![]() Accountability gap: are employees held accountable when hazardous materials are not used according to their SDS regulations?.Verification gap: are SDSs regularly verified to ensure they’re up to date?.Knowledge gap: are employees trained according to the hazard communication standard?.Process gap: do you know how to ensure the SDSs meet OSHA requirements with storing them and ensuring they’re up to date?.Awareness gap: do you, as the employer, understand the SDS requirements?.Insure Compliance has a unique Safety Gap Model assessment that employers can undergo to evaluate the gaps in the company that risk the occupational safety of employees. Therefore, each fine averaged at $581 per citation or $1,052 per inspection. 1200 that resulted in 5,804 citations and fines totalling $3,377,765. You can rest assured that you’re meeting OSHA requirements if:Įmployees know where to find safety data sheets and have ready access to them at all times,Įmployees are trained on safety data sheets,Ģ020 statistics show 3,210 inspections that reported violations of. What Are the Penalties for Not Complying With SDS Requirements? Employers storing SDS electronically must ensure employees have the necessary computer skills to access the documents. This is particularly important if the files are saved electronically. The hazard communication program must indicate where the SDS are located and how employees can access them. The following categories are non-mandatory: Safety data sheets have a 16-section format: The written hazard communication program must explain how to identify and read a safety data sheet. identify the PPE required for the different hazardous chemicals.The written hazard communication program must contain any SDS covering all hazardous chemicals, and employees must be trained on new hazardous chemicals before they are introduced. How To Train Staff Using a Hazard Communication Program For Occupational SafetyĪ hazard communication plan is a set of processes and procedures documented and then put into place to reduce potential hazards associated with the handling of dangerous chemicals. If keeping all documents together electronically is more manageable, this is permitted so long as all employees can easily access the documents. The list should match the labels and SDS identifiers, and the chemical manufacturer should be contacted to ensure the SDS is up to date.Īll SDS documents must be housed together in a place that’s easily reachable for any employee. It’s a good practice for employers to conduct spot tests to verify the chemical inventory and randomly review the master inventory list. ![]() How To Keep Safety Data Sheets as per OSHA RegulationsĪ chemical manufacturer is responsible for sending an SDS when they deliver a chemical to your workplace for the first time.īut, it’s also your responsibility as the employer to ensure all SDSs are present and up to date. If you have any chemicals that pose health or physical hazards at your workplace, OSHA regulations state that you must create an electronic or hard copy file of all SDS documents. In contact with water and emit combustible gas. Chemicals With Health HazardsĬhemicals are hazardous to health if they can result in: Chemicals With Physical HazardsĬhemicals pose a physical hazard in the workplace if they are: How Does OSHA Define Hazardous Chemicals?Īll hazardous chemicals require a safety data sheet, previously known as MSDSs or material safetyĭata sheets, so the first step is identifying what OSHA defines hazardous chemicals to be. Upholding these practices will ensure your employees’ occupational safety and health. We’ve compiled this guide on OSHA SDS requirements so you know what’s expected of you to keep employees up to date on the health hazards they’re exposed to. These must be stored for 30 years as a hard copy in a file or on a database reachable by all employees. If you don’t have your safety data sheets (SDS) up to date and available on hand for all employees, then you could be liable for penalty fines for OSHA violations.Įvery single hazardous chemical housed at your workplace must have a current SDS indicating safety information on physical and health hazards and how to store, handle and transport the chemicals safely.
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