Introduction
Construction Personnel Group Inc is unable to control the environment or conditions where our employees work. Technically, our field employees are “co-employed”. Although Construction Personnel Group writes your paycheck, the company that actually controls your work environment and dictates your activities is ultimately who is responsible for your safety. Nonetheless, we still believe that we should make every possible effort to protect preventing accidents and ensure the safety and health of our employees. We will make every effort to comply with all applicable federal and state health and safety rules. For this reason, we have created this program in order to attempt to communicate the hazards to which our employees may be exposed, and the safe handling procedures and measures to take to protect themselves from these chemicals. These chemicals may be physical or health-related. This written hazard communication plan is available at our office for review by all employees.
Identifying Hazardous Chemicals
The following is a list of the most common hazardous chemicals used by our partner companies with a potential for employee exposure at certain workplace locations.
- Lead
- Asbestos
Detailed information about the physical, health, and other hazards of each chemical is included in a Safety Data Sheet (SDS); the product identifier for each chemical on the list matches and can be easily cross-referenced with the product identifier on its label and on its Safety Data Sheet.
Identifying Containers of Hazardous Chemicals
The controlling partner/employer should utilize a labeling system that follows the requirements in the 2012 revision of the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard to be consistent with the United Nations Globally Harmonized System (GHS) of Classification of Labeling of Chemicals. The label on the chemical is intended to convey information about the hazards posed by the chemical through standardized label elements, including symbols, signal words and hazard statements.
All hazardous chemical containers used at this workplace should have:
- The original manufacturer’s label that includes a product identifier, an appropriate signal word, hazard statement(s), pictogram(s), precautionary statement(s) and the name, address, and telephone number of the chemical manufacturer, importer, or other responsible party
- A label with the appropriate label elements just described
- Workplace labeling includes the product identifier and words, pictures, symbols, or combination that provides at least general information regarding the hazards of the chemicals.
Your Supervisor (or that company’s Safety Manager) will ensure that all containers are appropriately labeled. No container should be released for use until this information is verified. Workplace labels should be legible and in English. Information in other languages is available upon request.
Small quantities intended for immediate use may be placed in a container without a label, provided that the individual keeps it in their possession at all times and the product is used up during the work shift or properly disposed of at the end of the work day. However, the container should be marked with its contents.
Keeping Safety Data Sheets (previously known as Material Safety Data Sheets)
The manufacturer or importer of a chemical is required by OSHA to develop a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) that contains specific, detailed information about the chemical’s hazard using a specified format. The distributor or supplier of the chemical is required to provide this SDS to the purchaser.
SDS’s are readily available to all employees during their work shifts. Employees can review SDS for all hazardous chemicals used at this workplace here on this webpage or upon request.
The SDS’s are updated and managed by John Krytus. If a SDS is not immediately available for a hazardous chemical, employees can obtain the required information by asking.
Training Employees about Chemical Hazards
Before they start their jobs or are exposed to new hazardous chemicals, employees should attend a hazard communication training that covers the following topics:
- An overview of the requirements in OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard.
- Hazardous chemicals are present in their workplace.
- Any operations in their work area where hazardous chemicals are used.
- The location of the written hazard communication plan and where it may be reviewed.
- How to understand and use the information on labels and in Safety Data Sheets.
- Physical and health hazards of the chemicals in their work areas.
- Methods used to detect the presence or release of hazardous chemicals in the work area.
- Steps we have taken to prevent or reduce exposure to these chemicals.
- How employees can protect themselves from exposure to these hazardous chemicals through the use of engineering controls/work practices and personal protective equipment.
- An explanation of any special labeling present in the workplace.
- What are pictograms?
- What are the signal words?
- What are the hazard statements?
- What are the precautionary statements?
- Emergency procedures to follow if an employee is exposed to these chemicals.
Katie McDonald is responsible to communicate that employees receive this training from their controlling employer. After attending the training, employees will sign a form verifying that they understand the above topics and how the topics are related to our hazard communication plan.
Prior to introducing a new chemical hazard into any department, each employee in that department will be given information and training as outlined above for the new chemical hazard.
Informing Employees who do Special Tasks
Before employees perform special (non-routine) tasks that may expose them to hazardous chemicals, their supervisors will inform them about the chemicals’ hazards. Their supervisors also will inform them about how to control exposure and what to do in an emergency. The employer will evaluate the hazards of these tasks and provide appropriate controls including Personal Protective Equipment and all additional training as required.
Examples of special tasks that may expose employees to hazardous chemicals include the following: (include examples of special (non-routine) tasks).