Hazard communication
Employees who work with hazardous chemicals outside a laboratory must receive Hazard Communication Training (formerly known as Worker Right-to-know) as OSHA requires. Supervisors are encouraged to provide site-specific training covering the unique chemical hazards their staff may encounter. Contact EH&S for assistance.
The Hazard Communication Plan (PDF) details the requirements of the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard and are summarized below:
- Assign staff to ensure compliance with the standard.
- Prepare and submit an inventory of hazardous chemicals.
- Ensure all chemical containers are labeled.
- Obtain a safety data sheet for each chemical.
- Make safety data sheets available to employees.
Accessibility
The Hazard Communication Plan and Laboratory Safety standards require that Iowa State University make safety data sheets (SDSs) accessible to employees at all times. Because computer power loss or breakdown may not always allow SDSs to be obtained online, EH&S recommends that each department maintain paper copies of SDSs to ensure continuous compliance.