Safety Webinar: Hazard Communication and “Your Right to Know”

1. Safety Webinar: Hazard Communication and “Your Right to Know” Safety Webinar: Hazard Communication and “Your Right to Know” Sponsored by the Georgia Department of Labor & the Department of Administrative Services P.E.S.A.W.(public employees safe at work)

2. Introduction • Good afternoon and welcome to all of you who have joined us for the Safety Webinar-”Hazard Communication & Your Right to Know. Co-sponsored by GDOL/DOAS. My name is Tom Johnson and I will be your presenter today. • Before I begin I would like to thank the DOAS for hoisting today’s Safety Webinar. I would like to also acknowledge two of DOAS Representatives Mr. C.G. Lawrence and Mr. Ted Lowe for there work on the GDOL Hazardous Chemical Advisory Board, who is responsible for today’s webinar P.E.S.A.W.(public employees safe at work)

3. Intro-Continued • Are Public Employees safe today as it regards hazardous chemicals in the workplace? We will discuss and review key elements of the Public Employees Hazardous Chemical Protection & Right to Know Act, that State Agencies need to address, in order to comply with the law • In 1988 the Georgia Assembly passed into law the “Public Employees Hazardous Chemicals Protection and Right to Know Act P.E.S.A.W.(public employees safe at work)

4. Intro-continued The law was written to protect the State’s Public Employees from exposures to hazardous chemicals in the workplace, and to ensure that all Public employees who are exposed to hazardous chemicals are informed of the hazards of those chemicals, and of the measures to protect themselves. The Georgia Department of Labor Safety Engineering Division, was assigned the administrative duties as required under the Act to ensure compliance with the law. P.E.S.A.W.(public employees safe at work)

5. Presentation Objectives • Our objective today is to provide information to assist Georgia’s State Agencies in complying with the “Public Employees Hazardous Chemicals Protection and Right to Know Law. • We will be discussing the Georgia 300-3-19 rules governing the law. The rules of the law can be found at the GDOL website and the Secretary of State website as well • The purpose of these rules off course, is to ensure that all Public employees understand their “Right to Know” as it regards hazardous chemicals in the workplace P.E.S.A.W.(public employees safe at work)

6. State Agencies Responsibilities • Under Georgia rule 300-19-02 each Public Employer covered by the Act and the regulations shall ensure that all Public employees who work for state agencies are aware of the Act, the regulations, and their responsibilities by means of having a (written Hazardous Chemical Communication Program or Hazard Communication Plan. P.E.S.A.W.(public employees safe at work)

7. State Agencies Responsibilities-Cont • Public Employers are required to designate a Hazardous Chemical Protection Communication Coordinator or “Right to Know Coordinator” within their agency • The “Right to Know Coordinator” will be provided with authority sufficient enough to carry out the duties of the assigned position P.E.S.A.W.(public employees safe at work)

8. They're six Provisions governing the Rules for the Public Employee Hazardous Chemicals Protection and Right to Know Law • Administration of the law • Training • Contractors Responsibilities • Employee Grievance/Complaints • Exemptions • Monitoring of the law P.E.S.A.W.(public employees safe at work)

9. Administration300-3-19.02 • The Department of Labor Safety Engineering Division shall as required under the Act ensure compliance with all training programs required under the law • GDOL must provide written approval of all agency training programs required under the law • GDOL must also provide written approval of the Hazard Communication Plan P.E.S.A.W.(public employees safe at work)

10. Training300-3-19.03 • Each employees shall be provided with training as required by the Act at the time of initial assignment to a workplace • Re-training must occur at least annually • Department of Labor will verify annual Right to Know training • A written training log must be kept for three years P.E.S.A.W.(public employees safe at work)

11. Contractors300-3-19.04 • It is the responsibility of independent contractors working on State property to ensure it’s contract employees are provided information and trained on hazardous chemicals • Workplace Managers shall be notified at least (30) thirty days prior to any hazardous chemical work at a State site by an independent contractor P.E.S.A.W.(public employees safe at work)

12. Employee Grievance/Complaint300-3-19.05 • Any grievance/complaint filed by a Public employee alleging that the employee has been adversely affected by a violation of the Act, first must be processed through the employer’s established grievance/complaint procedure P.E.S.A.W.(public employees safe at work)

13. Exemptions300-3-19.06 • Students enrolled in educational institutions are not required to receive hazardous chemical training, unless employed by the institution either full or part-time • The law does not cover local, city, school systems or private colleges or the employees of these institutions including county governments P.E.S.A.W.(public employees safe at work)

14. Monitoring300-3-19.07 • The Safety Engineering Division of the Georgia Department of Labor will monitor public employer compliance with the Act P.E.S.A.W.(public employees safe at work)

15. State AgencyReporting Requirements • File with GDOL Safety Engineering Division the Name of your agency Right to Know Coordinator • File with GDOL Safety Engineering submit for an approval of your Written Hazardous Communication Plan • File with GDOL Safety Engineering by January 1st and July 1st of each year a List of Hazardous Chemicals used at your agency • Provide a log of Employees hazardous chemical training conducted annually. P.E.S.A.W.(public employees safe at work)

16. In Review: • Agencies covered under the Act are required to: • Designate a Right to Know Coordinator for your State Agency • Inform employees of their right to receive formal training and education on hazardous chemicals • Ensure Public employees know what a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) or Safety Data Sheet (SDS) is, and how to use it • Designate certain areas where “Your Right to Know Posters” are placed so that all employees can see • An finally inform Pubic Employees that their physician’s have a right to receive information on the chemicals to which they may be exposed P.E.S.A.W.(public employees safe at work)