Controls and Labeling
Introduction
If you are exposed to hazardous chemicals at work, OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (HCS)(29 CFR 1910.1200) aims to help you identify the hazards associated with those materials and guide you on safe usage.
Your employer must also teach you about the protective measures when working with hazardous chemicals. When you have this important information, you'll be able to take steps to protect yourself from the negative effects caused by accidental exposure.
OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) requires employers and manufacturers to develop and distribute chemical information as described below:
- Chemical manufacturers and importers must classify the hazards of the chemicals they produce or import, and prepare labels and safety data sheets to convey the hazard information to their downstream customers.
- Employers with classified hazardous chemicals in their workplaces must have labels and safety data sheets for their exposed workers, and train workers to safely handle those chemicals.
- Employers who do not produce or import chemicals only need to focus on those parts of this rule that deal with establishing a workplace program and communicating information to their workers.
As mentioned above, the standard requires your employer to provide information to employees about the hazardous chemicals to which they are exposed through these four methods:
- a hazard communication program,
- labels and other forms of warning,
- safety data sheets, and
- information and training.
In this short course, we focus on controls, labeling, and safety data sheets. To learn more about the components of a Hazard Communication Program, be sure to take OSHAcademy Course 705 Hazard Communication Program (HCP).
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
1-1. Who must have labels, safety data sheets (SDSs), and train employees on how to handle classified hazardous chemicals?
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