GHS Moving Forward – OSHA Submits Revised HazCom Standard to Office of Management and Budget
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently submitted its revised Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). If approved, the final rule will revise HazCom to align with the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS).
OSHA’s final rule submission marks a milestone after several decades of planning and a few missed deadlines this year. OMB has 90 days from OSHA’s submission date of October 25, 2011 to review the revised standard. Upon approval, the final rule will be published in OSHA’s Federal Register. However, OMB also has the right to extend this 90 day period, if deemed necessary.
View OMB’s Public Post on GHS.
Developed by the United Nations, GHS is a worldwide initiative promoting standard criteria for classifying chemicals according to their hazards and communicating hazard information on labels and safety data sheets. GHS is currently implemented or in various stages of implementation in 67 countries.
Safetec’s Director of Environmental, Health and Safety, Kim Peterson, is giving a presentation on GHS entitled “Understanding GHS and Its Impact on Compliance” at the National Safety Congress and Expo in Philadelphia, November 1st, 2011, from 9:30-10:00am in booth #3635.
Ms. Peterson will deliver a basic understanding of GHS, its role internationally and a step-by-step plan of preparing organizations for compliance. Specifically, GHS labeling formats, secondary labeling scenarios, GHS Safety Data Sheets (SDS), employee training and GHS hazard classification will be covered. Additionally, strategies on how to revise internal HazCom training materials and effectively communicate the impact of GHS to the broader organization will be provided.
Safetec has compiled a comprehensive tool kit to help educate organizations regarding the upcoming changes associated with GHS. Documents include a GHS Overview, a six-step GHS Transition Guide and our GHS whitepaper, An Overview of the GHS “Purple Book”. Download the GHS Toolkit now.
About Safetec
Safetec Compliance Systems, Inc. is a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) company specializing in delivering chemical compliance management solutions to organizations around the globe. Safetec provides web-based (M)SDS management, automated regulatory reporting, chemical approval processes, onsite inventory services, and more. Since 1998, Safetec has partnered with Environmental, Health and Safety; Information Technology; and Risk Management professionals to meet the challenges and mitigate the risks associated with hazardous chemicals.
