Regulatory Update Requirement – Hazard Communication Training

From the Environmental Health & Safety Services Office (EHSS)

University Community,

The United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently revised its Hazard Communication Standard to align with the United Nations Globally Harmonized System of chemical classification and labeling of hazardous chemicals.  The changes, which are being phased in over the next several years, require employers, including Syracuse University,  to provide updated training to their “affected” employees by Dec. 1, 2013*.

If you are an employee of the University, you may be required to receive updated Basic Hazard Communication training.  Deans, Directors and Department Heads and other individuals with specific responsibilities associated with hazardous chemicals in their work area have already received an email notice pertaining to this compliance matter.  If you are an employee affected by this new requirement, you can receive training through one of the following options:

1.            A web-based training presentation (via Blackboard), approximately 30 minutes in length, for employees to complete. If there are any questions during the presentation, employees will be able to contact EHSS for clarification. Click here for the web-based training.
2.            Classroom-style training presented in Lyman Hall. Click here for available dates and times.

Some individuals in departments such as Physical Plant, FIXIT, Public Safety, Food Services, Graduate School and more, may have already received the updated training if they attended an annual compliance training within the 2013 calendar year; or, if the individual was a new employee and attended a Basic Hazard Communication training or the laboratory Chemical Hygiene Plan training within this calendar year. The following webpage provides a search function helpful in determining if an employee has received the updated training: http://ehosu.syr.edu/data/HazComComplianceStatus.asp.

If there are any questions, please do not hesitate to contact EHSS at 443-4132 or email Garrett Moll at gjmoll@syr.edu.  Thank you very much.

*Affected Employees may be full-time/part-time faculty or staff, temporary, work-study, student workers, GA’s/TA’s, laboratory personnel, etc.

An “affected” employee is a worker who may be exposed to hazardous chemicals under normal operating conditions or in foreseeable emergencies.  A foreseeable emergency is any potential occurrence such as, but not limited to, equipment failure, rupture of containers, or failure of control equipment which could result in an uncontrolled release of a hazardous chemical into the workplace.  Employees who work in settings (e.g. office/administrative) who encounter hazardous chemicals only in non-routine, isolated instances are not typically considered an “affected employee” and are not required to receive this training.  But a similar employee who enters or passes through an area that stores, handles or uses hazardous chemicals would require this training. If it is unclear if an employee is an “affected” employee, the University’s recommendation is that individual be trained.

A “Frequently Asked Questions” Guidance was recently developed to assist in determining who is an affected employee as well answering general questions.  Click here to go to the Hazard Communication webpage where the Guidance can be found.

Website:

http://eho.syr.edu/EHO/display.cfm?content_ID=%23%28%28%29%21%0A

Contact Person: Garrett Moll, gjmoll@syr.edu