8 Key Elements For Hazcom Hazard Communication

To ensure that employees are informed of chemical and physical hazards present within their workplace, reduce or eliminate the incidence and/or likelihood of workplace injuries/illnesses resulting from exposures, and establish a framework for providing safety and health information for special-emphasis programs such as (but not limited to) asbestos, formaldehyde, lead, etc.

Develop and implement a written Hazard Communication Program which contains the following key elements:

1. Acquire and maintain Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) for all hazardous chemicals in use at the facility. Obtain the applicable MSDS prior to the product's first use and review it with employees.
2. Maintain a list of all hazardous chemicals used at the facility. The list may be further subdivided to provide inventories for individual buildings and workplaces. Each list must be updated annually, and as new products are received. Each item on the inventory shall have a corresponding MSDS. It is recommended that this list be computerized to facilitate updates.
3. Provide employees with training prior to first using or handling a hazardous chemical. Ensure that a review of the chemical-handling procedures has been done prior to the start of a chemical's use. Where JHAs are used, MSDSs must be incorporated into the JHA.
4. Ensure that all containers are labeled, tagged, or marked with the product's identification and appropriate hazard warnings.
5. Ensure that employees exposed to hazardous chemicals or those developing symptoms of overexposure have access to a medical evaluation.
6. Retain records pertaining to employee exposures, hazard chemical inventories, and hazardous chemical use for at least 30 years.
7. Station personnel should be informed about any chemical/physical hazards brought onto the Station by contractors, and contractors should be made aware of such hazards at the Station. It is strongly recommended that contractors not be permitted to leave chemical products and/or containers behind when their work is completed.
8. It is incumbent upon management to choose the least-hazardous product that will get the job done. Supervisors should contact suppliers (especially GSA) to request literature or an MSDS prior to ordering a product to determine if that product is the least hazardous for the required application.

HAZCOM Program

Written Plan
All workplaces where employees are exposed to hazardous chemicals must have a written plan that describes how the standard will be implemented in that facility.An effective safety and health program depends on the credibility of management's involvement in the program; inclusion of employees in safety and health decisions; rigorous worksite analysis to identify hazards and potential hazards, including those which could result from a change in worksite conditions or practices; stringent prevention and control measures; and thorough training. It addresses hazards whether or not they are regulated by government standards. The following references characterize and further explain safety and health programs.

WHAT IS HAZARD COMMUNICATIONS?

NMSU's Chemical Hazard Communications Plan is a written plan developed to protect you from chemical materials used in the workplace.

This plan covers many aspects of identifying, handling, using, storing and disposing of chemicals and hazardous materials used in your job.

Some major points of this plan include:

1. Ensure the chemical hazards in the workplace are identified and safety information is provided (Chemical inventory).

2. Obtaining and ensuring that safety information in the form of Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) is available to employees for review and use.

3. Ensure all hazardous chemicals are properly labeled.

4. Provide training for all employees using on potential hazardous materials and chemicals and for all new employees, who may use chemicals (training schedule)

5. Provide training and or information to employees when their job duties change or when new chemicals are introduced in the job (see the checklist for HazCom training).

Video Training:

Hazcom Safety Training Courses

These training/education programs must be given periodically to all employees who may be exposed to potentially hazardous chemicals. Also, all new employees or employees who are transferred from one department or area to another must go through these programs before they go to work.