Course Overview

More than 30 million workers are potentially exposed to one or more chemical hazards. There are an estimated 650,000 existing hazardous chemical products, and hundreds of new ones are being introduced annually. This poses a serious problem for exposed workers and their employers.

The OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) - 29 CFR 1910.1200 provides workers exposed to hazardous chemicals with the right-to-know the identities and hazards of those materials, as well as appropriate protective measures. When workers have such information, they are able to take steps to protect themselves from experiencing adverse effects from exposure.

The Hazard Communication (HAZCOM) training meets Occupational Safety and Health Administration guidelines for training and awareness pertaining to the hazard communications standard, this course fulfills basic requirements for employees who may be exposed to hazardous chemicals. The course further fulfills the basic requirements outlined in Occupational Safety and Health guidelines, Code of Federal Regulations 29 CFR 1910.1200.

The course specifically trains employees to know that they are exposed to hazardous chemicals. Included is how to read SDS sheets use and read labels.

The learner will: recognize the purpose, scope and elements of the hazard communication standard, identify how chemical hazards are determined, identify the purpose of a Safety Data Sheet, and its components, identify chemicals and their hazards, recognize the physical and health hazards inherent with hazardous chemicals, and recognize the information and training required by OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard.

Learning Objectives

This course will focus on the responsibilities of the employer in establishing and implementing an effective hazard communication program. By the end of this course, the participants should be able to:

1. List the primary Hazard Communications Standard responsibilities for manufacturers, distributors, importers, and employers.
2. Describe the four basic elements of the Hazard Communications Program.
3. Discuss the nature of chemical hazards and the types of exposures they present.
4. List the information required on each of the four types of hazardous chemical containers.
5. Describe each of the 16 sections of a Safety Data Sheet (SDS).
6. Identify the basic requirements of the hazard communication training program.

Course Contents

Course subjects include the following:

1. Information on interpreting hazardous chemical labels and Safety Data Sheets and the relationship between those two methods of hazard communication.
2. The new GHS labeling system for chemicals.
3. Acute and chronic effects of hazardous chemicals to which employees may be exposed, by chemical category.
4. Safe handling of hazardous chemicals to which employees may be exposed, by chemical category.
5. Proper use of protective equipment with respect to the hazardous chemicals to which employees may be exposed, by chemical category.
6. First aid treatment for exposures with respect to the hazardous chemicals to which employees may be exposed, by chemical category.
7. General safety instructions on the handling, cleanup procedures, and disposal of hazardous chemicals.

Who should attend?

This course is for persons who have little or no formal HAZCOM training and are recently assigned to hazard communication, labeling, regulatory compliance responsibility. The course assumes little or no prior knowledge of applied rules, regulations or standards, and little or no experience in the preparation of labels or SDSs.

Course Duration

4-days

Course Examination & Certification

After completion the course there will be a multiple-choice knowledge test. Participants who successfully complete the examination will receive a certificate and wallet card from the International Association of Safety Professionals (IASP) – USA.