General Responsibilities
The Hazard Communication Standard
OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (HCS ) (29 CFR 1910.1200) provides workers exposed to classified chemicals with a "right to know" the identities and hazards of those materials.
The HCS is aligned with the United Nations Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS).
Many benefits have resulted from revising the HCS to be consistent with the GHS. In particular, the GHS helps to ensure that imported chemicals are accompanied by consistent hazard and precautionary information to protect workers exposed in the U.S. The revised HCS facilitates trade in chemicals since it reduces potential barriers posed by differing global requirements for classification and labeling of chemicals.
OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) requires employers and manufacturers to develop and distribute chemical information as described below:
- Chemical manufacturers and importers must classify the hazards of the chemicals they produce or import, and prepare labels and safety data sheets to convey the hazard information to their downstream customers.
- Employers with classified hazardous chemicals in their workplaces must have labels and safety data sheets for their exposed workers, and train workers to safely handle those chemicals.
- Employers who do not produce or import chemicals need only focus on those parts of this rule that deal with establishing a workplace program and communicating information to their workers.
This means that even though employers may not be responsible for manufacturing hazardous chemicals, they have the responsibility for transmitting information about hazardous chemicals to employees they not only "know" about the chemicals to which they are exposed, they "understand" the nature of those chemicals and take effective protective measures.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
1-1. All employers with classified chemicals in their workplaces must provide _____.
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