Page 41 - Occupational Health & Safety, July 2017

which convey hazards via symbols, makes it possible for workers to more easily understand the hazards associated with the chemicals in their work environment. This simplified approach to communi- cating hazard information also makes it possible to better protect workers of all backgrounds. For instance, pictograms make it easier for illiterate and non-English speaking employees to understand the nature of a product’s hazardous properties. GHS adoption helps ensure workers better understand the dangers being communicat- ed to them.
Finally, the right-to-understand concept complements OSHA’s rule on employee HazCom training—that it must be presented in a manner that all employees can comprehend and retain. When ap- plied to HazCom training, this means that employees who interact with hazardous chemicals must receive training on those dangers in a language they can understand, even if the documents, SDSs, and labels themselves are only required in English.
Step Three: Provide Easy Access to SDSs
A key aspect of HazCom training is making sure employees know how to get direct access to SDSs and other hazardous chemical in- formation. If an employer is using an electronic solution to provide employees with access to its inventory of SDSs, it’s incumbent upon the employer to ensure employees are made aware of the system and how to use it to retrieve SDSs and that they care given access
to the system with no barriers. Without that access, in the event of an emergency, even an employee who has received the most robust training on labels and SDSs will be at risk should a chemical inci- dent occur that requires quick action.
For just that reason, many employers are taking advantage of technological advancements and using mobile solutions to put SDSs and other chemical information in the hands of every em- ployee. The best EHS software solutions today leverage the cloud to make critical chemical safety information available anywhere, any time—and even offline via mobile apps.
Early adopters of mobile-enabled chemical management prod- ucts and apps have found that they are great ways to extend the efficacy of training beyond the classroom, especially given all of the information available on an SDS for handling, storing, and dealing with chemicals during an emergency. Similarly, putting a good in- cident and hazard reporting mobile app in the pockets of workers provides safety managers with real-time information about work site risks that can lead to faster hazard abatement and better train- ing around the actual dangers in the work environment.
Step Four: Keep It Consistent
While OSHA doesn’t require employee training be performed in specific intervals of time, regular training—at least annually—is a best practice that will help ensure your employees better retain
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