| As a cleaning company you use various | | | | the products they are using and this |
| chemicals in your day-to-day operations. | | | | information must be easily accessible by |
| Products such as floor finish, toilet | | | | employees. MSDS sheets are usually kept |
| bowl cleaners, disinfectants, carpet | | | | at the work location in the janitor |
| spotters and all-purpose cleaners | | | | closet. |
| contain various ingredients that can | | | | Training. Employers must train employees |
| pose a hazard to your employees' health | | | | on how to properly use chemicals |
| and well-being. An every day task such | | | | including what personal protective |
| as cleaning a rest room can lead to a | | | | equipment (gloves, goggles, respirator), |
| nightmare if one of your employees is | | | | they need to wear when using the |
| injured or harmed because of improperly | | | | product. |
| using chemicals. No business likes being | | | | Record Keeping. You are required to keep |
| overburdened with federal and state | | | | records of any employee that is exposed |
| regulations. However, to protect | | | | to hazardous substances. You should also |
| yourself and your employees it is | | | | consider keeping a training log of when |
| important that your cleaning company | | | | and what types of training you provide |
| abide by OSHA's (the Occupational Safety | | | | to your employees. |
| and Health Administration) Hazard | | | | What products should you consider as |
| Communication Standard. | | | | hazardous? Products that contain |
| This standard is also known as the | | | | chemicals that pose fire hazards, are |
| Right-To-Know Law or Hazcom - citation | | | | reactive, explosive or corrosive, or |
| number 29CFR1910.1200. The overall goal | | | | chemicals that cause skin irritation or |
| of this law is to protect employees from | | | | are potentially toxic are the types of |
| physical and health hazards that they | | | | chemicals that will fall under the Right |
| may be exposed to while on the job. | | | | to Know guidelines. However, even if a |
| Employees need to know the hazards and | | | | product is not deemed hazardous by OSHA |
| identities of the chemicals they can | | | | it is important that you train your |
| potentially be exposed to while doing | | | | employees on the proper use of the |
| their job. Your cleaning employees also | | | | chemical. Products improperly used may |
| need to know what protective measures | | | | not be as effective as they should be. |
| are available to prevent exposure to | | | | In addition, if your employees do not |
| chemicals or potential injuries that | | | | dilute chemicals properly or mix |
| could be caused by chemicals. Besides | | | | chemicals together that should not be |
| being a law, failure to comply with the | | | | mixed, they can cause problems to your |
| requirements of this regulation means | | | | employee's health or may damage the |
| that you are putting your employees at | | | | surfaces that are being cleaned. |
| risk. | | | | Always ask for the product's MSDS sheet |
| As an employer you are responsible for | | | | when buying cleaning chemicals. If you |
| the following: | | | | are buying your cleaning products |
| Notification. As an employer you must | | | | through a janitorial distributor they |
| tell your employees that they have the | | | | should have the MSDS information for |
| right to information about the products | | | | you. If you buying products at a retail |
| they are using in the workplace. This | | | | store you may have to contact the |
| information includes possible health | | | | manufacturer directly or go on-line to |
| affects and hazards caused by the | | | | find the product's MSDS. |
| chemicals they use while working. | | | | Making sure you train your employees on |
| Providing Information. You must respond | | | | the use of chemicals is no guarantee |
| to any employee who requests information | | | | that an incident will never happen. |
| about the products they are using, and | | | | However, a small investment of your time |
| you must provide this information in a | | | | in properly training your employees and |
| timely manner. You must also let your | | | | keeping the required paperwork can keep |
| employees know where they can find the | | | | your cleaning company out of hot water |
| MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets) for | | | | if an incident does happen. |