Environmental Health and Safety

Department-Specific HazCom Training

All Departments Must Train Their Employees Regarding Hazardous Materials

The Texas Hazard Communication Act (THCA) applies to The University of Texas at Austin and all of its facilities. Included in the THCA are requirements regarding training employees in the chemical hazards of their workplace, commonly known as HazCom training. An employee is defined as one who may be or may have been exposed to hazardous chemicals in the person's workplace under normal operating conditions or foreseeable emergencies and includes a person working for this state, a person working for a political subdivision of this state, or a member of a volunteer emergency services organization.

New Employees Must Receive HazCom Training

All new employees of the University, both full or part time, must be given instruction in the basic provisions of the Texas Hazard Communication Act at the time of their orientation, normally held during the initial week of their employment. This training is given by a staff member from the Office of Environmental Health and Safety and HazCom orientation training classes are conducted every Thursday morning at 9:00 a.m. at the Office of Human Resources, located at 2613 Wichita Street. In addition to new employee HazCom orientation training, EHS conducts the same (non-site specific) HazCom training on a regularly scheduled basis at SER 132, every Monday morning at 9:00 a.m. for the first 20 employees that arrive.

Your Department Must Perform Site Specific Training

Supervisors from every work area at The University of Texas at Austin must provide site specific training for all employees within their area who work with or otherwise might be exposed to hazardous chemicals. New employees must be trained before being required to work with, or being exposed to, hazardous chemicals.

Employee Work Area Specific HazCom Training must include instruction in the following areas:

  • information on labeling and MSDS;
  • the location of hazardous chemicals by work area and their associated health effects;
  • the proper use of personal protective equipment and first aid treatment in the event of overexposure; and
  • general instructions on handling, cleanup and disposal of hazardous chemicals.

Your Department Must Maintain and File Training Records

EHS maintains records of new employee and non-site specific training conducted by that office. Each department must document the departmental or site specific training on a Training Record form (available from EHS), and forward a copy to the Environmental Health and Safety, C2600. These records are required by University policy and State law.

For more information concerning HazCom training availability call EHS at 471-3511.

SB-97-0002, February 1997