Attachment II
NOTICE TO EMPLOYEES
The Texas Hazard Communication Act (revised 1993), codified
as Chapter 502 of the Texas Health and Safety Code, requires public employers
to provide employees with specific information on the hazards of chemicals to
which employees may be exposed in the workplace. As required by law, your employer must
provide you with certain information and training. A brief summary of the law follows.
WORKPLACE CHEMICAL
LIST
Employers must develop a list of hazardous chemicals used or
stored in the workplace in excess of 55 gallons or 500 pounds. This list shall be updated by the employer as
necessary, but at least annually, and made readily available for employees and their
representatives on request.
MATERIAL SAFETY
DATA SHEETS
Employees who may be exposed to hazardous chemicals shall be
informed of the exposure by the employer and shall have ready access to the
most current material safety data sheets, which detail physical and health
hazards and other pertinent information on those chemicals.
EMPLOYEE EDUCATION
PROGRAM
Covered employees shall receive training by the employer on
the hazards of the chemicals and on measures they can take to protect themselves
from those hazards, and shall be provided with appropriate personal protective
equipment. This training shall be
provided as needed. Employers shall also
provide training to new or newly assigned employees before the employees work
with or in a work area containing a hazardous chemical.
LABELS
Employees shall not be required to work with hazardous
chemicals from unlabeled containers except portable containers for immediate
use, the contents of which are known to the user.
EXEMPTIONS
The following chemicals are exempt from coverage by this
act: articles that do not normally release hazardous chemicals, food, drugs,
cosmetics, hazardous waste, tobacco and tobacco products, wood or wood
products, consumer products used in the same manner as normal consumer use, and
radioactive waste.
REPORTING
FATALITIES OR INJURIES
Employers must report to the department within 48 hours the occurrence
of a chemical accident that results in one or more employee fatalities or
results in the hospitalization of five or more employees.
EMPLOYEE RIGHTS
Employees may file complaints with the Texas Department of
Health at the toll free number below, and may not be discharged or discriminated
against in any manner for the exercise of any rights provided by this act.
_________________________________________________________________
EMPLOYERS MAY BE
SUBJECT TO ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTIES AND CIVIL OR CRIMINAL FINES RANGING FROM
$50 TO $100,000 FOR EACH VIOLATION OF THIS ACT.
Further information may be obtained from:
Texas Department of Health
1-800-452-2791
Division of Occupational Health (512)834-6600
Hazard Communication
The Risk Management & Safety Office
(512)245-3616
This notice is subject to approval by the Texas Board of
Health.