OSHA takes the initiative on hazard communication
OSHA takes the initiative on hazard communication
Keywords: Occupational health and safety, Hazardous materials
OSHA has announced a new initiative to focus attention on hazard communication in the workplace, following an agency review of current issues. The initiative, consisting of compliance assistance and enforcement components,is aimed at improving the quality of hazard communication and helping employers comply with the hazard communication standard (HCS). The HCS, adopted 20 years ago, covers some 650,000 hazardous chemical products and more than 30 million American workers.
Compliance assistance is a key component of the initiative. OSHA is developing new compliance assistance materials and draft documents for public comment including:
hazard determination guidance;
model training program; and
guidance for preparation of material safety data sheets (MSDSs).
Education and outreach are vital to compliance assistance efforts. OSHA has formed an alliance with the Society for Chemical Hazard Communication (SCHC), a professional society that focuses on hazard communication issues. OSHA and SCHC will work together to produce several products for this initiative, including a course for small businesses on preparation of MSDSs, development of a training program for OSHA compliance staff on review of MSDS information, and development of a checklist to use to review MSDSs for the inclusion of certain information. OSHA will also work with other alliance Program participants to provide outreach on this issue.
In addition, OSHA will make internationally developed and peer- reviewed International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs) available on its web site for use as a screening tool to review MSDSs. They cover more than 1.300 substances and are available in multiple languages.
For the enforcement component of this initiative, compliance safety and health officers will use sample hazard information on selected chemicals to check the accuracy of MSDSs. Deficiencies will be brought to the attention of the party responsible for supplying the MSDS, and failure to make corrections may result in the issuance of citations.
OSHA is also evaluating the adoption of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS), and is preparing a guide to increase awareness of the GHS. Adoption of the GHS in the USA could improve the quality of MSDSs and labels.
“Appropriate and accurate hazard communication is essential to safe chemical management programs in the workplace,” said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health John Henshaw. “Employers need good information to design protective programs for their employees, and employees need the same information to protect themselves. This initiative will help improve that process.”
