Right to Know About Hazardous Chemicals
More than 30 million workers in the United States are potentially exposed to chemical hazards. There are approximately 650,000 different hazardous chemical products, and every year, hundreds more are introduced. 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 identities and hazards of those materials, as well as appropriate protective measures.
Workers have the right to know and understand the hazards of chemicals used in the workplace. To ensure that employees have the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) needed to work safely with hazardous chemicals, employers must develop a written Hazard Communication Program (HCP). This program must include:
- Details on the classification of health and physical hazards of chemicals and their mixtures.
- Information on labels, including signal words, pictograms, and hazard statements.
- Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) containing 16 sections of information about each chemical.
- Worker information and training on the HCP.
When workers have this information, they can take steps to protect themselves from experiencing adverse effects due to exposure.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
2-5. Which of the following is a right granted to workers under the OSH Act?
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