Hazard Communication (HazCom)

The Neighborhood Clinic is committed to providing a safe workplace by ensuring employees understand the hazards associated with chemicals used throughout the organization. Every employee has the right to know about hazardous chemicals in their work environment and how to protect themselves from exposure.

SOP Library PPE Usage Bloodborne Pathogens Exam Room Cleaning

Department All Departments

Primary Users All Employees

Frequency Upon Hire & Ongoing

Purpose

This SOP establishes The Neighborhood Clinic's Hazard Communication program in accordance with OSHA requirements. It outlines employee responsibilities, chemical labeling expectations, and safe work practices to reduce the risk of chemical exposure.

Employees must understand the hazards associated with chemicals used in their work area and know how to locate Safety Data Sheets (SDS), interpret container labels, use appropriate PPE, and report unsafe conditions.

Employee Right-to-Know: Every employee has the right to receive information and training regarding hazardous chemicals present in the workplace before working with those chemicals.

Responsibilities

Employees

Review chemical labels before use, follow safe handling procedures, wear required PPE, report damaged containers or spills, and participate in required HazCom training.

Leadership

Maintain the Hazard Communication Program, ensure Safety Data Sheets remain accessible, provide employee training, and verify hazardous chemicals are properly labeled.

Supervisors

Monitor safe chemical handling practices, address unsafe conditions promptly, and reinforce compliance with OSHA standards.

Environmental Safety

Support proper chemical storage, disposal practices, and routine safety inspections throughout the clinic.

Hazard Communication Workflow

Identify the Chemical

Verify the identity of the chemical before use and ensure the container is properly labeled.

Review the Label

Read manufacturer labels for hazard information, precautionary statements, required PPE, and safe handling instructions before use.

Locate the SDS

Know where Safety Data Sheets are maintained and review them whenever additional hazard information or emergency guidance is needed.

Select Appropriate PPE

Wear gloves, eye protection, masks, or other protective equipment as indicated by the chemical label, SDS, or clinic policy.

Use the Chemical Safely

Follow manufacturer instructions and clinic procedures to minimize exposure and prevent contamination.

Report Hazards

Immediately report leaking containers, missing labels, chemical spills, or unsafe storage conditions to leadership.

Best Practice: Never use a chemical from an unlabeled container. If the label is missing, damaged, or unreadable, remove the product from service until it has been properly identified and relabeled according to clinic policy.

Safety Data Sheets (SDS)

Safety Data Sheets provide detailed information about chemical hazards, safe handling, required protective equipment, emergency response, storage, and disposal. Employees must know how to access SDS information during every shift.

A current SDS should be available for each hazardous chemical used or stored within the clinic. SDS information must remain readily accessible to employees without unnecessary delay.

Product Identification

Confirms the product name, manufacturer, recommended use, and emergency contact information.

Hazard Information

Describes the chemical's health, physical, and environmental hazards, including warning language and hazard classifications.

First-Aid Measures

Provides immediate response instructions for inhalation, skin contact, eye exposure, or accidental ingestion.

Handling & Storage

Explains safe storage conditions, incompatible materials, ventilation needs, and precautions for routine use.

Exposure Controls & PPE

Identifies recommended engineering controls and protective equipment needed to reduce employee exposure.

Spill & Disposal Guidance

Provides instructions for spill containment, cleanup, waste handling, and appropriate disposal.

Important: Employees should never rely only on memory when responding to a chemical exposure or spill. Review the product label and SDS for product-specific instructions whenever it is safe to do so.

Container Labels & Hazard Symbols

Chemical labels communicate essential hazard and precaution information. Employees must review labels before using, transferring, storing, or disposing of a chemical product.

Product Identifier

The name or identifying information on the container should match the corresponding Safety Data Sheet.

Signal Word

Words such as “Danger” or “Warning” communicate the relative severity of the chemical hazard.

Hazard Statements

Describe the nature of the hazard, such as flammability, skin irritation, toxicity, or serious eye damage.

Precautionary Statements

Provide recommended actions for prevention, safe response, storage, and disposal.

Pictograms

Standardized symbols visually identify hazards such as flammability, corrosivity, toxicity, irritation, or environmental risk.

Manufacturer Information

Identifies the responsible manufacturer or supplier and provides contact information when additional guidance is needed.

Secondary Container Labeling

When a chemical is transferred from its original container into another container, the secondary container must be labeled according to clinic policy unless it meets a limited-use exception approved by leadership.

Secondary Container Labels Should Include:

• Product or chemical name.
• Appropriate hazard information.
• Any required precautionary statements.
• Additional information needed for safe handling.

Never Use: A secondary container that is unlabeled, incorrectly labeled, or cannot be positively identified.

Chemical Storage Requirements

Original Containers

Keep chemicals in their original containers whenever practical and preserve all manufacturer labels.

Secure Storage

Store chemicals in designated areas away from patients, food, medications, and unauthorized personnel.

Compatibility

Separate incompatible chemicals and follow product-specific storage guidance provided by the manufacturer.

Environmental Conditions

Follow required temperature, ventilation, moisture, and light-protection instructions.

Container Condition

Inspect containers for leaks, corrosion, damaged lids, missing labels, or other signs of deterioration.

Inventory Control

Remove expired or discontinued chemicals through the approved disposal process and avoid unnecessary accumulation.

Chemical Spill or Exposure Response

Stop and Assess

Stop work, keep others away from the affected area, and determine whether the spill can be safely managed by trained clinic personnel.

Notify Leadership

Immediately notify the supervisor or designated leader and provide the chemical name, spill location, estimated amount, and known exposures.

Review the Label and SDS

Use the chemical label and SDS to identify required PPE, ventilation, containment, first-aid, and cleanup procedures.

Protect the Area

Restrict access, remove ignition sources when appropriate, and avoid spreading the chemical to other clinic areas.

Perform Cleanup Only When Authorized

Only trained employees with the correct equipment and PPE should clean a chemical spill. Contact emergency services or an approved response vendor when the spill exceeds clinic capabilities.

Report and Document

Document chemical exposures, significant spills, injuries, damaged property, and any follow-up actions required by clinic policy.

Emergency Response: For a serious exposure, uncontrolled release, fire, breathing difficulty, significant eye or skin injury, or other immediate danger, leave the affected area, activate emergency procedures, and call 911 when appropriate.

Employee Training & Documentation

Employees must receive Hazard Communication training before working with hazardous chemicals and whenever new chemical hazards or work processes are introduced.

Initial Training

Review chemical hazards, workplace labels, SDS access, required PPE, emergency procedures, and reporting expectations.

New Chemical Introduction

Employees should receive information and instruction before using a newly introduced hazardous chemical.

Training Records

Leadership should maintain documentation of completed HazCom education and employee competency as required by organizational policy.

Ongoing Reinforcement

Chemical safety expectations should be reviewed during onboarding, safety meetings, annual education, and following identified compliance concerns.

Do & Don't

✔ Always

• Review labels before chemical use.
• Know how to access Safety Data Sheets.
• Wear the required PPE.
• Label secondary containers properly.
• Store chemicals in approved locations.
• Report spills, leaks, and exposures immediately.

✖ Never

• Use an unidentified chemical.
• Mix chemicals unless specifically authorized.
• Remove or cover manufacturer labels.
• Store chemicals with food or medications.
• Clean an unsafe spill without proper training.
• Dispose of chemicals in sinks or regular trash unless approved.

Employee Competency

Identifies hazardous chemicals used within the employee's work area.
Locates and reviews Safety Data Sheets without unnecessary delay.
Recognizes common chemical label elements and hazard pictograms.
Selects appropriate PPE before chemical use.
Labels and stores secondary containers correctly.
Reports damaged containers, spills, exposures, and unsafe conditions.
Follows clinic spill response and emergency notification procedures.
Demonstrates safe chemical handling and disposal practices.