Why take this class?
The Hazard Communication regulation in California specifically requires employers to provide information to all their employees about the hazardous chemicals that they work with, or to which they may be exposed to in one way or another while at work.
Some of the key requirements include that the employer must have a written hazard communication program, labels and other forms of warning, safety data sheets, and employee formal information and training.
In fact, the lack of a written program, “readily available” Safety Data Sheets and a system for labeling and other forms of warning are some of the most common issues of non-compliance at the workplace.
These issues are the reason why this standard is consistently, year after year, the 2nd most cited standard in general industry across our nation.
This standard also requires manufacturers or importers to classify hazards of the chemicals they produce or import and for those that distribute these chemicals, to transmit the required information to employers.
This class is geared towards organizations who seek to fix safety issues that may bring OSHA citations, violations and penalties.
Working with Chemicals at Work: The Cal/OSHA Hazard Communication Standard
Did you know that the standard that requires employees to work safely with chemicals is one of the Top 10 most cited by OSHA in our nation? Nation-wide, this is the second most cited standard and it is called the “Hazard Communication” rule for general industry. For California, this remains the 5th most cited of the safety standards as well.
Employers ask themselves, What is the problem? Are we not providing the information workers need to stay safe while working with chemicals? Are we going to have penalties if OSHA shows up at our door? Employees also wonder, Are we provided with all the information truly relevant to keep ourselves healthy and well while handling chemicals at work?
During this class, we will provide employers and employees with the tools to update their Hazard Communication program and most importantly how to break the gaps between the written information and what you must put in place in order to keep yourself and everyone safe at work.
We will go over:
- Introduction to the Cal/OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) and case studies
- The Cal/OSHA requirements for worksite written Plan.
- Cal/OSHA training requirements for employees
- Safety Data Sheets and Labels: Use the information before you use the chemical
- The different types of hazard communication
- An overview of the Globally Harmonized System for the classification of chemicals
Learning Objectives:
After completing this course participants will:
1. Identify the employer’s responsibilities under the HCS in order to keep employees informed and safe while working with chemicals at work
2. List the elements of an effective and compliant Hazard Communication written program
3. Explain the importance of the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) as part of the regulation
4. Differentiate between different labeling systems including the GHS, NFPA 704, HMIS and DOT and their use at the workplace
5. Utilize the required GHS label elements for chemicals at work
6. Locate pertinent information about chemicals on Safety Data Sheets including other forms of hazard communication to ensure “right to understand” provisions of the GHS
7. Explain the employee responsibilities regarding the HCS
8. Formulate an effective and compliant training session to give employees with “the right to understand” the chemicals they handle at work
Agenda:
1. Introduction to the Cal/OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (HCS)
2. Statistics, real life case studies, employers lack of compliance and Cal/OSHA’s citations and fines
3. Employer’s responsibilities under the HCS standard
4. Elements of the compliant HCS written program
A. Chemical Inventory
B. Safety Data Sheets
C. Labels
D. Multi-employer worksites
E. Training
5. An introduction to the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) of classification of chemicals
6. Safety Data Sheets: Helping all workers get the information they need.
7. Labels: An overview of the different systems you encounter at work and the role they play at the worksite.
A. Internal labeling system
B. GHS required label elements
C. GHS pictograms
D. NFPA 704 labels
E. HMIS labels
F. DOT labels
8. Employee responsibilities under this Standard
9. Compliant Employee Training session under the HCS
10. Useful e-tools, OSHA and other resources
Other Registration Options
Call Us: 310-825-0709
Email Us: erc@ph.ucla.edu
Payment Terms:
Classes are subject to cancellation by the host due to low registration or scheduling issues. If a class is cancelled by the host, participants will receive a full refund of their original payment.
(rev. 11/6/09):
Participant cancellations must be in writing. Refund schedule due to participant-requested cancellations is:
- 15 or more business days before the class: 80% of registration fee
- 7-14 business days before the class: 50% of registration fee
- Less than 7 days before the class and "no shows": No refund
If course materials such as books have been sent to course participants in advance, the cost of that material will be subtracted from the refund.
UCLA reserves the right to postpone an offering 7 days prior to the course date should minimum enrollment requirements not be met. If a program is canceled, you will be notified and your registration fee will be refunded in full, less the cost of course materials sent in advance if they are not returned in the condition in which they were received. The liability of UCLA is limited to the course fee.
