CHEMICAL HAZARD COMMUNICATION COMPLIANCE

The Hazard Communication Program - Employee Information and Training

• Prior to initial assignment to work with potential exposure to hazardous chemicals
• Whenever the hazard changes.

"Exposure" or "exposed" under the rule means that "an employee is subjected to a hazardous chemical in the course of employment through any route of entry (inhalation, ingestion, skin contact or absorption, etc.) and includes potential (e.g., accidental or possible) exposure." See paragraph (h) of the standard for specific requirements. Information and training may be done either by individual chemical, or by categories of hazards (such as flammability or carcinogenicity). If there are only a few chemicals in the workplace, then you may want to discuss each one individually. Where there are large number of chemicals, or the chemicals change frequently, you will probably want to train employees based on general hazard categories (e.g., flammable liquids, corrosive materials, carcinogens). Employees will have access to the substance-specific information on the labels and MSDSs.