HazCom - The Hazard Communications Program

It is common sense and the law to know the hazards of the chemicals you may use on your work assignments. Employees and employers share a responsibility to keep a safe work environment. As an employee you must be informed of your rights to know and to have access to a written program about the chemicals you work with.

Westaff provides you basic orientation on this page. Your job-site supervisor will provide specific job-site and HazCom training that includes:

• Program explanation.
• Safety data sheet and labeling.
• Directions for the care and use of any personal protection equipment required at your site.

The written program shows how the "HazCom" standard works and explains the employees' rights to know about the materials involved in each specific assignment. This includes an inventory of chemicals used, chemical labels and a Materials Safety Data Sheet, known as a MSDS, for each chemical.

Be safe - Be informed

Westaff wants to keep our workers safe, so we demand that you exercise your rights and:

• Be informed of chemical health hazards and physical hazards.
• Be informed of how to detect a chemical presence (appearance, odor, monitor, alarm).
• Be informed on how to use the written program available to you - read the labels and the Materials Safety Data Sheets (MSDS).
• Protect yourself by using proper controls and safety equipment.
• Protect yourself by using safe work procedures.
• Protect yourself by wearing personal protection equipment (for each type exposure).
• Know the correct first aid if you or someone else is exposed.
• Know the correct cleanup procedures if a chemical spill occurs.
• Know what the correct waste disposal system is.

Again, if you are given an unsafe task or you are not provided with the necessary training for your job assignment notify your Westaff office immediately.

HazCom is our shared responsibility

Return to the On-Line Guide Welcome Page