Learn what is Hazard Communication (HazCom) and its relation to workers’ health and safety. Understand why HazCom has to be updated and aligned to the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS).
Hazard Communication Standards, also known as HazCom or the “Right-to-Know Law,” is a set of standards or rules created by OSHA that intend to keep employees informed about chemical hazards or potential hazards in the workplace through proper labeling of containers, the use of Safety Data Sheets (SDS), and employee training. Workers or employees may be exposed to different chemical hazards and they have the right to know what they are getting exposed to while working. This is the reason HazCom was established. When workers are informed, they, and the people responsible for their safety, can take steps to help ensure that they are going to be protected from risks and hazards.
Certain chemicals can cause harm when people get exposed to them. Such chemicals can come in contact in several ways:
Inhalation – breathing in toxic vapors or small chemical particles
Absorption – this can happen due to direct exposure to the skin or by touching a chemical substance
Injection – that is when a sharp contaminated object accidentally penetrates a worker’s body
Ingestion – that is when toxins are accidentally swallowed or accidentally mixed with foods
The HazCom rule specified in the 29 CFR 1910.1200 HAZCOM standard was updated in March 2012 to be aligned with the U.N. Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS).
The GHS was developed by the United Nations in the 1990s to standardize the classification and labeling of chemical substances. People who work with hazardous materials need to know what to do in event of an accident. This is the primary goal of GHS—to standardize hazard criteria, use pictograms, and simplify safety data sheets that give workers essential information for their protection.
With the old HCS, workers have found the information provided in the safety data sheets difficult to understand. Many terminologies and chemical information are incomprehensible. This is the reason the “Right-to-Know” Law was updated to become the workers’ “Right-to-Comprehend” or understand.
Manufacturers, importers, and distributors must be aware of and comply with changes in the standard labeling of chemicals. The following are the changes in the updated HCS, from the 1990s version to 2012:
Hazard classification – It is now required that chemical manufacturers provide specific criteria for the classification of health, physical, and environmental hazards, as well as the classification of mixtures.
Labels – Chemical manufacturers and importers are now required to provide a label that complies with the standards such as putting a signal word, pictograms, hazard statements, and precautions.
Safety Data Sheets – It is now required for employers to provide SDS that’s in a 16-section format.
Employee training – Employers are required to train new workers and inform workers about new chemicals they’ll encounter in the workplace.
Classifying hazards in the workplace is the right place to begin with in hazard communication. Employers have to be transparent with the information regarding chemical hazards in their workplaces. GHS has divided the different types of hazards into three major classifications. These classifications must be present in the labels as required by HazCom:
Physical hazards – classes include: explosives, flammable materials and gases, gases under pressure, flammable liquids, flammable solids, and self-reactive substances and mixtures, among others.
Health hazards – classes include: skin irritation, eye irritation, germ cell mutagenicity, carcinogenicity, reproductive toxicity, and many more.
Environmental hazards – classes include hazards to bodies of water and the ozone layer.
Standard labels are used to show how dangerous the hazard is and to inform the reader to be cautious. Presently, there are two approved GHS signal words that can be used. Only one signal word should be used on each label:
Sample Hazard Communication Standard Label from OSHA
OSHA’s HazCom now requires the following elements on labels of hazardous chemicals:
Contact details that include the name, address, and phone number of the manufacturer, importer, or other point person.
Product Identifier – this includes the chemical name, code number, or batch number provided by the manufacturer, importer, or distributor.
Signal Words – this is intended to alert the reader on the severity of the hazard. There are two approved GHS signal words— “Danger” and “Warning”—but only one signal word should be used per label:
“Danger” is used if the chemical poses an immediate threat, like death or long-term health problems.
“Warning” is used if a substance poses health problems when exposed.
Hazard Statements – includes a description of the hazards and the degree of danger.
Precautionary Statement – describes what are the steps to be taken or what measures should be taken in case of exposure, improper storage, or improper handling.
Pictograms – these are the symbols that convey specific information about the hazards of a substance.
Supplementary Information – these are additional instructions or information that may be helpful for the reader of the label.
Since aligning with the GHS, it is now required by HCS to use pictograms on chemical labels. GHS has nine hazard pictograms and they are as follows:
GHS Pictograms
Health Hazard Pictogram –used for carcinogens, chemicals that cause mutations, or cause damage to organs when inhaled
Flame Pictogram –used for gases, aerosols, liquids, and solids that are flammable.
Exclamation Mark Pictogram –used for chemicals that can enter the body through skin absorption or respiration
Gas Cylinder Pictogram –used to indicate compressed gases, gases that have been dissolved, or liquified gases.
Corrosion Pictogram –used to depict that the chemical damage or destroy metals, cause irreversible damage to the skin, and may cause damage to the vision.
Exploding Bomb Pictogram –used for chemicals that may cause explosions and those that are self-reactive.
Flame Over Circle Pictogram –used for chemicals that can oxidize and lose electrons.
Skull & Crossbones Pictogram –used for fatal or toxic chemicals
The hazard statements list is grouped by the classification of hazards mentioned earlier. Each statement has its corresponding codes based on the chemical’s properties. See the complete list here: hazard statements list.
A precautionary statement is a phrase that may be used to give information and guidance on how to avoid having adverse effects from being exposed to a hazardous substance or mixture.
Examples include:
wear eye protection
do not eat, drink or smoke when using this product
avoid release to the environment
View the complete list here: Precautionary statements list.
Safety data sheets are called Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) before the HCS was updated. It now has a specified 16-section format. SDS must provide comprehensive information about substances and mixtures used in workplaces. They are a source of information about hazards and safety precautions. The 16-section format of safety data sheets appears in this order:
Identification
Hazard(s) identification
Composition/information on ingredients
First-aid measures
Fire-fighting measures
Accidental release measures
Handling and storage
Exposure controls/personal protection
Physical and chemical properties
Stability and reactivity
Toxicological information
Ecological information
Disposal considerations
Transport information
Regulatory information
Other information
Employers are required to train their workers to understand and comply with HazCom. They should be trained on the following:
Label information
Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
Pictograms
Complying with these HazCom policies and precautions while implementing a comprehensive integrated management system can help to ensure that all hazards in the workplace are properly categorized and that the appropriate information is relayed to employees.
Keep your workplace safe and secure by empowering your workers to be well-informed and by efficiently using the information they are provided with. Comply with HazCom by implementing the use of Mitti (by SafetyCulture), the best app for safety inspections, compliance checks, data collection, and continuous improvement of safety in the workplace.
You are able to do the following with Mitti (by SafetyCulture)’s help:
Organize the information needed for your SDS and access it anywhere at any time you need it in your workplace or out in the field.
Educate and train workers on the hazards and safe use of chemicals with Training by Mitti (by SafetyCulture).
Ensure that hazardous materials are properly labeled by conducting inspections using safety checklists that you can customize according to your needs.
Create SDS using the available Safety Data Sheet Templates and save it in a secure cloud which is accessible to workers anytime and anywhere.
Check your workplace compliance to HazCom Standards with Hazard Communication (HazCom) Compliance Checklist.
Check out our related checklists:
