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Hazard Communication Program
SAFETY REQUIREMENT
Page 11
Recyclers News Press
Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) is the rule
that requires employers to provide training and
chemical hazard information to their employees.
The requirement of maintaining an inventory and the
safety data sheets (SDS) for chemical found in the
workplace is the most commonly know portion of the
rule. Having a Safety Supervisor, SDSs, monthly
training and a written Safety Plan
or Hazard Com-
munication Program
meets the requirements of the
rule.
Under the provisions of the Hazard Communication
Standard, employers are responsible for informing
employees of the hazards and the identities of work-
place chemicals to which they are exposed. Recent-
ly the United States agreed to the
Globally Harmo-
nized System (GHS) of Classification and Label-
ing of Chemicals
. This simply means that the
Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for chemicals will be for-
matted in the agreed United Nation’s standard look
in the native language of nations across the globe.
The Hazardous Communication Program has three
important components with records of each retained
in the SAFETY binder:
1) An Inventory list of hazardous chemicals at
this salvage yard.
The inventory list of chemicals at the facility is kept
in the front of the SDS binder. Employees are asked
to help identify products used in the shop that may
need an SDS. Everyone must work together to keep
each other safe.
2) Safety Data Sheet (SDS) and labels for each
hazardous chemical.
An MSDS or SDS is an informational sheet used to
communicate hazardous characteristics of chemi-
cals found in the workplace. The MSDS/SDS and
container labeling are vital resource for handling
those chemicals in an emergency situation. Labels
are not removed from any container or defaced in
any manner. New SDS compliant labels will be used
on products as the GHS format Safety Data Sheet
become available.
3) A written hazard communication program.
Employees will be trained on hazardous chemicals
in their work area at the time of their initial assign-
ment and whenever a new hazard is introduced into
their work area. This will ensure that employees
have the necessary information prior to exposure to
prevent the occurrence of adverse health effects.
Retraining will be done when a new hazard is intro-
duced into the work area, not a new product.
Visit the SDS LIBRARY at
www.sueschauls.com/ msds.htmlto find the SDS for Used Oil, Used Anti-
freeze, Gas and Diesel and many other automotive
salvage workplace chemicals.