1. Construction Safety Talks
Right To Some Things To Know Before You Give Your Talk.
Know - As a supervisor, you need to tell your crew about the right-to-know
Labels program. Sometimes called Hazard Communication, it's a program
for letting them know about the hazards of materials used at the
No. 75 job site so that they can take steps to protect themselves from
over exposures.
The program has three main parts: training, labeling and material
How This Talk safety data sheets (MSDS). Today, we’re going to talk about
Applies To My labeling.
Crew:
Labels
Your main sources of information about hazardous chemicals are
labels on containers. They contain much of the same information
as Material Safety Data Sheets but are usually less detailed. As
such, there are a few rules about labels your crew should
understand.
• Do not use materials from unlabeled containers. This also
goes for containers where the label is impossible to read
because it has been torn, defaced, or damaged.
• Make sure your crew understands all of the warnings and
precautions on the label before using or working with the
material. If they're not sure, tell them to ask you or to check
the MSDS.
• When transferring a small amount of material to a
secondary container, copy the label’s information to a blank
self-adhesive label and affix it to the secondary container. If
this is a common procedure because the material is
purchased in bulk, the company can have labels preprinted
for easy application.
• Secondary containers have to be appropriate for the
material they will hold. A metal container with self-closing lid
is appropriate for flammable liquids. Soda bottles and coffee
cups are not appropriate for anything other then soda and
coffee!
• Bond the secondary container to the original container
when dispensing flammable and combustible liquids.
© 2003 Liberty Mutual Group – All Rights Reserved 1

2. Other aspects of hazardous material use your crew should understand includes the
importance of:
• Providing ventilation to dilute vapors.
• Watching for and avoiding sources of ignition such as welding, cutting, open
flame heaters, dryers or grinding operations.
• Wearing the appropriate personnel protection such as glasses, gloves, or
respirator.
Training
The training your crew receives on using these materials takes into consideration the
potential hazards of the material and how it is to be used. If they do not understand
something about the hazards or how it is to be used safely, now is a good time for them
to bring it up.
Conduct training when the material is introduced to the job, when new people become
part of the crew, after a near miss, and at least annually to remind them of the hazards
and precautions.
Questions You Can Use To Get Them Talking:
• How do you find out what type of secondary container is appropriate?
(answer: Read the label or MSDS.)
• Has anyone ever had an accident - or know of one - involving hazardous
materials?
• What hazardous substances do we use on this job that are transferred to
secondary containers?
Attended By:
The illustrations, instructions and principles contained in the material are general in scope and, to the best of our knowledge, current at
the time of publication. No attempt has been made to interpret any referenced codes, standards or regulations. Please refer to the
appropriate code, standard or regulation making authority for interpretation or clarification.
© 2003 Liberty Mutual Group – All Rights Reserved 2