General Responsibilities
Introduction
To ensure chemical safety in the workplace, the employer must ensure employees have information and understand the identities and hazards of chemicals with which they work.
HCS Pictograms
OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) requires employers and manufacturers to develop and distribute chemical information as stated below:
- Chemical manufacturers and importers must classify the hazards of the chemicals they produce or import, and prepare labels with pictograms (see image) and safety data sheets to convey the hazard information to their downstream customers;
- All employers with classified hazardous chemicals in their workplaces must have labels and safety data sheets for their exposed workers, and train workers to handle the chemicals appropriately.
The HCS is aligned with the United Nations Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) that provides many benefits, including the following:
- provides a common and coherent approach to classifying chemicals and communicating hazard information on labels and safety data sheets;
- improves the quality and consistency of hazard information in the workplace;
- helps reduce trade barriers;
- results in productivity improvements for American businesses that regularly handle, store, and use classified hazardous chemicals;
- provides cost savings for American businesses that periodically update safety data sheets and labels for classified chemicals.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
1-1. According to the HCS, what must the employer do to protect employees exposed to hazardous chemicals?
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