Hazard Communication - A Need For Workplace Safety

By Author: Cape Cobras
Total Articles: 15
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There are more than 32 million workers who are exposed to about 650,000 hazardous chemical materials in more than 3 million workplaces in America. Hazard communication is a critical issue for every employee and employer when such a huge figure of workers are exposed to hazards every now and then.

The Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) was established by OSHA to ensure the workers and employers are informed about the hazardous chemicals in the work site, they understand the associated health and safety hazards and they take the proper protective measures.

According to this standard, a 3-pronged approach has been incorporated. They are:

Labels on containers;
Material safety data sheets (MSDSs), which is developed by the chemical manufacturers and importers, and must be made available to all employees on all shifts;
Employee training in chemical hazards and precautions.

OSHA has also put more stress upon these three important elements of hazards communication and they are interdependent with each other. The label is an important and most direct source of information. The hazards statement ...
... on every label is brief but it must make sure it is intended to be just a snapshot to remind the workers that the materials are dangerous and more detailed information must be available in the MSDS and through the HAZWOPER training course they received.

Before anyone is assigned any task in a hazardous site, they must be fully trained to handle their work so that when they are exposed to chemical hazards or introduced to any new chemicals, they will be safe.

The HAZWOPER training program is essential to aid workers understand about the information provided and how they can use it to protect themselves. Workers must know about the chemical hazards in their workplace and failure to have the training will only put you at risk and it is a violation to not meet the standards.

HCS is one of the most violated OSHA standards over the years, but it is still a focus of OSHA's enforcement efforts. One of the core element to curb this violation is employee training. A training in time will prevent any misfortune at later stages.

The training should be specific to the kind of hazards that the workers face and the particular procedures, protective equipment and control measures that are necessary. The training can be taken in various ways like classroom instruction, onsite training and interactive online program.

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