What You Don

What You Don't Know Can Hurt You

Employees must be trained on the hazardous chemicals in their work area. What do employers need to know to comply with standards and protect their employees effectively?

The potential for accidents, incidents, and injuries is always present when people work with, or are in the vicinity of, hazardous chemicals. OSHA estimates that 43 million workers produce or handle hazardous chemicals in more than five million workplaces across the country. That’s a lot of potential! The good news, though, is that Hazard Communication (HazCom) training can help ensure chemical safety in the workplace. 

When employees know and understand the hazards of the chemicals they work with and how to safely use them, they can greatly decrease any risk that might be present. OSHA’s HazCom Standard at 29 CFR 1910.1200 requires you to communicate this information.


All employees exposed to hazardous chemicals in the workplace must be provided with information and training on the hazardous chemicals in their work area. “Exposure or exposed” is defined in the standard to mean “that an employee is subjected in the course of employment to a chemical that is a physical or health hazard, and includes potential (e.g., accidental or possible) exposure. “Subjected” in terms of health hazards includes any route of entry (e.g., inhalation, ingestion, skin contact or absorption).” 

How Does OSHA Define Hazardous Chemical?

Under HazCom, a hazardous chemical is defined as “any chemical which is classified as a physical hazard or a health hazard, a simple asphyxiant, combustible dust, pyrophoric gas, or hazard not otherwise classified (HNOC).” A physical hazard or health hazard may pose any of the hazardous effects listed below:

 

Physical Hazard:

  • Flammable (gases, aerosols, liquids, or solids) 

  • Oxidizer (liquid, solid, or gas) 

  • Self-reactive 


This article originally appeared in the June 2024 issue of Occupational Health & Safety.

Product Showcase

  • Safety Shower Test Cart

    The Safety Shower Test Cart speeds up and simplifies emergency shower tests, ensures you stay in compliance with OSHA regulations, and significantly reduces testing costs. With 7 unique features, the cart makes testing easy, effective, and efficient. You can test water clarity, flow, temperature, and spread—all at the same time! Most safety shower testing kits create a mess, take too much time to use, and don't fully help you stay in compliance with OSHA & ANSI standards. Transform the way you test emergency showers with Green Gobbler Safety. Read More

  • Glove Guard® Clip

    Safety should never be compromised, especially when it comes to proper glove usage. The Glove Guard® clip enhances safety by encouraging employees to keep their gloves with them at all times. This reduces the risk of accidents and injuries on the job. By ensuring everyone has their gloves readily available, we help promote a culture of safety and efficiency. The Glove Guard® clip is designed to withstand the toughest work environments. Constructed from robust materials made in the USA, it can endure extreme conditions, including harsh weather, and rigorous activities. Read More

  • Matrix's OmniPro Vision AI Collision Avoidance System

    OmniPro Vision AI is a state-of-the-art collision avoidance system that features NIOSH award-winning Visual Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology. This highly accurate, powerful system identifies and alerts on pedestrians, vehicles and specified objects, ensuring safer facilities, mining operations and industrial sites. With its web-based cloud application, OmniPro Vision AI also logs and analyzes a wide range of data related to zone breach notifications. Operating without needing personal wearable devices or tags, OmniPro has visual and audible zone breach alerts for both operators and pedestrians. Read More

Featured

Artificial Intelligence