The Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) ensures chemical safety in the workplace by making the identities and hazards of the chemicals available and understandable to workers. This Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standard requires that chemical manufacturers and importers to evaluate the hazards of the chemicals they produce or import, and prepare labels and safety data sheets to convey the hazard information to their downstream providers. OSHA also requires employers with hazardous chemicals in their workplaces must have labels and safety data sheets for their exposed workers, and train them to handle the chemicals appropriately.
In 2012, OSHA officially aligned the HCS with the United Nation’s Global Harmonizing System (GHS). This involved major changes to the standard and all employers who fall under the HCS standard must implement the new standard and train for it.
Major changes to the standard are:
•Hazard classification: Provides specific criteria for classification of health and physical hazards, as well as classification of mixtures.
•Labels: Chemical manufacturers and importers will be required to provide a label that includes a harmonized signal word, pictogram, and hazard statement for each hazard class and category. Precautionary statements must also be provided.
•Safety Data Sheets: Will now have a specified 16-section format.
•Information and training: Employers are required to train workers by December 1, 2013 on the new labels elements and safety data sheets format to facilitate recognition and understanding.
Effective Compliance Dates
All Employers:
•December 1, 2013- All employees must be trained on the new labels and safety data sheets format.
•December 1, 2015- Update alternative workplace labeling and hazard communication program as necessary, and provide additional employee training for newly identified physical or health hazards.
Chemical manufacturers, importers, distributors, and employers:
•June 1, 2015- Compliance with all modified provisions of the final rule, except: The distributor shall not ship containers labeled by the chemical manufacturer or importer unless it is a GHS label.
•June 1, 2016- Current standard ends, must comply with CFR 1910.1200 (the final standard)
First American Safety and Environmental Services can provide your business with the training and updated materials to ensure compliance with the Hazard Communication Standard.
Contact us at (432) 638-2255 for more information.