Propane Safety in Commercial and Industrial Workplaces

Employers have a legal obligation to maintain a safe workplace for their employees. If you operate a commercial or industrial environment in which propane is used, please read on for the following information from The Propane Education and Research Council (PERC) to learn what is required for a safe workplace.

What is the Legal Obligation of the Employer?

The legal obligation of employers to maintain a safe work environment includes training workers on the precautions they need to take and the procedures they must follow when working with various fuels, chemicals, and other substances.

As a commercial user of odorized propane, you should share this information with your employees and coworkers to help keep everyone safe and to reduce the risk of serious or potentially fatal injury, fire, or explosion.

Regulatory Requirements of Employers

As a commercial user of propane your organization must meet certain regulatory requirements.

IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE OSHA HAZARD COMMUNICATIONS STANDARD 29 CFR 1910.1200 EMPLOYERS MUST:

• Develop and maintain a written hazard communication program (HazCom) for your workplace.
• Maintain lists of hazardous chemicals present in your workplace.
• Review labeling on containers of chemicals in the workplace.
• Maintain and distribute safety data sheets (SDSs) to employees.
• Develop and implement employee training programs regarding hazards of chemicals and protective measures.

You MUST include propane in your organization’s HazCom Program, develop emergency expectations in the event of a leak or fire involving propane, and provide safety information related to the expected use of propane in your place of business.

Please note that this information has been developed to assist you in the development of effective communications and training for employees regarding propane in the workplace. This material should not be the sole means for training your employees relating to propane. For more information on workplace safety, please visit Safety Articles | PERC (propane.com).