OSHA Revised Hazard Communication Standard Training Requirement Due Dec. 1

Retailers must train their workers in the new OSHA standards by next month or face a fine.

November 04, 2013

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The deadline for compliance with the training requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) revised hazard communication standard is Dec. 1. OSHA’s revised Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) contains significant changes in the use of new labeling elements and a standardized format for Safety Data Sheets (SDSs).

By the deadline, employers must train their employees in the following areas:

Label Element Training. Under the new OSHA standard, chemical manufacturers must include the below listed elements on their product labels. Employers must train their employees on these elements to ensure proper storage of hazardous chemicals, quick location of first aid information, understanding how the various label elements work together to explain multiple hazards (for example, explain there are two signal words: “Danger” means a more severe hazard within a hazard class. “Warning” is for the less severe hazard, etc.) and to recognize that precautionary statements provide the most protective information.

Product identifier. Chemical name, code number or batch number.

Signal word. Indicates the severity level of hazard. Only the word “Warning” or “Danger” is allowed, not both words.

Pictogram. OSHA has designated eight pictograms that can be used in this hazard category.

Hazard statement(s). Describes the nature of the hazard(s) of a chemical, including the degree of hazard, if needed.

Precautionary statements. Recommends measures to take to minimize or prevent adverse effects resulting from exposure to, storage or handling of a hazardous chemical.

The training must also include information on the standardized 16-section format, including type of information found in the various sections and information on how the label relates to the SDS, such as an explanation of how precautionary statements would be the same on the label and on the SDS.

Retailers should update their SDS sheets (and chemical inventory lists) going forward as part of your hazard communication program as new SDS sheets are received from chemical manufacturers (effective compliance deadline is June 1, 2015). Note that the effective deadline for updating workplace labeling and hazard communication program as necessary is June 1, 2016.

OSHA provides a toolkit for training online.  

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