Michigan Right-To-Know Law Fact Sheet
The Michigan Right-To-Know Law is an amendment to the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Act. This act includes requirements for the communication of information regarding the safe handling of hazardous chemicals present in Michigan Workplaces.
All Employers have the following responsibilities under the law:
Provide a written hazard communication program which details how all of the following items will be done.
- Provide labeling of all chemical containers in the workplace. If there are any unmarked chemical containers they must be labeled or removed from the workplace.
- Make Safety Data Sheets (SDS) available to employees on all hazardous chemicals. A MIOSHA supplied poster which indicates where SDS's are located should be completed and posted where all employees can see it.
- Inform and Train Employees in the following:
- How to detect the presence of the hazardous chemicals
- The physical and health hazards of chemicals in the work area.
- Measures employees can take to protect themselves from hazards (safety gloves, safety glasses…).
- Details of the written Hazard Communication Program.
- The material that is in the SDS.
- Provide a list of the chemicals known to be present in the workplace (paint thinner, bowl cleaner, floor wax, ice melt)
Employees have the following rights under the law:
- To be notified by employer posting of the location of SDS.
- To be notified by employer posting of new or revised SDS within 5 days.
- To request a SDS from the employer.
- Protection from discrimination or discharge resulting from a request for information regarding hazardous chemicals under the law.