AHCES Blog

  An Introduction to the Written Hazard Communication Program A Written Hazard Communication Program (WHCP) is a technical and regulatory document that is used to describe how the criteria for compliance with OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) are being met by an employer. The full text for the Hazard Communication Standard can be found at 29 CFR 1910.1200 and the requirements for the Written Hazard Communication Program are found at 1910.1200(e) . What is a Written Hazard Communication Program (WHCP)? The WHCP is a written document which describes how an employer will meet the requirements for labels and other forms of warning, safety data sheets, and employee information and training that are necessary at the workplace. The WHCP must also contain a list of the hazardous chemicals known to be present in the workplace and the methods the employer will use to inform employees of hazards associated with non-routine tasks. The WHCP has important additions if there a multi-emp...

  The Five Elements of the Hazard Communication Standard There are five key sections to the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS). Hazard Classification Written Hazard Communication Programs Labels and Other Forms of Warning Safety Data Sheets Employee Information and Training What is the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard? The OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) is a part of the Occupational Safety and Health Standards covering Toxic and Hazardous Substances. The HCS is used as the standard for characterizing the hazards, if any, of chemicals and conveying that information in an easily understood manner. Chemicals can be classified as health hazards, physical hazards, hazards otherwise classified, or a combination of all three depending on the individual properties. Hazard Classification Chemical manufacturers and importers are responsible for the classification of the chemicals they manufacture or import. Chemical distributors and end-users may choose to rely o...

  An Introduction to SDS Requirements A Safety Data Sheet (SDS) is a technical and regulatory document that is used to describe the properties of a hazardous chemical. It is an important document for chemical safety in the workplace. This article will cover SDS documents as described in the Hazard Communication section of the Code of Federal Regulations, for the United States of America, as part of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The full text of the Hazard Communication Standard can be found at   29 CFR 1910.1200 . What is a Safety Data Sheet (SDS)? The OSHA Definition of a Safety Data Sheet is: Safety data sheet (SDS)  means written or printed material concerning a hazardous chemical that is prepared in accordance with  paragraph (g)  of this section. - 29 CFR 1910.1200(c) “Safety data sheet (SDS)” Paragraph (g) describes the contents of an SDS and the responsibilities of the different parties in t...

  What are OSHA Labels and DOT Labels? As part of chemical safety, there are regulations on the labels used on hazardous chemicals. For businesses in the United States, the two main types of hazardous chemical labels encountered are OSHA labels and DOT labels. OSHA Labels The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) under the Department of Labor (DOL) regulates labels used in the workplace. The requirements for the labels are part of the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) and can be found at  29 CFR 1910.1200(f) . Required Label Elements Product Identifier , matching the identifier used on the safety data sheet Signal Word , either Warning or Danger Hazard Statements , indicating the hazardous properties of the chemical Pictograms , visual indications of the general type of hazard Precautionary Statements , indicating what precautionary measures need to be taken for the safe handling and storage of the chemical Name, Address, and Telephone Number  of the chem...

This FAQ Friday is focused on questions about OSHA Chemical Labels. If you have any hazard communication questions or safety questions about common chemicals, ask in the comments below or send an email to contact@ariadne-hces.com.  What does OSHA require on a chemical label? The following are the required label elements. Product Identifier , matching the identifier used on the safety data sheet Signal Word , either Warning or Danger Hazard Statements , indicating the hazardous properties of the chemical Pictograms , visual indications of the general type of hazard Precautionary Statements , indicating what precautionary measures need to be taken for the safe handling and storage of the chemical Name, Address, and Telephone Number of the chemical manufacturer, importer, or other responsible party How many pictograms can a chemical label have? A chemical label will have as many pictograms as hazard categories the chemical products belong to. There are nine differen...

This FAQ Friday is focused on questions about OSHA. If you have any hazard communication questions or safety questions about common chemicals, ask in the comments below or send an email to contact@ariadne-hces.com. Do I have to follow OSHA if I only have a few employees? Do I have to follow OSHA if I have less than 15 employees? Once you have an employee, if it is just one person, OSHA regulations begin to apply. There are a few exceptions to specific rules, including  a partial exemption   for employers with 10 or fewer employees when it comes to some of the record-keeping requirements. It is best to review what OSHA regulations may apply to your business when in the planning stages, as the regulations do vary somewhat by industry and specialization. It is also important when expanding or shifting the focus of your business, to check if there are any new OSHA regulations to consider. Where can I find OSHA Regulations and Resources? How do I figure out OSHA as a small business...

Does OSHA cover self-employed people? In short, no. OSHA has addressed this in a Standard Interpretation "OSHA has no authority to issue citations to a self-employed ... worker." Self-employment is also addressed within some of the OSHA regulations pertaining to incident reporting under 29 CFR 1904.31(b)(1) "self-employed individuals are not covered by the OSH Act." However, if you are self-employed, you should still care about OSHA. Self-Employed OSHA Or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Regulations The Basics There are some core definitions that are key to understanding how OSHA regulations are implemented. E mployer means a person engaged in a business affecting commerce who has employees, but does not include the United States or any State or political subdivision of a State. 29 CFR 1910.2(c) Employee means an employee of an employer who is employed in a business of his employer which affects commerce. 29 CFR 1910.2(d) OSHA regulations are general...