Do you have chemicals at your workplace? If so, are you OSHA compliant?

OSHA revised the Hazard Communication Standard (HazCom 2012) in March 2012 to align with the United Nations' Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). The program has a phased-in implementation through the middle of 2016 and is very high on OSHA's priority list for compliance.

If the Hazard Communication Standard does apply to your operations, you should have already:

• By December 1, 2013 employers needed to have trained employees on how to read SDS and labels in the GHS format.

• By June 1, 2015 manufacturers, distributors, and importers must have reclassified chemicals and updated all SDS and labels to the new GHS format.

• By December 1, 2015 distributors must have made the change to the new GHS formatted labels and SDS.

You should also be prepared to meet the final deadline:

• June 1, 2016 is the date by which employers must be in full compliance with GHS. This means making any necessary updates to their hazard communication programs, training employees on new hazards identified during the reclassification process, updating workplace labels, and anything else required by HazCom 2012.

If you have any questions whatsoever regarding HazCom 2012 and how it might apply to and impact your operations, or if you need any assistance in making sure you are compliant with the HazCom 2012 standard, please contact Trent Blake at tblake@keramida.com, cell 765-621-6124 or Matt Wright at mwright@keramida.com, cell 317-691-1553. 

Blog Author

Trent Blake, ASP
Director of Security, Health & Safety Services
KERAMIDA Inc.

Contact Trent at tblake@keramida.com.