Hazard Communications – What to do about those heavy, dusty binders?
Hazard Communications – What to do about those heavy, dusty binders
December 28th, 2011
A fairly typical example of a Hazard Communications’ MSDS “station” put up and never used or dusted.
Industrial sites put up the “Right-To-Know Information Station,” shelf or cabinet while construction companies haul around a copy of their binder in a job box or on the shelf of the office trailer. It doesn’t matter what sector of employment or how the employer stores the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) because the truth is the information is not used as it was intended by OSHA. I’ll guess that 99% of the binders out there are collecting dust just like the one in the photo.
MSDS sheets had their true time and place in the mid-1980’s when they were first required by OSHA in the Hazard Communications Standard (1983) and by the EPA’s Emergency Planning & Community Right-to-Know Act (1986) – and for good reasons as this information was not easily available. But, that time has gone; electronic media has made the dusty old collection of data sheets obsolete.
I’m not discounting OSHA’s requirement for an employees’ right-to-know. A review of an MSDS sheet makes for a great safety talk. (Hint: before you review an actual chemical being used on site, go over an MSDS for something fun like beer or fireworks or even WD-40). And, if there are “exotic” chemicals on site – Yes, the MSDS must be reviewed on a regular basis so employees will remember what to do when handling or during emergencies.
But aren’t there better ways to provide the MSDS information – inexpensively – without hauling
these dusty binders around that no one updates or looks at?
Unopened beverages waiting for the lunch break (Photo: Jan Thomas)
Every once in a while our site inspections disclose a situation that really isn’t addressed by OSHA but falls into the “common sense” category of safety rules (as well as running counter to many employers’ clearly stated employment policies). Drinking on the job or before you go on duty is one of those common sense rules. I can always tell when my son-in-law is going to be on duty in 24 hours – he declines my offer of a beer.
But, is a beer at lunch while on the job really that out of line? I clearly remember my shock 25 years ago when I conducted an OSHA inspection of an international brewer’s operations and discovered large coolers filled with iced bottled products in the break room. All of the workers at this factory and warehouse – including the forklift operators – were allowed to have a cool one when on break. They were even allowed to take home a 6-pack at the end of their shift. I was told this was part of the brewers’ tradition. That tradition stopped, at least in the U.S.
I’m also very aware that other parts of the world – and probably where these workers migrated from – consider a bit of wine or beer totally normal; it’s maybe safer to drink than the local water.
I’m not defending drinking on the job; I just like to figure out where these dangerous behaviors come from. Then I can better talk to workers about safety—and why we need to change their
ehavior, even when it’s a time-honored tradition.
Refrenns
by:mehrzad ibrahemzadih