Regulatory Compliance

Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) Safety Communication

The current OSHA hazard communication standard used in the United States is not consistent internationally and can cause headaches when dealing with international trade. Adoption of the GHS into federal requirements will allow US manufacturers, employers and employees to use a hazard communication system that is much more recognizable worldwide. OSHA's proposal to adopt the GHS will not change the framework and scope of the current HCS but will help ensure improved quality and more consistency in the classification and labeling of all chemicals. Major proposed changes to the HCS:

• Hazard Classification - criteria for classification of health and physical hazards, as well as classification of mixtures.
• Labels - harmonized signal words, pictograms, and hazard statements for each hazard class and category.
• Safety Data Sheets - will now have a specified 16-section format.

The GHS does not address training. However, the proposed HCS will require that workers are trained within two years of the publication of the final rule to facilitate recognition and understanding of the new labels and safety data sheets.

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