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| Issue: |
Your organization purchases cleaning products, such as Windex and Office Cleaner, for employees to use to clean their workstations. Do you need to provide material safety data sheets (MSDSs) for these products? |
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Answer: |
Cleaning products that are used in a workplace in such a way that the duration and frequency of use are the same as that of a consumer are not required to be included in an employer's hazard communication program. The products would fall under the Hazard Communication Standard exemption for consumer products (29 CFR 1910.1200(b)(6)(ix)).
However, if employees are routinely exposed to hazardous chemicals during the course of performing their job duties, the employer would be required to make the chemical hazard information available to its employees through MSDSs and hazard communication training.
It is the responsibility of the employer to determine employee exposure and to ascertain if the frequency of use and duration of exposure are indeed not more than that which would be experienced by a normal consumer.
Source: OSHA Standards Interpretation Letter, issued April 14, 2005. |
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