Hazard Communications

Ensure your knowledge of the current Joint Commission (JC) and Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) standards to comply with Hazard Communication in health care facilities.

Course includes a video and audio component with stand-alone exam

Hazard Communications FAQs

What Is Hazard Communications?

OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) is designed keep workers safe from hazardous chemicals by ensuring they have the right information. It's sometimes shortened to HazCom or HCS.

First, HazCom requires chemical manufacturers, importers, and distributors to follow certain labeling conventions that tell you the name of the chemical and the type of hazard it represents. They also need to provide a complete Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for each chemical with detailed hazard and safety information.

Employers are then supposed to make sure this information is available to workers who will be exposed to the substances. Containers must be labeled with specifically-formatted information and SDS data must be made available.

HazCom has other requirements for employers, as well. They have to prepare and implement a written hazard communication program, train employees on required topics, and create processes for maintaining their HazCom program.

Where Are Written Hazard Communications Required?

OSHA requires written hazard communication plans in any workplace where hazardous chemicals are present, even if the chemicals are just regular-strength cleaning products.

By their nature, healthcare facilities will require a written hazard communication plan.

When Must Employers Provide Training To Employees For Hazard Communications?

The hazard communication standard makes a distinction between employees that must be informed of chemical hazards and those that must be trained.

All employees have to be informed if their workplace contains hazardous chemicals. Employers must ensure they get an explanation of HazCom's general requirements.

Workers only have to be trained if they'll be exposed to dangerous chemicals during the course of their normal duties. The HazCom standard lays out the specific topics that need to be covered, including how to read HazCom labels, locate an SDS, and specific information about the categories of chemicals to which they might be exposed.

Training must occur whenever an employee is initially assigned to a job where they'll be exposed to dangerous chemicals. Their training has to be updated any time they become at risk of exposure to a different kind of chemical hazard – this could mean that they've moved to a different area or role, or it could mean that a new category of chemical has been added to their routine. Training isn't triggered every time a new chemical is added, just a chemical in a new category.

How Many CME Hours OSHA Annual "Bloodbourne Pathogen" Training And "Hazard Communications" Training?

The length of these courses will vary, but OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen and Hazard Communications are typically each one contact hour long.

Each contact hour of continuing education is worth one Continuing Medical Education (CME) credit, as long as the course is through an Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME)-accredited training provider.

HIPAA Exams is an IACET-accredited training provider, which is a different organization that issues Continuing Education Credits (CEUs) to a wide variety of professions. Our Bloodborne Pathogen course and Hazard Communication course are each one contact hour, worth .1 CEUs.

IACET CEUs don't automatically convert to CME credits, but some organizations accept IACET-accredited courses alongside or in place of ACCME-accredited ones. Check with your qualifying body before enrollment to ensure you'll get the credits you need.

Where Can You Usually Find Hazard Communications In A Health Facility?

In a healthcare facility, you can find hazard communication information in the safety policy and procedure manuals and in the Safety Data Sheets (SDS, formerly known as Material Safety Data Sheets or MSDS), as well as on safety bulletin boards, product labels, and signs.