Chemical hazards are responsible for countless workplace injuries and illnesses each year, but many of these incidents can be prevented with proper communication and training. A proper hazard communication program is critical for managing the risks associated with these hazardous chemicals, giving employees the knowledge and tools to minimize exposure.
Read on to find out about the essential components of a hazard communication program, from creating a written plan to maintaining safety data sheets and training employees effectively. Whether you’re starting from scratch or looking to refine your existing program, you’ll find practical tips for keeping your workplace safe and compliant.
What is a hazard communication program?
A hazard communication program details workplace safety measures for hazardous chemicals. The program establishes procedures for proper labeling of containers, documentation, and training to protect employees of the dangers of these chemicals.
A hazard communication program is required if harmful chemicals are present in the workplace. Here are some of its components:
- The staff should classify and label each chemical.
- There should also be safety data sheets in place.
- Workers should be aware that they are exposed to these chemicals.
- Employees should have proper training as well on how to handle and dispose of these chemicals.
Employers should also regularly check and update your hazard communication program.
What are the different types of hazard classifications?
A chemical belongs to a certain type of hazard. Manufacturers, distributors, and employers must know how to classify harmful substances.
The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) uses three hazard classes — physical, health, and environmental hazard. Each class is then divided into different severity levels.
Physical hazards
Chemicals that cause irreversible damage to the skin belong to this category. So are those that cause skin irritation. Some elements or products that fall under this class are:
- Explosives
- Flammable gases and aerosols
- Pressurised or oxidising gases
- Flammable solids and liquids
- Organic peroxides
Health hazards
Health hazards are chemicals that pose a danger to human health. Harmful effects can be mild irritation to the skin. They can also cause chronic disease of the lungs, heart, and other organs.
Environmental hazards
Environmental hazards are also called biological hazards. These substances can cause adverse health effects to people when eaten or inhaled. These include fungi, viruses, bacteria, and parasites. They can cause infections or poison the body when mishandled.
The GHS created a simple evaluation process of classification. The process ensures proper and thorough handling of these substances.
Organizations need not test the substance to find out its components. They need to consult scientific studies to find out whether a substance is hazardous or not.
If the chemical meets the definition of what hazardous is, they should do the following steps:
- They should classify what type of hazard it is.
- They should put the correct label on the container.
- The label should show what type of hazard it is and the severity of its effects.
How to have an effective hazard communication program
Any workplace that carries toxic substances should have a written hazardous communication program. This is an important part if you want to fulfill your hazard communication plan 100 percent.
There should be safety data sheets for each chemical. Employees whose tasks expose them to these hazardous materials should receive proper training.
Below are the steps needed to have a successful hazard communication program:
1. Identify and appoint a responsible person
Employers should become familiar with the provisions required by law. Organizations should assign a dedicated person to oversee and implement the program. This would usually be the company’s safety manager or environmental health and safety (EHS) manager.
The person overseeing the program should then assign people to be responsible for each specific activity, such as training, chemical labeling, or maintaining safety data sheets.
2. Create and implement a written hazardous plan
A written hazardous plan is the foundation of any hazard communication program. Employers must ensure that the company complies with the provision in a systematic way.
This involves creating a comprehensive inventory of all hazardous chemicals in the workplace. This list should include:
- The names of the chemicals
- Their storage locations
- Any associated hazard
The written plan should also outline procedures for managing safety data sheets (SDS), since each chemical must have an SDS.
To make the process easier, you can use this hazard communication plan template by Lumiform. You can easily customize it based on your specific requirements.
3. Label all containers accordingly
Manufacturers of hazardous chemicals are required by law to label each product. The label should contain the following information:
- Precautionary statements
- Product identifiers
- Pictograms
- Hazard statements, and
- The name and contact number of the responsible party.
Employers should also properly label the containers of these hazardous materials–even secondary containers such as buckets or transfer bottles. And employees should have ready access to complete information about these chemicals.
4. Maintain safety data sheets
Safety data sheets contain detailed information about the harmful chemical, including chemical properties, potential hazards, and handling precautions.
Copies of this information should be in the workplace, especially during working hours. Employees should know where to find these sheets and how to use the information effectively.
You can store SDS in either physical binders or as digital files. For workplaces relying on digital storage, it is critical to maintain a reliable backup system to avoid data loss. However, a hard copy should always be kept on hand and made immediately available to medical personnel during emergencies. This allows for quick access to vital safety information when time is of the essence.
5. Train employees
If hazardous chemicals are present in the workplace, employees should be informed and trained how to handle and dispose of the chemicals.
There should be adequate training even before they start their work assignment. Workers should be aware that they are handling toxic substances. On top of this, they must understand how to:
- Recognize hazards
- Read chemical labels
- Use safety data sheets effectively
- Handle emergencies, such as spills or accidental exposure
Employers should repeat the training whenever new chemicals are introduced into the workplace.
6. Evaluate the program regularly
Although this is not a requirement, regularly review and evaluate your hazard communication program checklist. It ensures that your program is still relevant and effective.
Involve employees in this process by gathering feedback on the program’s effectiveness and identifying areas for improvement. For example, are employees consistently following the training guidelines? Are safety data sheets easily accessible when needed? Are labeling practices clear and in line with regulations?
A digital solution for the hazard communication program
Safety officers must ensure that companies are and remain compliant with chemical handling and storage regulations. Maintaining compliance and detecting problems requires regular inspections and extensive documentation, which can be costly and time-consuming in the long run.
Lumiform, a flexible and powerful inspection app and software, helps safety managers proactively identify violations and properly document issues found. With Lumiform on your mobile devices, you’ll be able to:
- Turn any individual paper list into a digital checklist without much effort using the flexible AI form builder.
- Take photos of issues and annotate them with the mobile app.
- Remedy violations immediately by assigning remedies from the app in real time.
- Schedule regular inspections and get notified of missed/incomplete inspections.
- Generate automatic paperless reports after each inspection that you can send immediately, saving time and reducing costs
- Analyze inspection results with desktop software and identify trends based on the information you collect.
Take control of your hazard communication program with Lumiform and boost compliance while saving time and resources. Try it today with a 14-day free trial!