OSHA Updates Hazard Communication Standard: Enhanced Safety Measures for Chemical Hazard Awareness

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has announced a significant update to its Hazard Communication Standard (HCS). This final rule, published on May 20, 2024, and effective from July 19, 2024, aligns primarily with the seventh revision of the United Nations’ Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS).

By enhancing the clarity and comprehensiveness of labels and safety data sheets, the updated standard aims to improve workplace safety and reduce chemical-related occupational illnesses and injuries. Additionally, this revision addresses various issues that have emerged since the 2012 update and enhances alignment with other federal agencies and international regulations. Learn more about these critical changes and how they will impact workplace safety.

 

FROM OSHA: https://www.osha.gov/hazcom/rulemaking

The updated standard will improve the standard’s effectiveness by better informing employees about chemical hazards in the workplace. This final rule will increase worker protections and reduce the incidences of chemical-related occupational illnesses and injuries by further improving the information on the labels and safety data sheets for hazardous chemicals.

The final rule will also address issues arising since implementation of the 2012 standard and improve alignment with other federal agencies and Canada. Please see the Highlights which define the changes from 2012 to 2024 for more information. OSHA is also providing a red-line strikeout version of the regulatory text and appendices for stakeholders which can be found under Highlights.

Established in 1983, the HCS provides a standardized approach to communicating workplace hazards associated with exposure to dangerous chemicals. OSHA updated the standard in 2012 to align with the third revision of the GHS. The system provides a common and coherent approach to classifying chemicals and communicating hazard information.