Environmental
LM-12 Preclinical Science
Building 3900 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007
202-687-4712 (facsimile) 202-687-5046
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In the past, employers were not required to inform workers about their exposure to chemicals. After many years of this kind of working environment, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), under the U.S. Government, established the Hazard Communication Standard. This law is designed to protect employees who use hazardous materials on the job by requiring employers to educate their employees of any potential risk involving hazardous chemicals in the workplace. Simply put, the federal government mandates that as an employee, you have a "Right to Know" about the chemicals you work with in your job, and how to protect yourself against the potentially harmful effects of these chemicals.
Training must be provided to explain and comply with the provisions of the
OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (Employee Right to Know Standard 1910.1200)
and the means/methods
There are five major provisions of the Hazard Communication Standard with
which all employers, including
As stated above, there are five major provisions of the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard, with which employers must comply. They are:
Labeling - Labels must be affixed to each chemical container in the workplace. Labels must identify the container contents and warn the user of any hazards that may exist while using the chemical.
Material Safety Data Sheets - (MSDSs) must be available for each hazardous chemical with which you work. MSDSs are documents prepared by the chemical manufacturer that give very detailed hazard information for each specific chemical.
Chemical Inventory - A list of the hazardous chemicals in the workplace.
Training and Information - Georgetown University Hospital shall provide employees with effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area, at the time of their initial assignment, and whenever a new hazard is introduced into their work area.
Written Program - There must be a written Hazard Communication program, or policy, in the workplace which details methods employed to comply with the provisions of the Hazard Communication Standard.