J Prepared & Edited by Sue Zampella; Occupational Safety Consultants WWW.WORKRISKFREE.COM IS YOUR HAZARD COMMUNICATION PLAN READY FOR JUNE 1, 2016? On March 26, 2012, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued the Hazard Communication/ HazCom 2012 Final Rule. Under this final rule, The Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) is now aligned with the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). This update to the Hazard Communication Standard provides a common and coherent approach to classifying chemicals and communicating hazard information on labels and safety data sheets. OSHA believes this change will help reduce trade barriers and result in productivity improvements for American businesses that regularly handle, store, and use hazardous chemicals while providing cost savings for American businesses that periodically update safety data sheets and labels for chemicals covered under the hazard communication standard. OSHA estimates that the revised HCS will result in the prevention of 43 fatalities and 585 injuries and illnesses annually. The monetized value of this reduction in occupational risks is an estimated $250 million a year on an annualized basis. In order to ensure chemical safety in the workplace, information about the identities and hazards of the chemicals must be available and understandable to workers. OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) requires the development and dissemination of such information: • Chemical manufacturers and importers are required to evaluate the hazards of the chemicals they produce or import, and prepare labels and safety data sheets to convey the hazard information to their downstream customers; • All employers with hazardous chemicals in their workplaces must have labels and safety data sheets for their exposed workers, and train them to handle the chemicals appropriately. Major changes to the Hazard Communication Standard Under the Final Rule include: • Hazard classification: Provides specific criteria for classification of health and physical hazards, as well as classification of mixtures. • Labels: Chemical manufacturers and importers will be required to provide a label that includes a harmonized signal word, pictogram, and hazard statement for each hazard class and category. Precautionary statements must also be provided. • Safety Data Sheets: Will now have a specified 16-section format. Since March of 2012, there has been a phase-in period to help chemical manufacturers, importers, distributors and employers stay in compliance and adjust to the change to the hazard communication standard since adopting GHS. The final deadline for this phase-in period is June 1, 2016. By June 1, all employers need to update alternative workplace labeling and hazard communication program as necessary, and provide additional employee training for newly identified physical or health hazards. Your written HazCom program must include information on container labeling, collection and availability of safety data sheets, and the employee-training program. It also must contain a list of the hazardous chemicals (chemical inventory), the means the employer will use to inform employees of the hazards of non-routine tasks and the hazards associated with chemicals in unlabeled pipes. BIE SAFETY ADVISOR May 2016