If you have the potential of exposure to chemicals at work, your employer must provide training and meet other requirements of the hazard communication standard. The following are some ways you can protect yourself at work.
When in doubt, consult the Safety Data Sheet:
Don’t use chemicals you are unfamiliar with unless first consulting the SDS. They contain detailed information on proper use, labeling, storage, exposure and explanations of any necessary personal protection or first aid measures. The SDSs will be even easier to navigate as they will have consistent sections.
Read container labels:
Your employer must ensure that all containers with liquids, paints, adhesives, or any other hazardous substances are appropriately labeled to ensure protection. You may think it’s not important to label a spray bottle with water inside, but labeling all secondary containers is very important. If an unassuming person happens upon a bottle they think is filled with water, but instead it is filled with another clear chemical that could be hazardous, they may use it in an unsafe manner and be put in danger.
Never assume:
As a result of the changes in the HCS, some chemicals will be reclassified and could potentially be classified as hazardous, even if they weren’t previously. There is also the introduction of the “hazard not otherwise classified” (HNOC). This classification alerts you to the fact that the chemical poses some adverse effect identified through scientific research, however it falls below the concentration level for the applicable hazard class, or it is under a GHS category that has not yet been adopted by OSHA.
Know the signs:
With the introduction of pictograms, it’s easier for you to understand, at a glance, hazards you may face when working with a chemical. Employers must provide training on the meanings of pictograms.
Are there any ways that you can think of that you can improve your Hazard Communication Program? If so, how?
Click here to download our free safety meeting on Hazard Communication Tips.
By: Paul Taulbee