Introductory Hazard Communication Training is conducted during new employee orientation and open sessions. Additional sessions are available upon request. This training is conducted by Occupational Health and Safety. Training will be conducted at the time of an employee's initial assignment, annually thereafter, and whenever a new hazard is introduced into their work area. Contractors will be informed of the hazards of chemicals in their work area and of measures to protect their employees.
Employees are to be trained at the time they are assigned to work with a hazardous chemical.
For example, if a new solvent is brought into the work place and it has hazards similar to existing chemicals for which training has already been done, no new training is required. Of course, the MSDS's must be available and the product must be properly labeled. However, if the solvent is a suspect carcinogen, and there has never been a carcinogenic hazard in the work place before, new training on the carcinogenic hazard must be provided to employees working in the areas where it may be exposed. The measures which employees can take to protect themselves from these hazards, including specific procedures the department has implemented, such as appropriate work practices, personal protective equipment to be used, and emergency procedures. Department Hazard Communication Programs will be updated annually or as new hazards enter the work place.