Lion's office will be closed December 25 and 26. Online training support is available every day from 8:30 AM to 5 PM ET via support@lion.com.
Search

Question of the Week: Communicating Unknown Hazards

Posted on 2/1/2011 by James Griffin

Q. When an employer discovers that a chemical product has a hazard that is NOT indicated on the manufacturer’s Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), what should he or she do?

A. The Hazard Communication Standard (HCS: 29 CFR 1910.1200(h)) requires chemical manufacturers to assess the hazards of their products and prepare the MSDS accordingly. The MSDS must report all physical and health hazards that may appear during normal use and forseeable emergency situations.

When an employer discovers that an MSDS is inadequate or incomplete, he or she is not responsible for rewriting the MSDS. However, employers must inform their employees of the new hazard and provide them appropriate training and protective equipment.

Employers are encouraged to contact chemical manufacturers about hazards that are not accurately reflected on the MSDS. Chemical manufacturers are required to update their MSDSs when new information comes to their attention (29 CFR 1910.1200(g)(5)).

OSHA has policies in place that explain how to address an inaccurate MSDS. See OSHA Directive 02-00-038 “Inspection Procedures for the Hazard Communication Standard”.

Sources: OSHA letter of interpretation [December 22, 2008]

Tags: HazCom, osha, Safety Data Sheets

Find a Post

Compliance Archives

Lion - Quotes

The course is well thought out and organized in a way that leads to a clearer understanding of the total training.

David Baily

Hazmat Shipping Professional

I attended training from another provider and learned absolutely nothing. Lion is much better. Hands down.

Nicole Eby

Environmental Specialist

Convenient; I can train when I want, where I want.

Barry Cook

Hazmat Shipping Professional

Excellent class, super instructor, very easy to follow. No rushing through material. Would like to take his class again.

Lawrence Patterson

EH&S Facility Maintenance & Security Manager

I have been to other training companies, but Lion’s material is much better and easier to understand.

Mark Abell

Regional Manager

The instructor had knowledge of regulations and understanding of real-world situations. The presentation style was engaging and fostered a positive atmosphere for information sharing.

Linda Arlen

Safety & Environmental Compliance Officer

This training broke down the regulations in an easy-to-understand manner and made them less overwhelming. I now feel I have the knowledge to make more informed decisions.

Amanda Oswald

Shipping Professional

I think LION does an excellent job of any training they do. Materials provided are very useful to my day-to-day work activities.

Pamela Embody

EHS Specialist

Having the tutorial buttons for additional information was extremely beneficial.

Sharon Ziemek

EHS Manager

Lion courses always set the bar for content, reference, and practical application. Membership and access to the experts is an added bonus.

John Brown, CSP

Director of Safety & Env Affairs

Download Our Latest Whitepaper

Get to know the top 5 changes to OSHA’s revised GHS Hazard Communication Standard at 29 CFR 1910.1200 and how the updates impacts employee safety at your facility.

Latest Whitepaper

By submitting your phone number, you agree to receive recurring marketing and training text messages. Consent to receive text messages is not required for any purchases. Text STOP at any time to cancel. Message and data rates may apply. View our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.