OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard, aligned with the GHS, is about one thing: people who work with hazardous chemicals must know what they are and how to protect themselves. A short quiz on labels and safety data sheets is the quickest way to find out if they do.
Who must be trained, and when
Employers must give employees effective information and training on the hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment, and whenever a new chemical hazard they have not been trained on is introduced (29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1)). Training can cover categories of hazards, such as flammability or carcinogenicity, or specific chemicals; chemical-specific information must always be available through labels and safety data sheets.
The standard does not set a fixed annual refresher for HazCom, but new chemicals, new processes and new hires keep bringing the duty back. A short review quiz is an easy way to show that the training was understood.
What HazCom training covers
At a minimum (1910.1200(h)(2)–(3)):
- the requirements of the standard, the operations in the work area where hazardous chemicals are present, and where the written program, the chemical list and the SDSs are kept;
- how to detect the presence or release of a hazardous chemical (monitoring, visual appearance, odor);
- the physical and health hazards of the chemicals in the work area;
- the measures employees can take to protect themselves: work practices, emergency procedures, PPE;
- the employer's program: shipped container labels, the workplace labeling system, and how to read and use an SDS.
Labels and SDS: the questions people get wrong
A shipped container label carries six elements: product identifier, signal word, hazard statements, pictograms, precautionary statements, and the name, address and phone number of the responsible party (1910.1200(f)(1)). There are only two signal words: Danger for the more severe hazards and Warning for the less severe. The standard designates eight pictograms.
Safety data sheets follow a fixed order of 16 sections, from Section 1, Identification, to Section 16, Other information (1910.1200(g)(2)). Good quiz questions ask where to look: first aid is Section 4, exposure controls and PPE Section 8, handling and storage Section 7. And SDSs must be readily accessible to employees during each work shift (1910.1200(g)(8)).
Running the quiz
Bring a real label and an SDS from your site, show them on screen, and ask the questions about them before playing the quiz. Everyone answers from their phone, and each answer appears with its paragraph of 1910.1200. Quizhat is an independent tool, not affiliated with or endorsed by OSHA.