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take when developing a hazard communication program is to perform a chemical hazard assessment of your work environ- ments. In occupational health and safety, a hazard and risk as- sessment4 is a document that exhaustively outlines all of the dan- gers your people are facing while on the job — chemical as well as physical, ergonomic, biological and psychological hazards. Once you’ve identified the chemicals and the occupational hazards they include, you can then look at strategies to help your employees work around them. Some of these strategies include simple, safe practices that can be implemented into regular operations and schedules: ■ Daily clearing of work areas and walkways ■ Visible, posted instructions on proper cleanup for specific chemicals ■ Regular maintenance/updates of chemical cleaning supplies and equipment ■ A well- researched and –consulted emergency action plan5 ■ Hazardous chemical usage limits or alternatives Overall Hazard Communication Chemical hazard communication training is a part of your great- er OHS program and protocols that address the overall safety and well-being of your people. Hazard communication and training your employees about it are part of a healthy communication cul- ture6 where there can be less accidents as well as increased pro- ductivity and quality of work. Look at how you educate your employees about other occupa- tional hazards, identifying opportunities to integrate or leverage other available channels for hazard communication. Are there places you can add pictograms and warnings? Does this informa- tion need to be added to other safety materials and resources? Would this be beneficial for HR and onboarding new employees? No matter what the occupational hazard might be — chemi- cal or psychological — it’s beneficial for everyone when they are clearly communicated, the reason for the training, and how that hazard directly helps them and their coworkers. As mentioned earlier, you want everyone at the organization to be speaking the same safety language and hazard communication will help make that happen. Gen Handley is a Marketing and Growth Coordinator for Safety- Line Lone Worker, an automated, cloud-based lone worker moni- toring service that helps companies protect remote or isolated work- ers. Gen has more than 10 years of freelance writing and marketing experience. REFERENCES 1. www.osha.gov/hazcom 2. www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1910/1910.1200 3. safetylineloneworker.com/blog/lone-worker-safety-legislation-regulations- and-industry-standards-part-1 4. safetylineloneworker.com/blog/hazard-assessment-questions 5. safetylineloneworker.com/blog/creating-an-emergency-action-plan-for-at- risk-employees 6. safetylineloneworker.com/blog/want-to-improve-worker-safety-and- productivity www.ohsonline.com JULY/AUGUST 2023 | Occupational Health & Safety 43