OSHA Deadline for Hazard Communication Training
Firms whose employees handle or use hazardous chemicals should be aware that the Occupational and Safety Administration (OSHA) has established a compliance date of December 1, 2013, for completion of employee training in OSHA’s revised Hazard Communication Standard (HCS). According to the OSHA Fact Sheet bulletin, this standard was revised to align with the United Nations’ Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). The revised standard incorporates the use of new labeling elements and a standardized format for Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) formerly known as Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs).
While specific elements of the revised standard will be phased in by OSHA from December 1, 2013, to June 1, 2016, the initial compliance date for employee training is December 1, 2013. By this date, employers must have trained their workers on the new label elements and SDS format.
