1. General Information
The Hazard Communication law (also known as the "Right-to-Know" law), is a federal law that requires employers to inform all employees of the hazardous properties of any chemicals they may work with and what measures to take to protect themselves. Each UDS employee must understand the principles of the chemicals with which they work, and take measures to protect themselves from these chemicals.

2. Employee Training

a. Program Coordinators

i. Unit supervisors provide HAZCOM training for the staff that they directly supervise.
ii. Unit managers are responsible for ensuring that employees in their unit are trained by their direct supervisor.

b. Training

i. New employees will be trained on the hazards typically found at their workplace. All employees should be trained whenever a new hazard is introduced into the workplace. Re-training will occur as necessary only for those employees experiencing a "near miss" with a hazard or who demonstrate a lack of understanding and practice of UDS Hazard Communication Policy.

c. Elements of Training Program

i. UDS will use a variety of tools to accomplish the training of all employees, including chemical safety and other videotapes, informational handouts, and lectures that provide question and answer periods. Employees will complete a quiz at the time of their training session that will be kept in their personnel file in the UDS Main Office.
 

The training sessions will cover the following key points:

§ A summary of the Standard and this written program
§ Hazardous chemical properties, including visual appearance and odor and methods that can be used to detect the presence of release of hazardous chemicals
§ Physical and health hazards associated with potential exposure to workplace chemicals.
§ Procedures to protect against hazards, (i.e., personal protective equipment, work practices, and emergency procedures)
§ Hazardous chemical spill and leak procedures
Location of Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), how to understand their content, and how employees may obtain and use appropriate hazard information.

 

3. Employee Information

a. Location of Hazard Communication Program Materials

i. Copies of the UDS Hazard Communication and Safety manual are available throughout the department, including all locations where cleaning materials are stored or used. Copies of the manual are located in the UDS Main Office, Lommasson Center 145; in the office off the Food Zoo kitchen, Lommasson Center 128; in the UC Food Court kitchen; and in the Catering kitchen. Each manual includes a copy of this policy, a copy of the Hazard Communication Standard, a complete copy of MSDS on all chemicals used in the department, a chemical inventory list, and a glossary of chemical terms and properties. This manual is an excellent starting point for employees seeking information. They are also encouraged to address specific issues to the Campus Safety Committee, to their immediate supervisor, and the Environmental Health and Risk Management Director.

ii. The information in this manual will be continuously updated as new MSDS are added or deleted, personnel changes are made, or amendments to the policy are approved.

b. Non-routine Tasks

i. Employees who undertake tasks for which they are not typically assigned will receive training on chemical hazards associated with the performance of these tasks and appropriate protective measures from their immediate supervisor before they begin the new task. All employees will receive instruction in all chemicals used in UDS during their HAZCOM training.