WAC 296-800-17030   Inform and train your employees about hazardous chemicals in your workplace.  You must:

     • Provide employees with effective information on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial job assignment. Whenever a new physical or health hazard related to chemical exposure is introduced into their employees' work areas, information must be provided.

     – Inform employees of:

     ♦ The requirements of this rule

     ♦ Any operations in their work area where hazardous chemicals are present

     ♦ The location and availability of your written Chemical Hazard Communication Program, including the list(s) of hazardous chemicals and material safety data sheets (MSDSs) required by this rule.

     • Provide employees with effective training about hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial job assignment. Whenever a new physical or health hazard related to chemical exposure is introduced, the employees must be trained.

     • Make sure employee training includes:

     – Methods and observations that may be used to detect the presence or release of a hazardous chemical in the work area. Examples of these methods and observations may include:

     ♦ Monitoring conducted by you

     ♦ Continuous monitoring devices

     ♦ Visual appearance or odor of hazardous chemicals when being released

     – Physical and health hazards of the chemicals in the work area, including the likely physical symptoms or effects of overexposure

     – Steps employees can take to protect themselves from the chemical hazards in your workplace, including specific procedures implemented by you to protect employees from exposure to hazardous chemicals. Specific procedures may include:

     ♦ Appropriate work practices

     ♦ Engineering controls

     ♦ Emergency procedures

     ♦ Personal protective equipment to be used

     – Details of the chemical hazard communication program developed by you, including an explanation of the labeling system and the MSDS, and how employees can obtain and use the appropriate hazard information.

     • Tailor information and training to the types of hazards to which employees will be exposed. The information and training may be designed to cover categories of hazards, such as flammability or cancer-causing potential, or it may address specific chemicals. Chemical-specific information must always be available through labels and MSDSs

     • Make reasonable efforts to post notices in your employees' native languages (as provided by the department) if those employees have trouble communicating in English.

Note:

• Interactive computer-based training or training videos can be used provided they are effective.

    

• Your MSDSs may not have WISHA permissible exposure limits (PELs) listed. In some cases, WISHA PELs are stricter than the OSHA PELs and other exposure limits listed on the MSDSs you receive. If this is the case, you must refer to the WISHA PEL table, WAC 296-62-075, for the appropriate exposure limits to be covered during training.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and[49.17].050 . 02-16-047, § 296-800-17030, filed 8/1/02, effective 10/1/02; 01-23-060, § 296-800-17030, filed 11/20/01, effective 12/1/01; 01-11-038, § 296-800-17030, filed 5/9/01, effective 9/1/01.]