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For the past four years, hazard communication has ranked in the top five for OSHA violations across every industry.
In other words, organizations need to prioritize effective hazard communication programs. But there are many moving parts to a comprehensive program, and implementing one requires a commitment from everyone on your site.
Here are three elements EHS leaders can include in hazard communication programs to protect employees and the organization.
A written communication plan should convey necessary safety information, like hazards of non-routine tasks and container-labeling standards for anyone who sets foot on your site.
Here are four ways to make sure your communication plan is effective.
If you find that you aren’t introducing new chemicals or other changes to your site, it’s still wise to assess your communication plan on an annual basis. At a minimum, this internal audit can shed light on new ways to streamline certain processes at your company.
Safety data sheets (SDS) communicate the hazards or potential hazards of each chemical product on your site.
Maintaining your SDS database requires you to pay careful attention to these chemicals. When managers overlook details, mistakes happen. Here are three ways to avoid them.
Your SDS database is the go-to location for anyone who works at your company to quickly understand the hazards and proper procedures for handling chemicals. Updating and making your SDS documents easy to locate are crucial steps for protecting your employees and promoting safety at your company.
OSHA mandates that you provide hazard communication training. But this training isn’t just a box for your employees to tick. Your comprehensive training program is foundational to a culture of safety, and it confirms that each employee recognizes and can handle the chemicals on your site.
To optimize learning outcomes, create or look for training that…
In addition to training new employees on their first day, make sure to offer regular company-wide training, both throughout the year and whenever you introduce a new chemical to the site. If you hire a contractor, confirm they’ve completed all necessary training as well.
As you assess your training requirements, evaluate how different training programs stack up and meet your organization’s specific needs.
For instance, digital training technology might be right for you if you want employees to complete their training independently—and this format can even boost engagement.
Just like your written plan, a hazard communication program is never truly finished. There is always something to rework, from your SDS documents to your training. But once you’ve laid the groundwork of an effective program, updating it becomes easier.
Your hazard communication program is an investment. Maintaining it ensures your team is safe and that you’re able to continue generating revenue.
Hunter Taylor is a Team Supervisor for KPA, an EHS and workforce compliance software and services provider for midsize businesses. KPA solutions help clients identify, remedy, and prevent workplace safety and compliance problems across their entire enterprise.
The Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) requires pictograms on labels to alert users of the chemical hazards to which they may be exposed. Each pictogram consists of a symbol on a white background framed within a red border and represents a distinct hazard(s). The pictogram on the label is determined by the chemical hazard classification.
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