WASHINGTON - The Occupational Safety and Health
Administration today issued instructions to compliance safety and health
officers on how to ensure consistent enforcement of the revised Hazard
Communication standard*. OSHA revised the Hazard Communication
standard in March 2012 to align with the United Nations Globally Harmonized
System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals. The revised standard
improved the quality, consistency and clarity of chemical hazard information
that workers receive.
This instruction outlines the
revisions to the HCS, such as the revised hazard classification of chemicals,
standardizing label elements for containers of hazardous chemicals, and
specifying the format and required content for safety data sheets. It explains
how the revised standard is to be enforced during its transition period and
after the standard is fully implemented on June 1, 2016.
Under the standard, employers were required to train
workers on the new label elements and safety data sheets by Dec. 1, 2013.
Chemical manufacturers, importers and distributors had to comply with revised
safety data sheet requirements by June 1, 2015. Manufacturers and importers had
to comply with new labeling provisions by June 1, 2015. Distributors have until
Dec. 1, 2015, to comply with labeling provisions as long as they are not
relabeling materials or creating safety data sheets, in which case they must
comply with the June 1 deadline.
Additional information on the revised Hazard
Communication Standard may be found on OSHA's Hazard Communication Safety and Health Topics
page at http://www.osha.gov/dsg/hazcom/index.html
.
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970,
employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their
employees. OSHA's role is to ensure these conditions for America's working men
and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education
and assistance. For more information, visit www.osha.gov.
Source: OSHA
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