MSDSs
Hazard Communication Program
4.0 TRAINING AND INFORMATION
Employers must provide information and training to employees regarding the hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of the employees' first work assignment and again whenever a new health or physical hazard is introduced into the work area. Inform employees of the following:
- requirements of the University's Hazard Communication Program and the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard
- any operations in their work areas where hazardous chemicals are present
- location and availability of the written Hazard Communication Program, including workplace hazardous chemical lists and MSDSs
Train employees in the following:
- methods of observing and detecting the release of hazardous chemicals into the work area
- physical and health hazards of chemicals in the work area
- measures employees may take to protect themselves from these hazards, including the specific procedures the employer has implemented to protect employees from exposure to hazardous chemicals
- explanations of MSDSs, labels, and how employees can obtain and use appropriate hazard information
The regulations require that employers teach their employees what they need to know to work safely and protect their health when working with hazardous chemicals. Employers may design their employee training format as desired so long as all of the training requirements are included. A key concept in the training is understanding. Employees must walk away from the training understanding the hazards in their work area and how to protect themselves. Giving employees an instruction sheet or MSDS to read or a video to watch does not satisfy the intent of the laws. The training must include an opportunity for employees to ask questions to ensure that they understand the information presented to them.
Department heads are responsible for training and disseminating information to their faculty, staff, and students as discussed in section 4.0. They may delegate the actual training and dissemination of information to department safety representatives, supervisors, or principal investigators. Supervisors and principal investigators may not delegate the responsibility. Department heads must keep a record of the dates and topics of training sessions, the individual conducting the training, and the names of those in attendance (Appendix B). Copies of the training records must be sent to Evanston ORS for that department's compliance file. Department heads may use the Departmental Training Checklist to evaluate the effectiveness and completeness of their hazard communication training (Appendix C).
The Department of Human Resources presents a summary of the University's Hazard Communication Program to all new employees at each new-employee orientation session and distributes Northwestern University Hazard Communication Program booklets for employees to keep for reference. Specific hazard training must be conducted in the new employee's department by supervisory personnel.
4.3 Office for Research Safety
ORS, on request, will provide orientation for department supervisory personnel on the general requirements of the Hazard Communication Program. With the materials given to them and otherwise available through ORS, the supervisory personnel must then develop training programs tailored to their respective departments.
Internal ORS Links: What's New | Emergency Response | Administration | Biological Safety | Chemical Safety | Hazard Communication | Laboratory Safety | New to NU? | Radiation Safety
External ORS Links: Northwestern Home | Vice President for Research | Big 10 EH&S Links | Risk Management | Employee Safety Handbook
ORS - Evanston • 2145 Sheridan Road • Tech NG71
• Evanston, IL 60208
ORS - Chicago • 303 E. Chicago Avenue • Ward B106 W223 •
Chicago, IL 60611
Phone 847/491-5581 or 312/503-8300 • FAX 847/467-2797 or 312/503-0547
e-mail researchsafety@northwestern.edu
Last Revision 05/16/2007
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