HAZCOM 2012

GLOBAL HARMONIZATION SYSTEM

29 CFR 1910.1200

Background

What is OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard?

OSHA’s Hazard Communication standard (29 CFR

1910.1200), promulgated 1994, requires that

employees be informed of the hazards of chemical(s)

that they work with or are present in their work area.

OSHA Hazard Communication

Standard (continued)

The four elements of the program include:

Ensuring chemicals are labeled

Maintaining departmental/work unit/laboratory

chemical inventories

Maintaining Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)

Training of personnel by Supervisor on the

chemicals that are used or in the workplace

OSHA collaborates with United Nation

To view details of this

report, double click picture.

Understanding the need for

consistent classifications of

hazards chemicals, OSHA

decided to better align with the

United Nations’ Globally

Harmonized System by adopting

a common classification and

labeling of chemicals.

Benefits of Adopting GHS

There are several benefits for OSHA in adopting the

Globally Harmonized system. In particular, it will

provide a common and coherent approach to

classifying chemicals and communicating hazard

information on labels and safety data sheets. Thus

resulting in:

• Consistency of information provided

• Increase comprehension of hazards

• Help address literacy problems

• Facilitation of international trade of chemicals

OSHA Publishes Revised Standard

In March 2012, the revised Hazard Communication Standard

became law and included an established timeframe for

implementation. The table below outlines the effective dates,

requirements and responsible parties.

Effective Completion Date Requirement(s) Who

December 1, 2013 Train employees on the new label elements and SDS

format.

Employers

June 1, 2015*

December 1, 2015

Comply with all modified provisions of this final rule,

except:

Distributors may ship products labeled by

manufacturers under the old system until December 1,

2015.

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

Benefit of HazCom2012

With the University’s mission to “serve North Carolina,

the United States, and the World through teaching,

research, and public service,” the new requirements

under HazCom 2012 will enhance clarity for

University employees positioned on campus as well as

abroad.

HazCom2012 Requirements

By December 2013, all University employees are to

have received general training regarding

“definitions”, “label” and “Safety Data Sheet” for

chemicals under new HazCom 2012 standard.

Supervisors are still required to provide job specific

training to employees on the chemicals used in their

area at least once and every time a new chemical is

added. The training must cover proper use, handling,

and personal protective equipment required for the

safe handling of the hazardous chemicals.

Definitions

HazCom 2012 will use a “specification” approach

rather than a “performance-oriented” approach.

Hazards will be classified thus providing a specific

criteria for classification of health and physical

hazards, as well as classification of mixtures.

Specifically:

Appendix A defines health and physical hazards

Appendix B includes additional parameters to evaluate health

hazard data

Appendix F pertains to Carcinogens

Labels

HazCom 2012 requires

chemical manufacturers and

importers to provide a

label that includes a

harmonized product

identifier, pictogram, signal

word, and hazard

statement for each hazard

class and category.

Precautionary statements

must also be provided.

Labels - Pictograms

Pictograms are required on labels to alert users of the chemical

hazards to which they may be exposed. Each pictogram consists

of a symbol on a white background framed within a red border

and represents a distinct hazard(s), such as health, physical, and

environmental . The pictogram on the label is determined by the

chemical hazard classification. There are nine pictograms with

only the environmental pictogram being optional.

Labels – Distinct Hazards

As previously stated, “Distinct hazards” are chemicals

in which there is scientific evidence that a health,

physical, and/or environmental hazards may occur.

Health Hazard - acute or chronic health affects may occur if

exposed.

Physical Hazard - a combustible liquid, a compressed gas,

explosive, flammable, an organic peroxide, an oxidizer,

pyrophoric, unstable (reactive) or water-reactive

Environmental Hazard – pose risk or danger to the

environment

Labels – Pictograms (Health)

Acute Toxicity (fatal and toxic)

Fatal in contact with skin

Fatal if inhaled

Fatal if swallowed

Toxic if swallowed

Toxic in contact with skin

Examples: Carbon Monoxide, Ammonia, Acrylonitrile, Arsenic

Skull and Cross Bones will appear on the most severely toxic

chemicals. Depending on the toxicity of the chemical, the skull

and crossbones indicates that the chemical may be toxic or

fatal. Specifically it can mean:

Labels – Pictograms (Health)

May be corrosive to metals

Causes severe skin burns

Causes serious eye damage

Examples: Sodium Hydroxide (lye) and Sulfuric Acid

Corrosive will appear on chemicals that have

corrosive properties. Depending on the properties

of the chemical(s) in the product, the corrosion

pictogram can mean:

Labels – Pictograms (Health)

Harmful if swallowed

Acute Toxicity (harmful)

Harmful in contact with skin

Skin Sensitizer

Harmful if inhaled

Respiratory Tract Irritant

Causes skin irritation

Irritant (skin and eye)

Causes serious eye irritation

May cause allergic skin reaction

Hazardous to Ozone Layer

Examples: Isopropyl Alcohol, Ethyl Alcohol, Acetone

Exclamation Mark will appear on chemicals with less severe toxicity. This

symbol will never be used with “skull and crossbones” symbol. Depending

on the health hazard, it can mean:

Labels – Pictograms (Health)

Carcinogen

Mutagenicity

Reproductive Toxicity

Respiratory Sensitizer

Target Organ Toxicity

Aspiration Toxicity

Examples: Carbon Monoxide, Hexanes

Health Hazard will appear on chemicals with less severe toxicity. This

symbol will never be used with “skull and crossbones” symbol. Depending

on the health hazard, it can mean:

Labels – Pictograms (Health/Physical)

Gas Cylinder can cause fires, explosions, oxygen

deficient atmospheres, toxic gas exposures as well as the

innate physical hazard associated with cylinders under

high pressure

Gases under pressure

Compressed gases

Liquefied gases

Refrigerated liquefied gases

Dissolved gases

Examples: Butane and Propane

Labels – Pictograms (Physical)

Exploding Bomb symbol will appear on chemicals that

have explosive properties.

Unstable Explosives

Self-reactive substances and mixtures

Organic peroxides

Examples: Nitroglycerine and TNT, Gunpowder, Rocket

propellants, and Pyrotechnic mixtures (fireworks).

Labels – Pictograms (Physical)

Extremely flammable gas

Extremely flammable aerosol

Self-Heating

Flammable aerosol

Extremely flammable liquid and vapor

Highly flammable liquid and vapor

Flammable liquid and vapor

Flammable solid

Examples: Butane, Pyrophorics, Organic Peroxides

Flame symbol will appear on chemicals that are flammable.

Depending on the properties of the chemical(s) and the

product, the flame can mean:

Labels – Pictograms (Physical)

Flame over circle symbol will appear on chemicals that are:

Oxidizers

Oxidizing gases, liquids, and solids

Examples: Hydrogen Peroxide and Nitrous Oxide

Labels – Pictograms (Environment)

Environment symbol will appear on chemicals which

are acutely hazardous to fish, crustacean, or aquatic

plants. This is the only symbol that is not mandatory.

Aquatic Toxicity

Acute hazards to the aquatic environment

Chronic hazards to the aquatic environment

Label – Signal Word

A Signal Word is used to indicate

the relative level of severity of

hazard and alert the reader to a

potential hazard on the label. The

signal words used are:

"Danger" - used for the more

severe hazards

“Warning" - used for less

severe hazards.

Labels- Hazard Statement

A Hazard Statement describes the nature of the

hazard(s) of a chemical, including where appropriate

the degree of hazard.

All of the applicable hazard

statements must appear on

the label.

Labels – Precautionary Statement

A Precautionary Statement

is a statement that describes

recommended measures that

should be taken to minimize

or prevent adverse effects.

Label –

What do UNC Employees need to do?

Effective June 1 2015, all chemicals received

at the University should have the required

label. Any material transferred to another

container must also have the same label

versus just chemical/product name.

Safety Data Sheets

HazCom 2012 requires Safety Data Sheets - SDS

(formerly known as Material Safety Data Sheets –

MSDS) to use a specified 16-section standardized

format.

Under the new format, employees wanting information

regarding Exposure Controls/Personal Protection will

always refer to Section 8 of the Safety Data Sheets.

Safety Data Sheets

To improve employee understanding, information

listed on the label, like Precautionary Statement, will

be same information the employee will find on the

Safety Data Sheet.

The standardize 16 sections is broken down as

follows:

Safety Data Sheet – 16 Sections

1. Identification of the substance

or mixture and of the supplier

2. Hazards identification

3. Composition/information on

ingredients Substance/Mixture

4. First aid measures

5. Firefighting measures

6. Accidental release measures

7. Handling and storage

8. Exposure controls/personal protection

9. Physical and chemical properties

10. Stability and reactivity

11. Toxicological

12. Ecological information

(non mandatory)

13. Disposal considerations

(non mandatory)

14. Transport information

(non mandatory)

15. Regulatory information

(non mandatory)

16. Other information including information

on preparation and revision of the SDS

Safety Data Sheets –

What do UNC Employees need to do?

By December 2015, distributors must provide the new

format of Safety Data Sheets. Supervisors need to

update the Safety Data Sheet notebooks and/or

computer links in their job specific area to the newly

format sheets.

Remember SDS(s) must be accessible to employees at

all times.

NC OSHA– Enforcement

By June 2016, NC OSHA will begin to enforce

compliance with HazCom 2012 by conducting site

evaluations.

Environment, Health and Safety will continue to assist

University departments with the implementation of the

specific requirements covered in this training.

Resources -

OSHA’s HazCom2012 Web Page

OSHA has

developed an

extensive web

page to provide

additional

resources for

employees at

http://www.osha.gov/dsg/hazcom/index.html

Resources -

Guidance & Outreach

Supervisors can find printable

guidance material that can be utilized

when training employees.

• Guidance

» OSHA Briefs

» Fact Sheet

» Quick Cards

Conclusion

If you have any questions regarding this training, other trainings, or any Environment, Health and Safety concern, please contact EHS at (919) 962-5507.

In order to receive credit for this training, you must complete the following post test.