What must be included in HazCom training?

Employees must be informed of:

• The requirements of 1910.1200 (essentially, that they have the right to know that they're exposed to hazardous chemicals in the course of their work and how to protect themselves against these hazards);
• Any operations in their work area where hazardous chemicals are present; and
• The location and availability of the employer's written hazard communication program, including the required list(s) of hazardous chemicals, and safety data sheets (SDSs) required by 1910.1200.

Training must include at least:

• Methods and observations that may be used to detect the presence or release of a hazardous chemical in the work area (e.g., monitoring conducted by the employer, continuous monitoring devices, visual appearance or odor of hazardous chemicals when being released, etc.);
• The physical, health, simple asphyxiation, combustible dust, and pyrophoric gas hazards, as well as hazards not otherwise classified, of the chemicals in the work area;
• The measures employees can take to protect themselves from these hazards, including specific procedures the employer has implemented to protect employees from exposure to hazardous chemicals, such as appropriate work practices, emergency procedures, and personal protective equipment to be used; and
• The details of the hazard communication program developed by the employer, including an explanation of the labels received on shipped containers and the workplace labeling system used by their employer; the SDS, including the order of information and how employees can obtain and use the appropriate hazard information.

Training on SDSs must include an explanation of each of the 16 sections and the information that can be found in each section, and why that information is important to the user.

Training need not be conducted on each specific chemical found in the workplace, but may be conducted by categories of hazard (e.g., carcinogens, sensitizers, acutely toxic agents) that are or may be encountered by an employee during the course of the employee’s duties.

Furthermore, the training must be comprehensible. Employers should consider the education and technical background of the employees to ensure that they completely understand the information being given to them. If employees receive job instructions in a language other than English, then the training and information to be conveyed under the standard must be conducted in that same language.