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OSHA revises Hazard Communication Standard and SDS

On March 20, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published its final revised "Hazard Communication Standard" based on Globally Harmonized System (GHS) rule for classifying and labeling chemicals, which aligns with the United Nation's GHS.

The Hazard Communication Standard will be fully implemented in 2016 and benefits workers by reducing confusion about chemical hazards in the workplace, by facilitating safety training, and by improving understanding of hazards, especially for low literacy workers. The OSHA standard will classify chemicals according to their health and physical hazards, and establish consistent labels and safety data sheets for all chemicals made in the United States and imported from abroad.

??The HCS changes OSHA's???, adopts standardized labeling requirements, and requires a standardized order of information on safety data sheets such as the EU REACH requirements regarding SDS. The HCS includes 10 health hazard categories and 16 physical hazard categories.

The revised standard also is expected to prevent an estimated 585 injuries and illnesses annually. It will reduce trade barriers and result in estimated annualized benefits in productivity improvements for American businesses that regularly handle, store and use hazardous chemicals, as well as cost savings of $32.2 million for American businesses that periodically update safety data sheets and labels for chemicals covered under the standard. Once implemented, HCM will prevent an estimated 43 deaths and result in an estimated $475.2 million in enhanced productivity for U.S. businesses each year.

"OSHA's 1983 Hazard Communication Standard gave workers the right to know. As one participant expressed during our rulemaking process, this update will give them the right to understand, as well," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels.

Employers must train employees on the new labeling and safety data sheet requirements by December 1, 2013. Employers must ensure the labels are compliant by June 1, 2015.

With the iPoint-SAM-M module, laws and regulations changes are very easy to master.

Functions and aims

With SAM-M from iPoint-systems, REACH impact analysis, Safety Data sheets or US Conflict Mineral analysis are possible at the click of a mouse. This solution automatically collects basic data such as substances, mixtures and products, enables granular management and optimizes the associated internal and external communication. SAM-M helps companies create legal certainty by:

  • Defining roles

  • Identifying critical substances and process conditions

  • Collecting substance data using chemical classification and labeling and a global "Harmonized Phrases Catalog" for SDS

  • Collecting process data

  • Identifying and evaluating current and future requirements and competencies

  • Defining and checking risk measures

  • Reacting quickly and effectively in the event of new laws or changes to existing laws

  • Analyzing and quickly reacting to specific customer requirements

  • Analyzing and optimizing organizational structures

With the iPoint Supplier-Entry-Portal (SEP), SAM-M offers enterprises the possibility of automated communication via the company's own web portal. Safety data sheets and other information such as certificates or non-automotive component declarations can therefore be sent and received efficiently.

For further information please contact:

Clara Ramon

iPoint-systems

clara.ramon(at)ipoint-systems(dot)de