Is Your Farm in Compliance with the Hazard Communication Standard?

by Jim Carrabba (published 10/1/2007 in Country Folks Safety Savvy)

The Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) is a very important component of any safety plan. The HCS is a law administered by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). This law requires that employers inform workers of any chemical hazards in the workplace and to train workers how to protect themselves from these hazards. This standard is sometimes referred to as “Worker Right to Know”. The intent of the HCS is to assure that workers know about chemical hazards in the workplace and how they can protect themselves.

To be in compliance with this standard, a business must have a written hazard communication program. The hazard communication program must address these six areas:

1. Name a person responsible for overseeing the program

2. Create an inventory of all chemicals at the worksite

3. Properly label all chemical containers

4. Obtain and keep on file a Material Safety Data Sheet for each chemical:

5. Train workers on how to read product labels and MSDS’s

6. Train workers on how to protect themselves from the chemicals and document training

The HCS states that MSDS’s must be readily available to workers. Workers are free to consult the MSDS anytime they have a question about a particular chemical. Before using a chemical, it is a good idea to check the MSDS. The MSDS will list the personal protective equipment needed and the appropriate first aid measures that need to be taken in case of an emergency. Worker training is an important component of complying with the HCS. The employee training should include an explanation of the standard, how to read a label and MSDS, where to find the MSDS’s, types of chemicals used in the workplace, how to protect themselves from these chemicals and how to use the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Employers need to document the training.

NYCAMH is now available to help your farm comply with the HCS. NYCAMH has partnered with Cornell University’s Quality Milk Production Services to provide Hazard Communication training. Through this partnership, we can help you set up your HCS program, assist you with obtaining MSDS’s, and provide the training for your workers. Lisa Ford, Educator at Cornell’s Quality Milk can provide this training in Spanish for your Hispanic workers. These services are offered at no cost through a grant from the New York State Department of Labor Hazard Abatement Board. We are also able to deliver farm safety training on a wide variety of topics. If you would like to schedule an on-farm safety survey or an on-farm safety training session, contact me at 800-343-7527, ext 239 or e-mail me at jcarrabba@nycamh.com. NYCAMH, a program of Bassett Healthcare, is enhancing agricultural and rural health by preventing and treating occupational injury and illness.