Hazard Communication Safety Training
New 2012 changes to OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) are bringing the U.S. into alignment with the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS), improving safety and health protections for America’s workers. These new revisions to OSHA’s current Hazard Communication Standard, the GHS is expected to prevent injuries and illnesses, save lives and improve trade conditions for chemical manufacturers. The Hazard Communication Standard in 1983 gave the workers the ‘right to know,’ but the new Globally Harmonized System gives workers the ‘right to understand.’
The new Hazard Communication Standard still requires chemical manufacturers and importers to evaluate the chemicals they produce or import and provide hazard information to employers and workers by putting labels on containers and preparing safety data sheets. However, the old standard allowed chemical manufacturers and importers to convey hazard information on labels and material safety data sheets in whatever format they chose. The modified standard provides a single set of harmonized criteria for classifying chemicals according to their health and physical hazards and specifies hazard communication elements for labeling and safety data sheets.
Major changes to the Hazard Communication Standard:
- Hazard classification:
- Labels:
- Safety Data Sheets:
- Information and training:
What you need to do and when:
- Chemical users: Continue to update safety data sheets when new ones become available, provide training on the new label elements and update hazard communication programs if new hazards are identified.
- Chemical Producers:
| Effective Completion Date | Requirement(s) | Who |
| December 1, 2013 | Train employees on the new label elements and SDS format. | Employers |
| June 1, 2015 | Comply with all modified provisions of this final rule, except: | Chemical manufacturers, importers, distributors and employers |
| June 1, 2016 | Update alternative workplace labeling and hazard communication program as necessary, and provide additional employee training for newly identified physical or health hazards. | Employers |
| Transition Period | Comply with either 29 CFR 1910.1200 (this final standard), or the current standard, or both. | All chemical manufacturers, importers, distributors and employers |