Hazard Communication Standard: New Chemical Provisions

To help companies comply with the revised standard, OSHA is phasing in the specific requirements during the next few years.

Phase 1 is Orientation Training, which must be completed by Dec. 1, 2013.

These regulations affect:

• Labels—new format for product and transportation;
• Symbols—pictograms are new and different than what we were taught to recognize; and
• Employee education—general orientation and familiarization.

It is estimated that more than five million workplaces in the United States will be impacted by the revised HCS. These are all those workplaces where employees—a total of approximately 43 million of them—could be exposed to hazardous chemicals. OSHA anticipates that these changes will make the workplace much safer, because the universal classification and labeling system will make it easier for everyone to understand the proper handling procedures and uses for all chemicals. As a result, trade barriers should be reduced and American businesses that deal with hazardous chemicals should see increased productivity at a higher cost savings.