Hazard Communication in the Hospitality Industry

Learn about hazardous materials and how to protect yourself in the workplace

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Course: On-Demand

You've probably heard of OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard, but you may not have thought about how it affects you. Did you know that an ordinary cleanser can actually be toxic, flammable, even explosive? OSHA's HazCom standard and similar states laws exist so that you have the right to know about potentially hazardous materials that you may encounter in your workplace, which is why they are sometimes referred to as the Right to Know regulations. Their goal is to make sure that you have the information, training, and equipment you need to work safely around hazardous materials. (Inspiring music). Under the HazCom standard, chemical hazard information is communicated to you in three ways: safety data sheets, container labels, and your facility's written hazard communication program. A safety data sheet, previously known as a material safety data sheet, is essentially a guide for how to safely use a specific chemical. Chemical manufacturers and distributors provide safety data sheets for each of the products that they sell. Your facility keeps copies of SDSs on file so that you can refer to them whenever necessary. (Mumbling). Safety data sheets are a wealth of information about a chemical product, starting with all of the names a chemical goes by and the company that manufactures it. If the product contains hazardous ingredients or may present a hazard itself, this information can also be found on its SDS. While working with a chemical, the SDS will guide you on how to handle and store a chemical and what exposure controls and personal protective equipment to use to protect yourself. If there is an emergency, the SDS will tell you the first aid procedures to follow, as well as how to clean up a spill involving the chemical. Safety data sheets all use a format that was created under the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals, GHS for short, so it's easy to remember where to look on an SDS for the information that you need. OSHA has also incorporated the GHS labeling specifications into the HazCom standard so that all manufacturers' labels will use the same format and provide the same type of information about the chemical they represent. At a glance, the label will provide the material's name and its potential health, fire, and reactivity hazards. It will also list specific precautions to take, situations to avoid and, if necessary, what personal protective equipment to wear when working with the chemical. Before the adoption of the GHS labeling format, all chemical container labels did not present information in the same way. Some labels were written; some used shapes, numbers, or letters to conveys their warnings; others used symbols or pictures to represent hazards or indicate required personal protective equipment, which could sometimes make it difficult to find the information you needed. You may see some of these types of labels on older containers, and even under the GHS rules, in-house labels don't have to follow the GHS format as long as they contain the information that the GHS requires. But regardless of the types of container labels that you encounter in your facility, you need to read them carefully before working with any chemical. And any time you transfer a chemical to another container, you should make sure that the secondary container is labeled properly. Another place you can find information about hazardous chemicals is in your facility's hazard communication program. This is basically a roadmap showing how your facility is complying with the Hazard Communication Standard and discusses what types of potentially hazardous materials are in your work place, where they are, how they are labeled, where SDSs are kept, how employees will receive their training and anything else you will need to know in order to work with the material safely. (Inspiring music).

Essential Provider : KnowledgeCity 8 Lessons · 20m in Arabic, English, Spanish

Course Description

Employees in all industries have a "Right to Know" about potentially hazardous materials that they may encounter in the workplace. This course is designed to give you a basic understanding of OSHA's HazCom Standard, GHS Safety Data Sheets, classifications of chemicals, carcinogens, routes of entry, PPE, and what to do when there are leaks and spills in the hospitality industry.

What You'll Learn

Understand OSHA's HazCom Standard and the employee "Right to Know" about hazardous materials
Interpret GHS Safety Data Sheets and the classifications of chemicals
Distinguish flammable from combustible materials and identify carcinogens and suspected carcinogens
Recognize routes of entry for hazardous chemicals into the body
Select and use appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Respond to leaks and spills in the hospitality industry

Key Takeaways

Employees in all industries have a "Right to Know" about potentially hazardous materials they may encounter in the workplace.
OSHA's HazCom Standard and GHS Safety Data Sheets provide the framework for communicating chemical hazards.
Chemicals can be classified in different ways, including distinguishing flammable from combustible materials and identifying carcinogens.
Hazardous chemicals can affect workers through different routes of entry, making PPE an important protection.
The course addresses what to do when there are leaks and spills in the hospitality industry.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is this course for?

It is designed for employees in the hospitality industry who have a "Right to Know" about potentially hazardous materials they may encounter in the workplace.

What topics does this course cover?

It covers OSHA's HazCom Standard, GHS Safety Data Sheets, classifications of chemicals, carcinogens, routes of entry, PPE, and what to do when there are leaks and spills.

What will I be able to do after taking this course?

You will gain a basic understanding of hazard communication, including identifying carcinogens, distinguishing flammable from combustible materials, recognizing routes of entry, using personal protective equipment, and handling leaks and spills.

How is the course structured?

The course is organized into lessons: Introduction, Classes of Chemicals, Flammable vs Combustible, Carcinogens and Suspected Carcinogens, Routes of Entry, Personal Protective Equipment, Leaks and Spills, and a Review.