Avoiding hazardous chemical training violations

Initial training

Employees who work with hazardous substances need training, but some employers are simply not aware of their obligations. When OSHA inspectors arrive, the company gets cited.

Some violations occur when employees transfer to a new area or take on new responsibilities, but do not receive training. If the employer overlooks some employees who need training, the employer would be in violation.

Another problem occurs when employees cannot answer an OSHA inspector’s questions about chemical hazards. If employees don’t remember key information from their training, OSHA cites that as a lack of training.

New hazards

Employers can train on categories of hazards (such as flammability) or on the specific chemicals used. If employees work with few chemicals, training might focus only on those substances. However, that could require additional training when a new chemical is introduced.

If employees start using a new chemical, verify that their training covered the hazards of that substance. Consider that even if previous training covered the hazard (such as corrosivity), employees might not remember the details.

Labels and SDSs

If labels on containers are incomplete or missing, or if SDSs are not readily available, OSHA will cite the employer. Employees must also understand the labels and know how the obtain SDSs.

To ensure that workers can protect themselves, consider questioning employees about their training. If they cannot answer questions about chemical hazards or label elements, or if they don’t know where to find SDSs, they probably need refresher training.