United States
Hong KongHazard communication and safety data sheets
A written hazard communication program, labels carrying six required elements, safety data sheets in a standard 16-section format, and training. The section order is fixed and is examined.
The standard that turns a shelf of chemicals into a documented system, and it has a lot of countable parts.
The four components
- A written hazard communication program
- Labels on containers
- Safety data sheets, accessible to employees
- Training on the hazards and the system
Label elements
Six required elements: product identifier, signal word, hazard statements, pictograms, precautionary statements, and the supplier's name and contact details.
Two signal words only - Danger for the more severe hazard, Warning for the less severe. Never both on one label.
Safety data sheets
Sixteen sections in a fixed order. The order is the point, because it means anybody can find what they need in any manufacturer's sheet.
| Section | Contains |
|---|---|
| 1 | Identification |
| 2 | Hazard identification |
| 3 | Composition and ingredients |
| 4 | First aid measures |
| 5 | Fire-fighting measures |
| 6 | Accidental release measures |
| 8 | Exposure controls and personal protection |
First aid measures. Knowing the section number without reading the sheet is the entire reason the format is standardized, and it is what a question about a chemical exposure is testing.
Access
Sheets must be readily accessible to employees in their work area during each shift. Locked in a site office nobody can enter is not accessible.
Multi-employer sites
On a construction site with several employers, information about hazards each brings has to reach the others. That coordination duty falls naturally on the general contractor. Know the section.
Common questions
What does the hazard communication standard require?
A written program, labels, safety data sheets and training.
How many sections does a safety data sheet have?
16, in a fixed order so anybody can find information in any manufacturer's sheet.
Which section covers first aid?
Section 4.
What are the label elements?
Product identifier, signal word, hazard statements, pictograms, precautionary statements, and supplier contact details.
What are the signal words?
Danger for more severe hazards and Warning for less severe. Never both on one label.