Final answer:
The Hazard Communications Standard is designed to ensure employees are informed about chemical hazards and can work safely, not just to prevent the use of hazardous chemicals. Employers must communicate hazards, implement safer working conditions and provide protective equipment and training.
Step-by-step explanation:
The purpose of the Hazard Communications Standard is not simply to ensure that employees do not use hazardous chemicals in the workplace, but rather to ensure that they are well-informed about the potential hazards associated with chemicals they may encounter, and to facilitate safe handling methods. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires employers to inform workers about chemical hazards via training, labels, alarms and other methods such as the use of a hazard diamond. Additionally, employers are responsible for adopting measures to eliminate or minimize hazards such as substituting dangerous chemicals with safer alternatives using enclosed systems or improving ventilation. Employers must also provide necessary personal protective equipment and ensure that employees are trained to handle emergencies involving hazardous substances.
The National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) hazard diamond is a tool used to quickly communicate the risks associated with a chemical, summarizing its major hazards. By law under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), workers have the right to know about hazards they may face on the job, ensuring they can work safely.