This news article discusses the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard Deadline. This information is brought to you by jdsupra.com.
It seems like so long ago (just over three years, to be exact) that OSHA revised its Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) to align with the United Nations’ Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS). But an important HCS deadline is fast approaching – it is time to say goodbye to the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS).
The revised HCS requires that all chemical manufacturers, importers, employers, and distributors replace Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) with new, GHS-approved Safety Data Sheets (SDS). The information contained in a SDS is largely the same as in a MSDS, but it is laid out in a consistent, 16-section format set forth in this OSHA Brief.
Manufacturers and importers must provide the new SDSs for all hazardous chemicals they manufacture or import by June 1, 2015. But what about manufacturers or formulators that rely on raw materials from other suppliers? According to a recent Guidance Memo, OSHA “will exercise its enforcement discretion”, allowing a “reasonable time period” for downstream users to come into compliance with the new requirement. In exercising this discretion, OSHA will evaluate whether the downstream user has exercised “reasonable diligence” and “good faith efforts.” But what does that mean? According to OSHA Guidance, manufacturers and importers must be prepared to show significant efforts to:
To learn more about the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard Deadline, please follow the jdsupra.com link above. Please contact Nexreg for MSDS Services.
