New HazCom Training Draft

Hazard Communication Awareness
1 Introduction
1.1 Why does hazard Communication Matters?
 To know the potential hazards of the chemicals you are working with.
 To know how to protect ourselves from those hazards.
1.2 Learning Objectives:

 State the purpose and basic sections of the HazCom Standard
 Identify general responsibilities established by the HazCom Standard
 Use Safety Data Sheets to identify physical and health hazards
 Identify where and how hazard warning labels must be used
2 HazCom Standard
2.1 Purpose of the HazCom Standard:
 Requires employers to find all of the potential hazards of materials in the workplace and to tell
their employees about those hazards to prevent injuries and illnesses due to hazardous chemical
exposure.
 Makes sure that employers and employees know the hazards of chemicals they work with and
how to protect themselves (reducing injuries and illnesses due to hazardous chemicals)
2.2 Knowledge Check: HazCom Standard Purpose

True or False?
The primary purpose of the HazCom Standard is to reduce workplace injuries and illnesses due to
hazardous chemicals. True
Yes, that’s right. The standard gives you the right to know the hazards of the chemicals you work
with and how to protect yourself from them. This knowledge will help reduce the number of
injuries and illnesses due to hazardous chemicals exposure.
2.3 Parts of the Standard:

The HazCom Standard is divided into four major sections:
1. Hazard classification
2. The written program
3. Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) and labels
4. Training
3 Hazards
3.1 Types of Hazards:
1. Physical Hazards
2. Health Hazards
 Physical hazards such as flammability or explosive potential
o Can cause serious accidents and injuries.
 Health hazards can affect a person's health.
o Either in the short term or in the long term
 HazCom information helps make you aware of all hazards of the chemicals you work with and
how to protect yourself.
3.2 Physical Hazards

Physical hazards of chemicals are:
 Flammability
 Reactivity
 Corrosivity
3.3 Health Hazards

Chemicals are considered health hazards if they have the potential to produce acute (short-term) or
chronic (long-term) health effects.
Examples include:
 Cancer-causing chemicals (carcinogens)

 Skin irritants
 Immediate short-term health effects caused by acute chemical exposures are often unmistakable
as is the case with many irritant chemicals.
 Delayed onset effects (cancer, birth defects or cumulative damage to internal organs) may be
less easily detected.
 This is why you must take time to learn about the chemicals around you. What you don’t know
really CAN hurt you!
3.4 Knowledge Check: Types of Hazards

Identify the type of hazard presented by each chemical described here – physical, health or both.
Phosphoric acid: Extremely corrosive to some metals and can severely irritate and burn the skin and
eyes. Breathing its vapors can make the lungs ache.
Health
Physical
Both
Acetone: Can irritate the skin and eyes. Repeated exposure can affect a person’s central nervous
system. It is also very flammable in liquid or vapor form.
Health
Physical
Both
4 Responsibilities
4.1 Manufacturer and Importer Hazard Communication Responsibilities
Different people have different responsibilities with regard to chemicals used in the United States.
Chemical manufacturers must:
 Evaluate the hazards of the chemicals they manufacture, including hazard classes and categories,
and then provide a HazCom-compliant label and Safety Data Sheet with each chemical they ship.
We’ll talk more about SDSs – a very important source of information about chemicals – later in this
presentation.
Importers and distributors of chemicals must also provide a label and SDS with each chemical they ship.
4.2 Employer Hazard Communication Responsibilities

Employers at company worksites where chemicals are used must:
 Identify chemicals in containers (including pipes) and consider chemicals generated in work
operations, such as welding fumes and dusts (inventory);
 Prepare and implement a written hazard communication plan (written program). The written
program is different than the actual HazCom standard in that it reflects what is happening in
your workplace. For instance, the hazardous chemicals present at your site and which employees
areas responsible for the various aspects of the program at your facility. Your written program
should contain labels and other forms of warning for chemicals.
 Make sure that all containers in the workplace are properly labeled;
 Make sure that there are current SDSs for all hazardous chemicals in the workplace; and
 Provide training about hazards in the workplace to their employees.
4.3 Learning Activity: Hazard Communication Responsibilities
5 Labels
5.1 Labels: Names

We’ve been talking about hazard communication in general. Now let’s talk about how you can learn
about specific hazardous chemicals.
The first thing you can check is the label.

5.2 Labels: Pictograms
These symbols are called pictograms. They are intended to convey specific information to help you
identify hazard classes, transportation requirements or toxicity.
5.3 Labels: Signal Words

The signal word indicates the severity of the hazard. Danger is more severe than Warning. Both words
cannot be used at the same time.
Labels must also include physical and health statements. These statements describe the nature of the
hazards of a chemical, including the degree of hazard.
5.4 Labels: Supplemental Information
5.5 Labels: First Aid and Precautions

Labels will contain precautionary statements on:
 How to safely use the chemical to prevent exposures.
 How to safely store the chemical

 What response should be taken if exposed to the chemical, if a fire occurs or if material is spilled.
 Any special disposal considerations for the chemical
5.6 Labels: Address and Phone Numbers

Labels must include the name, address and telephone number of the supplier, in case your company has
additional questions.
5.7 Common Rating Systems Used in Labeling
The most current version of the HazCom standard incorporates a rating system with 1 representing the
highest hazard and 5 representing the lowest hazard. This is OPPOSITE of the some other hazard rating
systems; for instance:
The National Fire Protection Association (known as the NFPA) has developed a hazard rating system
commonly used on labels, containers and even buildings. This system was designed for the rapid
identification of hazards for emergency response purposes.
 The number range is from 0 to 4.

o 0 indicates no hazard, and 4 would indicate a
high hazard.
 The color codes are:

o Blue – for Health;
o Red – for Flammability;
o Yellow – for Instability or reactive;
o White – for Special hazards;
 W, with a strike through, for water reactive; and
 OX for oxidizing agents.
6 Safety Data Sheets (SDSs)
6.1 Safety Data Sheets SDS

SDSs must be provided by the chemical manufacturer, importer or distributor with the first shipment and
anytime the information changes:
If no SDS has been received for a hazardous chemical, the employer must contact the supplier,
manufacturer or importer to obtain one and maintain a record of the contact.
6.2 SDS Requirements
 Employers can provide SDSs in additional languages, but English is required.
 SDSs must include information regarding the specific identity of the chemical and common names
for it.
 The identification (including name, address, and telephone number) of the organization responsible
for preparing the sheet must be provided, and the SDS must be readily accessible to employees in
their work area.
 It is your responsibility to know exactly where SDSs are kept in your workplace.
Click here to learn more about sections of an SDS
6.3 Information and Training

Employees must be trained to understand labels and SDSs.
Employees must be trained on the Hazard Communication program:
 Before being assigned to work with a hazardous chemical they could be exposed to;
 Whenever the hazard changes; and
 Whenever a new hazard is introduced into their work area.
Training must provide information about specific chemicals where you work. Training will include
information such as:
 The physical and health hazards of chemicals ,
 Methods to defend against chemical exposure, and
 How to detect the presence or release of a hazardous chemical.
Ask your supervisor or safety professional if you have any questions about chemicals where you work!
7 Summary
OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard is based on a simple concept – that employees have both a
need and a RIGHT TO KNOW the hazards and identities of the chemicals they are exposed to when
working.
Today, you learned about
 The purpose of the HazCom Standard,
 The basic parts of the HazCom Standard,
 Pysical and health hazards of chemicals,

 The responsibilities of chemical manufacturers, importers, and employers who use chemicals in
their workplace,
 Hazard warning labels and Safety Data Sheets (SDSs), and
 Training on the HazCom Standard.
This is vital information, so employees must find out:
 Where hazardous chemicals are present in their work areas;
 What the specific hazards of these chemicals are;
 Where the written hazard communication program is located;
 Where to find the hazardous chemicals inventory list and Safety Data Sheets;
 How to detect the presence or release of a hazardous chemical in the work area; and
 What they can do to protect themselves from these hazards.
This concludes our training.

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Hazard Communication Awareness

1.2 Learning Objectives:

2.2 Knowledge Check: HazCom Standard Purpose

2.3 Parts of the Standard:

3.2 Physical Hazards

3.3 Health Hazards

 Cancer-causing chemicals (carcinogens)

3.4 Knowledge Check: Types of Hazards

Chemical manufacturers must:

4.2 Employer Hazard Communication Responsibilities

5.1 Labels: Names

The first thing you can check is the label.

5.3 Labels: Signal Words

5.4 Labels: Supplemental Information

5.5 Labels: First Aid and Precautions

 How to safely use the chemical to prevent exposures.

 How to safely store the chemical

 Any special disposal considerations for the chemical

5.6 Labels: Address and Phone Numbers

 The number range is from 0 to 4.

 The color codes are:

6 Safety Data Sheets (SDSs)

6.1 Safety Data Sheets SDS

Click here to learn more about sections of an SDS

6.3 Information and Training

Employees must be trained on the Hazard Communication program:

 Whenever the hazard changes; and

 Whenever a new hazard is introduced into their work area.

 The physical and health hazards of chemicals ,

 Methods to defend against chemical exposure, and

 How to detect the presence or release of a hazardous chemical.

Today, you learned about

 The purpose of the HazCom Standard,

 The basic parts of the HazCom Standard,

 Pysical and health hazards of chemicals,

 Hazard warning labels and Safety Data Sheets (SDSs), and

 Training on the HazCom Standard.

This is vital information, so employees must find out:

 Where hazardous chemicals are present in their work areas;

 What the specific hazards of these chemicals are;

 Where the written hazard communication program is located;

 What they can do to protect themselves from these hazards.

This concludes our training.

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