The Occupational Safety and Health Administration today renewed its alliance with the Society for Chemical Hazard Communication to reduce and prevent worker exposure to chemicals hazards. The alliance also intends to increase awareness of the requirements of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals and the rights and responsibilities of workers and employers under the Occupational Safety and Health Act.

The Agency’s enforcement position on the Hazard Communication Standards will go into effect on June 1, 2015. This requires manufacturers and importers, including product formulators to exercise reasonable diligence and good faith to classify their chemical mixtures according to HCS 2012 and consequently develop HCS 2012-compliant SDSs and labels.

OSHA will recognize those who have tried and documented their efforts in gathering classification information from upstream suppliers of raw materials. The enforcement guidance addresses when manufacturers and importers must develop HCS 2012-compliant SDSs and labels after receiving upstream supplier SDSs, as well as how this guidance affects distributors.

Read more about the changes and written documentation requirements.

The IWLA Chemical Council is keeping members informed on the issue and providing resources such as this sample notification and letter of request for updated SDS/label information. Stay tuned for more.