OSHA Revised Hazard Communication Standard

What you need to know and your responsibility under the new rules

Major Changes

• Hazard Classification• Labels• Safety Data Sheets (SDS)• Information and Training Deadlines

The new guidelines

• OSHA revised its Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) to align with the United Nations’ Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS)

• GHS focuses on “classifying” rather then “evaluating” chemicals

Hazard ClassificationFormerly “Determination”

Health Hazards• Acute Toxicity• Skin Corrosion/Irritant• Serious Eye Damage/Irritant• Respiratory or Skin Sensitization• Germ Cell Mutagenicity• Carcinogenicity• Reproductive Toxicity• Specific Target Organ Toxicity Single

Exposure• Specific Target Organ Toxicity

Repeat or Prolonged Exposure

Physical Criteria• Explosives• Flammable Gases, Aerosols, Liquids,

Solids• Oxidizing Gases, Liquids, Solids,

Peroxides• Gases Under Pressure• Self-Reactive Chemicals• Pyrophoric Liquids, Solids• Self-Heating Chemicals• Chemicals that come in contact with

water, emit flammable gases• Corrosive to Metals

Labels

• Must include the following information:– Product Identifier– Supplier Identification– Signal Words (Danger, Warning)– Hazard Statements (i.e., fatal if swallowed)– Pictograms– Precautionary Statements

• Prevention (Personal Protection, Procedures)• Response (if exposed)• Storage• Disposal

• May include “Supplementary Hazard Information”– These are things like directions for use, date of expiration, etc.

Health Hazard•Carcinogen•Respiratory Sensitizer•Mutagenicity

•Target Organ Toxicity•Reproductive Toxicity•Aspiration Toxicity

Flame•Flammables•Pyrophorics•Self-Heating

•Emits Flammable gas•Self-Reactives•Organic Peroxides

Exclamation Mark•Irritant (skin and eye)•Skin Sensitizer•Acute Toxicity (harmful)

•Narcotic Effects•Respiratory Tract Irritant•Hazardous to Ozone Layer (Non-mandatory)

Gas Cylinder•Gases Under Pressure

Corrosion•Skin Corrosion/Burns•Eye Damage•Corrosive to Metals

Exploding Bomb•Explosives•Self-Reactives•Organic Peroxides

Flame Over Circle•Oxidizers

Environmental(Non-Mandatory)

•Aquatic Toxicity

Skull and Crossbones•Acute Toxicity (fatal or toxic)

Safety Date Sheets (SDS)

• Formerly: Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)• Will include much of the same information.

The information is now just required to be formatted in a standard layout of 16 different sections

• Sections 1-11, 16 are mandatory under OSHA (sections 12-15 are not mandatory under OSHA)

Safety Data Sheets (SDS)• Sections Include

– Section 1: Identification– Section 2: Hazard Identification– Section 3: Composition/Information

on Ingredients– Section 4: First-Aid Measures– Section 5: Fire-Fighting Measures– Section 6: Accidental Release

Measures– Section 7: Handling and Storage– Section 8: Exposure Controls/PPE– Section 9: Physical and Chemical

Properties– Section 10: Stability and Reactivity

– Section 11: Toxicological Information

– Section 12: Ecological Information

– Section 13: Disposal Considerations

– Section 14: Transport Information

– Section 15: Regulatory Information

– Section 16: Other Information Including Date of Preparation or Last Revision

HazCom Program

• This is a written policy for your business regarding the employees “right to know” the exposures they might face in the workplace.– “The HCS provides people the right-to-know the hazards and identities of the

chemicals they are exposed to in the workplace. When employees have this information, they may effectively participate in their employers’ protective programs and take steps to protect themselves. In addition, the standard gives employers the information they need to design and implement an effective protective program for employees potentially exposed to hazardous chemicals. Together these actions will result in a reduction of chemical source illnesses and injuries in American workplaces. ”

HazCom Program

• An individual within the company must be assigned to the task of overseeing the HazCom program. Part of their responsibilities include:– Maintaining a list of chemicals in use– Updating the list as new chemicals are purchased– Providing additional training as new hazards are introduced– Make sure SDS’s on file are current and up-to-date

• There are model HazCom programs available as well as free software tools to help you create your own program.

HazCom Program

• Important Note: SDS’s must be kept in janitorial closets AND company automobiles

Important Dates

• December 1, 2013: – You must have all employees trained on the new label elements and

SDS format– You may want to document this training (paid mandatory training

session, sign off sheet or exam)• June 1, 2015:

– All chemicals shipped after this date must be labeled under the new system

• June 1, 2016:– Employers must have in place all Safety Data Sheets, Labels and

HazCom programs which are in compliance with the new OSHA standard.