AEA Provides FREE Online Training for AEA Members to Meet the Deadline.
SUMMARY: In order to ensure chemical safety in the workplace, information about the identities and hazards of the chemicals must be available and understandable to workers. OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) requires the development and dissemination of such information:
- All employers with hazardous chemicals in their workplaces must have labels and safety data sheets for their exposed workers, and train them to handle the chemicals appropriately.
- Chemical manufacturers and importers are required to evaluate the hazards of the chemicals they produce or import, and prepare labels and safety data sheets to convey the hazard information to their downstream customers.
Major changes to the Hazard Communication Standard
- Hazard classification: Provides specific criteria for classification of health and physical hazards, as well as classification of mixtures.
- Labels: Chemical manufacturers and importers will be required to provide a label that includes a harmonized signal word, pictogram, and hazard statement for each hazard class and category. Precautionary statements must also be provided.
- Safety Data Sheets: Will now have a specified 16-section format.
- Information and training: Employers are required to train workers by Dec. 1, 2013, on the new labels elements and safety data sheets format to facilitate recognition and understanding.
AEA ONLINE TRAINING:
To assist members with the phased training requirements set forth by OSHA, the AEA has produced an online training program to cover the major changes to the Hazard Communication Standard. Visit www.aea.net/Training/online/HazCom/ to access the online training. The program includes an exam and downloadable certificate of training. It is available to all AEA members with their FREE web user accounts.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Contact Ric Peri, AEA vice president of government and industry affairs, by email at ricp@aea.net or by phone at 202-589-1144.