Client Alert: Preparing for OSHA's 2024 HazCom Final Rule

/ KERAMIDA Inc./

OSHA has introduced its 2024 final rule, updating the Hazard Communication Standard (HazCom) to align with the United Nations' Globally Harmonized System for Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) Revision 7, with select elements of Revision 8.

The updated standard aims to improve workplace safety by enhancing how chemical hazards are communicated, ensuring employees are better informed. This final rule is designed to increase worker protection and reduce chemical-related illnesses and injuries by further improving information on labels and Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) for hazardous chemicals.

Key updates include revised classification criteria for aerosols, desensitized explosives, and flammable gases, along with new labeling requirements for small containers and updates on how concentration ranges can be used for trade secrets. The rule also addresses issues that have arisen since the 2012 standard and enhances alignment with other federal agencies and Canada. The changes are expected to impact 94% of SDSs and 64% of shipped container labels.

With compliance deadlines starting in 2025 for substances and extending into 2027 for mixtures, now is the time to act! Stay ahead of the new regulations by reclassifying products, updating SDSs, and ensuring your workplace is prepared for these changes.

Learn more about the 2024 HazCom Final Rule here.