December 1, 2013 is the deadline set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration ("OSHA") for employers to train their employees on OSHA's revised Hazard Communication Standard ("HCS"). OSHA's regulatory scheme applies to every employer with U.S. based employees. Virtually every employer will have hazardous chemicals in its workplace in varying degrees.
OSHA issued its revised HCS in March 2012 to align its safety
standard with the United Nations' Globally Harmonized System of
Classification Standard. OSHA states that the revised HCS is
designed to reduce confusion about chemical hazards in the
workplace and establish uniform standards for labels and safety
data sheets for all chemicals made in the United States and
imported from other countries.
The two main changes included in the revised HCS are new labeling
requirements for hazardous chemicals and a new format for Safety
Data Sheets (SDSs), formerly known as Material Safety Data
Sheets. The revised HCS will require hazardous chemical
manufacturers, importers, and distributors to include the following
information on chemical labels: a product identifier (such as the
chemical name, code number, batch number), a signal word (either
"warning" or "danger"), a pictogram, a hazard
statement, a precautionary statement, and supplier
identification. OSHA also created a standard 16-section
format for all SDSs, which must be used by all hazardous chemical
manufacturers, distributors, and importers.
OSHA's revised HCS will be implemented in stages. The
first compliance deadline in the revised HCS is December 1, 2013,
the date employers must have trained their employees on the new
labeling requirements and SDS format. The revised HCS is
scheduled to be fully-implemented by June 2016, at which time
employers, chemical manufacturers, distributors, and importers must
comply with all aspects of the revised standard.
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