Description

This course is designed for employees who use, handle, store or may be exposed to hazardous chemicals in the workplace and require an understanding of chemical labels and Safety Data Sheets (SDSs). The course introduces the purpose and importance of chemical labels and SDSs and considers their role in communicating information about chemical hazards, safe handling and storage, emergency procedures, transport and disposal. Learners are introduced to the relevant chemical classification and hazard communication framework, including the Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS), UK REACH, GB Classification, Labelling and Packaging (GB CLP) requirements and the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH). Learners consider how hazards are communicated through product identifiers, signal words, hazard statements, precautionary statements and hazard pictograms. The course explores the physical, health and environmental hazard categories and develops learners` ability to locate and interpret relevant safety information contained within the standard 16 sections of a Safety Data Sheet. The course also considers workplace arrangements for accessing SDSs and the purpose of SDS registers and manifests. Learners explore their responsibilities when working with hazardous chemicals, including checking labels, consulting the current SDS before use, supporting risk assessment, following safe handling, storage and disposal requirements and taking appropriate action where chemicals are unlabelled or cannot be identified. The course concludes by considering chemical-related incidents and emergencies, including spills, releases, fires and exposure, and the importance of consulting the relevant SDS, following organisational emergency procedures and promptly reporting dangerous situations or incidents.

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