Workplace Health Hazards and Hazard Communication: Complete Course

Safety hazards injure workers in an instant. Health hazards harm them slowly, often invisibly, and the damage can show up years later as cancer, lung disease, hearing loss, nerve damage or chronic pain. This in-depth course teaches the basics of industrial hygiene for workers, supervisors and safety coordinators: how the body is exposed to hazards, dose and exposure limits, the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200 and 1926.59), how to read labels and Safety Data Sheets, the main chemical hazard groups (solvents, acids and bases, isocyanates, welding fumes, epoxies, pesticides), dusts such as silica, asbestos, lead and wood dust, noise and hearing conservation, heat and cold stress, biological hazards, ergonomics, how to use the hierarchy of controls including ventilation and respirators, and how medical surveillance and air monitoring work. It is an awareness-level course and does not replace the training, monitoring or medical programs your employer must provide for specific exposures.

What you’ll learn

• Explain how hazards enter the body and the difference between acute and chronic effects
• Describe exposure limits (PEL, TLV, REL, action level) and how they are used
• Read GHS labels, pictograms and the 16 sections of a Safety Data Sheet
• Recognize the hazards of common chemicals, dusts and fumes and choose controls
• Understand the OSHA rules for silica, asbestos, lead and hazard communication
• Explain noise measurement, hearing conservation and hearing protection selection
• Prevent heat and cold illness and recognize biological and ergonomic hazards
• Apply the hierarchy of controls, ventilation and respirators correctly
• Understand air monitoring, medical surveillance and worker rights regarding exposure records

Who it’s for

Construction and industrial workers, supervisors, safety coordinators, janitorial and maintenance staff, shop and warehouse workers, apprentices, and anyone who uses chemicals or works around dust, noise, heat or other health hazards. No prior training is needed.

Course outline

Module 1: Health Hazards and How Exposure Works 4 lessons · quiz

The difference between safety and health hazards, routes of exposure, dose and response, acute and chronic effects, and exposure limits.

• Safety hazards versus health hazards 12 min Free preview
• Routes of exposure 14 min
• Dose, response and toxicity 14 min
• Exposure limits and what they mean 14 min

Module 2: Hazard Communication: Labels and Safety Data Sheets 4 lessons · quiz

Your right to know, the Hazard Communication Standard, GHS labels and pictograms, the 16 sections of an SDS and how to use them.

• The Hazard Communication Standard 14 min Free preview
• GHS labels and pictograms 15 min
• Reading the Safety Data Sheet 18 min
• HazCom training and your program 12 min

Module 3: Chemical Hazards 4 lessons · quiz

The main chemical hazard groups: solvents, acids and bases, gases, isocyanates and epoxies, welding fumes, and pesticides, plus safe handling and mixing rules.

• Solvents, fuels and paints 15 min Free preview
• Acids, bases and corrosives 14 min
• Toxic gases and asphyxiants 15 min
• Isocyanates, epoxies, welding fumes and pesticides 16 min

Module 4: Dusts, Fibers and Metals 4 lessons · quiz

Silica, asbestos, lead, wood dust and other particulates, the OSHA rules that apply, and how to control dust.

• Respirable crystalline silica 16 min Free preview
• Asbestos 15 min
• Lead and other metals 15 min
• Wood dust, fibers and other particulates 12 min

Module 5: Noise, Heat, Cold, Biological and Ergonomic Hazards 4 lessons · quiz

The physical and biological hazards that don't involve chemicals: noise and hearing loss, heat and cold stress, vibration, mold and biological agents, and musculoskeletal disorders.

• Noise and hearing conservation 16 min Free preview
• Heat stress and cold stress 16 min
• Vibration, radiation and biological hazards 14 min
• Ergonomics and musculoskeletal disorders 14 min

Module 6: Controlling Exposure: Ventilation, PPE and Respirators 4 lessons · quiz

The hierarchy of controls applied to health hazards, ventilation basics, choosing gloves and protective clothing, and the full respirator program.

• The hierarchy of controls for health hazards 14 min Free preview
• Ventilation 16 min
• Gloves and protective clothing 12 min
• Respirator programs and selection 18 min

Module 7: Monitoring, Medical Surveillance and Your Rights 4 lessons · quiz

How air and noise are measured, what medical surveillance does, your right to exposure and medical records, programs that tie it all together and a final field checklist.

• Air monitoring and exposure assessment 15 min Free preview
• Medical surveillance and exposure records 14 min
• Building a health hazard program 14 min
• Putting it into practice: a field checklist 12 min

What’s included

• 28 lessons you can read at your own pace, on a phone or a computer
• A short quiz after every module, with the correct answer shown for any you miss
• A final exam of 30 questions (pass at 80% or higher)
• A numbered certificate of completion with a QR code anyone can scan to verify it
• Your progress saved to your account, with access that doesn’t expire

Questions

Can an employer check my certificate? Yes. Each certificate has a number and a QR code that opens a public verification page on this site.

Can I get a refund? Yes, within 7 days of purchase if you have completed less than 25% of the course and haven’t earned its certificate. Email support@toddallynmedia.com. Details are in section 13 of the Terms of Use. Payment is handled by PayPal; we never see your card details.

What do I need? A free account and any phone, tablet or computer. Questions or problems? Email support@toddallynmedia.com.