Friday, March 9, 2012

OSHA and the SCHC Renew Alliance to Reduce Worker Exposures to Chemical Hazards

OSHA and the Society for Chemical Hazard Communication, which represents nearly 500 chemical hazard communication professionals, have renewed their Alliance to continue addressing hazard communication and to increase awareness of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). More than 32 million American workers are exposed to 650,000 hazardous chemical products, and the continued Alliance will inform these workers about the risks to which they may be exposed and will promote best practices to reduce this exposure. During the new two-year agreement, the Alliance will also share information on OSHA's National Emphasis Programs, Regulatory Agenda and opportunities to participate in the rulemaking process. Together, OSHA and the SCHC will develop information sheets on the health and physical hazards of chemicals and on the elements that make a GHS label compliant. For more information, visit the Hazard Communication Web page which includes information on OSHA's revised standard, requirements for the new safety data sheets/labels and the benefits of harmonization.