Page 46 - OHS, April 2022

90TH ANNIVERSARY
The Right to Know: How Hazard Communication Became Standard
In order to create a safer work environment, employees need to know what hazards are present and how to mitigate them.
WBY SYDNY SHEPARD
orkers today understand that they do not have to work in an environment that jeopardizes their health, but
it wasn’t always that way. Employers had not always been incentivized to ensure safe work and certainly were not looking at citations, violations or penalties for failing to provide personal protective equipment, safety training or data highlighting a jobsite’s hazards.
For OH&S’ special 90th anniversary coverage in the April issue, we are going to take a look back at the history of the Hazard Communication Standard, which also became known as the “Right to Know”
laws. We discuss how this standard was created, the evolution of the standard and how employers and safety professionals can ensure compliance.
Hazardous Materials and Their Impact on Workers
Before we jump into the history of the Hazard Communication Standard, it is important to understand what was happening in workplaces prior to the formation of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
In the January/February issue of OH&S, I briefly touched on the study of a workers’ environment and how it impacted
PODCAST
“The Right to Know: How Hazard Communication Became Standard” on OH&S SafetyPod.
Go to ohsonline.com/safetypod for listening options.
42 Occupational Health & Safety | APRIL 2022 www.ohsonline.com
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