to ensure your team is protected. The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) has developed strict hazard communication standards for you to abide by.
OSHA requires you to develop and maintain a written hazard communication program, including the following information:
- Lists of hazardous chemicals onsite
- Labeling of containers of chemicals in the workplace and containers of chemicals being shipped to other worksites
- Preparation and distribution of safety data sheets to employees and downstream employers
- Development and implementation of employee training programs on chemical hazards and protective measures
HAZCOM Training Requirements
In general, OSHA requires employees to be trained any time they work with a hazardous chemical. This is to ensure workers are equipped with the necessary information before they’re exposed to the chemical, so they’re better able to prevent adverse health effects. Sufficient training requires you to provide them with the safety data sheet to read and supplemental education, including audiovisual aides, classroom instruction or interactive video.
Employees must have the opportunity to ask questions and ensure they have a thorough understanding of the information. It’s not necessary to provide training for each chemical your workers will be exposed to, as OSHA allows you to group them into categories of hazard — carcinogens, sensitizers, acutely toxic agents. If employees receive job instructions in a language besides English, then hazard training must be conducted in that language as well.
Additional training is required anytime a new physical or health hazard is introduced to the work area — not a new chemical. You are not required to re-train new hires that have previously received training by a past employer, an employee union or another entity.
Temporary agencies are required to provide generic hazard training and information regarding categories of chemicals employees may potentially encounter. Host employers are tasked with offering site-specific hazard training.
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