A written hazard communication plan must include information on

The written program must list all the chemicals present in the workplace, designate who is responsible for the various aspects of the program, and specify where written materials will be made available to workers.

Table of Contents Show

Common Sections in Your Written Hazard Communication Program
How to Develop Your Chemical Inventory
How KPA Helps Strengthen Your Hazard Communication Program
HazCom Written Program
Hazard Communication Awareness Training
SDS Management
Do You Have a Hazard Communication Plan?
Do You Have a Hazard Communication Plan?
Why Do You Need A Hazard Communication Plan?
What’s in a Hazard Communication Plan?
How Can Quantum Help?
SDS Management
Related Posts
What is a written hazard communication?
What are the requirements of the hazard communication Rule?
What is the OSHA standard for hazard communication?
Where must the written hazard communication plan be available?

The hazard communication process includes:

Chemical labeling, including pictograms.
How to read safety data sheets (SDSs).
How to readily obtain SDSs in the event of a chemical exposure incident.

Common Sections in Your Written Hazard Communication Program

Roles and Responsibilities:
Determine who’s responsible for both the initial and ongoing activities needed for compliance. We’ve got some background for you here >>

Chemical Inventory:
Collect a list of all the chemicals present at your facility (more info later in the article).

GHS-Compliant Container Labeling:
A statement of how your organization will ensure containers will have GHS-compliant label prominently displayed

Safety Data Sheets (SDSs):
The who, what, where, and when details for how you’re managing your SDS library.

Training Requirements:
How you’ll be training your employees on your HazCom program.

Contractor Requirements:
What requirements will contractors working inside your facility need to follow?

Non-Routine Tasks:
What requirements will employees need to follow when working on non-routine tasks involving chemicals?

Documentation:
This section will contain things like your chemical inventory, the location of the your SDS inventory, employee training records, and contractor/subcontractor notifications.

How to Develop Your Chemical Inventory

Conduct a workplace survey to record all hazardous chemicals present. Identify all chemicals by reading the labels provided by the manufacturer (product identifiers include product name, product number, and the product’s hazards). Note the location(s) of the product(s) and where they are used.

Employers are required to have safety data sheets (or SDSs for short) for all hazardous chemicals they use. So, once you’ve compiled a complete list of the chemicals, determine if you have SDSs for all of them. If any are missing, contact the supplier and request one. Also, make sure purchasing procedures are in place to confirm receipt of SDSs in real-time before using any new chemical.

How KPA Helps Strengthen Your Hazard Communication Program

KPA is here to help you maintain a comprehensive Hazard Communication program.

HazCom Written Program

KPA’s expert EHS consultants will help you develop a written program that is tailored to your business. It will include everything OSHA looks for including:

A list of all the chemicals present in your workplace
How and where employees can access Safety Data Sheets
Identify the individual designated as responsible for the oversight of your program

Hazard Communication Awareness Training

KPA also provides online and on-site Hazard Communication training. Courses for both employees and managers cover how information about hazardous materials is communicated in the workplace. They also include information about how to read hazard labels and safety data sheets as well as the importance of the written program and training.

SDS Management

Ensuring your employees have quick and easy access to Safety Data Sheets may be the most important component of your Hazard Communication program. With KPA EHS you have access to a database of over 70 million datasheets. You can create your own SDS folders and custom SDS library with an easy to search interface. You’ll also have offline access and hardcopies to ensure all your staff can easily find SDSs. Finally, you can print pre-populated secondary container labels for GHS compliance.

SDS Authoring
- - No Stress SDS
  - SDS Authoring and Generation Software
  - SDS Services
  - WHMIS
  - California Cleaning Product Right To Know Act
  - New York Household Cleanser Disclosure
Waste Management
- - Waste Manifest and Labeling Software
  - e-Manifest
Chemical Management
- - SDS Management Software
  - Chemical Inventory
Safety Management
- - Inspection
  - Training Tracking
  - Incident Reporting & Investigation
  - Risk Analysis
  - Hazard Reporting
  - Audit
Resources
- - Illness & Injury
  - GHS
  - WHMIS
  - OSHA News
About Us
- Who We Are
- Company News
- Careers
- Partnership
Contact

SDS Authoring
- - No Stress SDS
  - SDS Authoring and Generation Software
  - SDS Services
  - WHMIS
  - California Cleaning Product Right To Know Act
  - New York Household Cleanser Disclosure
Waste Management
- - Waste Manifest and Labeling Software
  - e-Manifest
Chemical Management
- - SDS Management Software
  - Chemical Inventory
Safety Management
- - Inspection
  - Training Tracking
  - Incident Reporting & Investigation
  - Risk Analysis
  - Hazard Reporting
  - Audit
Resources
- - Illness & Injury
  - GHS
  - WHMIS
  - OSHA News
About Us
- Who We Are
- Company News
- Careers
- Partnership
Contact

Do You Have a Hazard Communication Plan?

According to OSHA, maintaining a written hazard communication plan is absolutely critical to workplace safety. This requirement was the second-most commonly cited safety regulation of 2017. Is your company among those out of compliance? What do you need to do to get into compliance? Why are hazard communication plans so important anyway? Read on to find out!

Why Do You Need A Hazard Communication Plan?

The most proximate reason for putting together a HAZCOM plan is just because the government told you to. Since fines are no joke, this really should be reason enough. Fortunately for everyone, hazard communication plans have several real benefits to your company and your employees.

Firstly, it helps your employees understand your HAZCOM program, which will help increase workplace safety by ensuring that all chemicals are handled properly. Due to this improvement in safety, you will reduce your rate of incident (with all savings associated with that).
Secondly, it allows you to more easily identify areas for safety improvements. By collecting a master list of all your chemicals, you will be more able to find problematic chemicals and processes. Once you have identified and replaced unnecessarily hazardous or expensive products, you will see improvements to safety and reductions in cost.
Thirdly, it reduces your liability risk by ensuring all employees and contractors receive adequate HAZCOM training. Perhaps more importantly, it also creates documentation to that effect. So, your company will be less likely to be held liable in the event of an incident.

Hazard Communication Plans present several opportunities to improve safety and reduce costs. Since the government requires you to make one anyways, you might as well “do it right” and get to see some of the real benefits.

What’s in a Hazard Communication Plan?

According to 29 CFR 1910.1200(e), US employers are required to produce a written hazard communications plan. This plan must include the following:

An explanation of how you will meet GHS training requirements.
A list of all hazardous chemicals located on site, along with the identifier used on the chemical’s SDS.
A plan to ensure that you meet HAZCOM’s labeling requirements.
A method of informing employees of hazards associated with non-routine tasks.
An explanation of any precautionary/protective measures undertaken to mitigate risks associated with normal operating conditions.
A plan for procuring new and updated SDS.
A method for providing contractors and temporary employees with adequate HAZCOM training and SDS documentation.
A list of responsible individuals for each of these requirements.

The written plan must be available to any employee (or representative thereof) on request. So, if someone asks you for your HAZCOM plan and you can’t give it to them, you could get a citation. Because this requirement is very easy for OSHA to check for, it is among the most common regulatory citations.

How Can Quantum Help?

The main difficulties of having a hazard communication plan are as follows:

Keeping your master list of SDS up to date.
Tracking HazCom training requirements.
Ensuring assigned individuals are aware of their responsibilities under the plan.
Confirming that all parties are carrying out their responsibilities.

Due to our experience in EH&S, we offer solutions to each of those challenges:

Our SDS Management Module provides a searchable database of all SDS at a site.
Our Training Tracking Module will automatically notify you which employees are due for training, and even allows you to track their progress and attendance.
Quantum’s Foundation will enable you to automatically assign and manage your EH&S tasks.
Our Audit Tracking module is a good way to ensure that employees follow your policies.

Contact us if you’d like to hear more about any of those solutions, or would like our advice on any Hazard Communication issue!

SDS Management

Stay ahead of your HazCom Requirements and improve safety with Quantum’s SDS Management Software!

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Patrick Russie has been working as a workplace hazard communication expert for three years.

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What is a written hazard communication?

The methods the employer will use to inform employees of the hazards of non-routine tasks, and the hazards associated with chemicals contained in unlabeled pipes in their work areas.

What are the requirements of the hazard communication Rule?

Hazard Communication Standard.

Ensuring the proper chemical labeling on containers..

Providing Safety Data Sheets (SDSs).

Providing information and training to employees about chemical hazards in the workplace..

Developing and maintaining a written hazard communication program..

What is the OSHA standard for hazard communication?

The Hazard Communication Standard (HCS), 29 CFR 1910.1200 (h), requires all employers to provide information and training to their employees about the hazardous chemicals to which they may be exposed at the time of their initial assignment and whenever a new hazard is introduced into their work area.

Where must the written hazard communication plan be available?

The written HazCom Program should be evaluated periodically for effectiveness and, along with the SDSs, must be available upon request to employees, their representatives, Cal/OSHA representatives, and others in accordance with section 3204(e), Access to Employee Exposure and Medical Records.