Welcome to Gold Aviation Safety Training. This is Hazard Communication, the training the Company Hazard Communication Program requires for everyone who may work with or near hazardous chemicals.
Fuels, oils, hydraulic and de-icing fluids, solvents, paints and cleaning agents are part of daily work here. You have the right to know what they are, what they can do, and how to protect yourself. This training covers that, along with how to find the information yourself whenever you need it.
How this works. Work through the six sections below and mark each one complete. The assessment unlocks once all six are done. After you pass, you confirm the acknowledgment to complete the training.
Hazard communication means every employee knows which hazardous chemicals are in their work area, what those chemicals can do, and how to work with them safely. OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) requires it, and the Company's Hazard Communication Program puts it into practice.
The standard rests on four things, and this training covers each one:
- A written hazard communication program (the HazCom Program).
- Labels on every hazardous chemical container.
- A Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for every hazardous chemical, available on every shift.
- Training for every employee who may be exposed.
As a Part 135 operator, the Company also follows FAA safety expectations for fueling, maintenance and ground support: a current chemical inventory, GHS labels, ready access to SDS, and emergency procedures for chemical incidents.
Hazardous chemicals are present wherever we fuel, maintain, clean or de-ice aircraft: the hangar, the maintenance areas, the ramp and the office. Common examples include jet fuel, engine and hydraulic oils, de-icing fluids, solvents, paints, adhesives and cleaning agents.
Hazards fall into two groups. Most chemicals have more than one hazard, and the label and SDS list them all.
| Physical hazards | Health hazards |
|---|---|
| Flammable liquids and vapors, such as fuels and many solvents | Skin and eye irritation, burns from corrosives |
| Compressed gases, such as nitrogen and oxygen bottles | Breathing problems from vapors, mists or dust |
| Oxidizers and reactive chemicals that can feed or start a fire | Poisoning if swallowed, inhaled or absorbed through the skin |
| Simple asphyxiants that displace oxygen in enclosed spaces | Long-term effects, such as organ damage or cancer, from repeated exposure |
Some hazards do not fit a standard class; these appear on the SDS as hazards not otherwise classified, and they matter just as much.
How to tell a chemical is present or has been released:
- Sight: leaks, puddles, sheen on the floor or ramp, vapor or mist, stained or corroded containers.
- Smell: a fuel or solvent odor. Do not rely on smell alone: some chemicals have no odor, and you can stop noticing one after a few minutes.
- Symptoms: dizziness, headache, burning eyes or throat, skin irritation.
- Monitoring: gas detectors or alarms where they are installed.
Every hazardous chemical container is labeled. Manufacturer labels follow the Globally Harmonized System (GHS), so they look the same whichever supplier made the product.
| Label element | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Product identifier | The name of the product, matching its SDS and the inventory. |
| Signal word | Danger for the more severe hazards, Warning for the less severe. A label shows one or the other. |
| Hazard statements | The nature of the hazard, for example "Highly flammable liquid and vapor". |
| Pictograms | Red-bordered diamonds showing the hazard type at a glance. |
| Precautionary statements | How to prevent harm, respond to exposure, store and dispose of the product. |
| Supplier identification | Name, address and telephone number of the manufacturer or supplier. |
Containers you fill yourself. If you pour a chemical into another container, such as a spray bottle or a can, label it with at least the product name and its hazards. The only exception is a container you fill and use up yourself, right away, during your shift.
Every hazardous chemical has a Safety Data Sheet from its manufacturer or supplier. SDS are kept electronically in the e-binder and on paper in key operational areas, so you can reach them on every shift. The HazCom Program Coordinator reviews and updates them regularly.
Every SDS uses the same 16 sections in the same order, so once you know the layout you can find what you need on any product quickly:
| Section | Content | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Identification and supplier | Confirming you have the right product |
| 2 | Hazard identification | Seeing every hazard and the label elements |
| 3 | Composition and ingredients | Checking what is in it |
| 4 | First-aid measures | Someone has been exposed |
| 5 | Fire-fighting measures | A fire involves the product |
| 6 | Accidental release measures | There is a spill or leak |
| 7 | Handling and storage | Storing or using it safely |
| 8 | Exposure controls and personal protection | Choosing gloves, eye protection, respirator |
| 9 to 11 | Physical and chemical properties, stability and reactivity, toxicology | Understanding how it behaves and affects the body |
| 12 to 16 | Ecology, disposal, transport, regulations, other information | Disposal and shipping questions |
The Company keeps a complete, up-to-date inventory of every hazardous chemical used or stored in its operations. It is the list that ties each product to its location and its SDS, so it has to match what is actually on the shelves.
How to open it:
- Scan a QR code. QR codes are posted in the company office, the maintenance office and at several locations throughout the hangar. Open the camera on any smartphone or tablet, point it at the code, and tap the link that appears. The current inventory opens; no app is needed.
- Online. The inventory is also available online through SDS Manager. The link is in the HazCom Program (Appendix A) and in the e-binder.
What each entry shows:
- Product name and manufacturer
- CAS number(s) of the hazardous ingredients
- GHS hazard classification
- Storage location
- A link to the product's Safety Data Sheet
Keeping it current. The HazCom Program Coordinator updates the inventory promptly whenever a chemical is added, removed or replaced. Help by reporting:
- any chemical you find that is not on the inventory
- a new product before it goes into use
- a product that has been used up or removed
Safe handling.
- Read the label and SDS before using a product, and use it only for its intended purpose.
- Keep containers closed when not in use, and store chemicals in their assigned location, away from heat and incompatible materials.
- Use ventilation; avoid working with vapors in enclosed spaces.
- No smoking, open flames or ignition sources near flammables.
- Wash your hands after handling chemicals, and before eating or drinking.
Personal protective equipment (PPE). SDS Section 8 tells you what each product requires: the right gloves, eye or face protection, protective clothing, and respiratory protection where needed. Inspect PPE before use, and replace it when damaged.
If there is a spill or exposure:
- Get yourself and others away from the hazard. Evacuate if it is large, spreading or flammable.
- Report it immediately to your supervisor and the HazCom Program Coordinator; call 911 for a fire, a large release or a medical emergency.
- Give first aid following SDS Section 4 (for eyes or skin, flush with water), and get medical attention as needed.
- Contain and clean up only if you are trained and equipped to do so, following SDS Section 6; dispose of waste as the SDS directs.
- Document it on the Hazardous Chemical Exposure Incident Report so the event is recorded and corrective action is taken.
Knowledge Check
Complete all six sections above to unlock the assessment
Complete all 6 content sections to unlock the assessment.