Literacy and hazard communication: ensuring workers understand the information they receive

More than 30 million American workers are exposed to hazardous chemicals in the workplace. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration first promulgated the Hazard Communication Standard in 1983 to ensure that workers were informed of the hazardous chemicals with which they work. Nine research studies published from 1983 to 2005 evaluating the relationship between literacy and hazard communication were reviewed. Three main gaps were identified: lack of learner involvement to improve hazard communication, lack of employer assessment of employee understanding of training provided, and lack of studies assessing retention of the material taught and its application at the worksite. Studies need to involve learners, assist employers in assessing employees' understanding of the material taught, and assess retention and application of the material at a later date. Nurses are often the only health care providers at worksites.Thus, they may be responsible for teaching hazard communication content, or possibly reinforcing material covered during training. Some workers may have low health literacy levels. Occupational health nurses must provide workers with hazard communication training they understand, retain, and can apply at the worksite.