OSHA has issued the effective completion dates and requirements for the revised HazCom Standard.
· December 1, 2013: Employers must train employees on the new label elements and safety data sheet (SDS) format.
· June 1, 2015: Chemical manufactures, importers, distributors and employers must comply with all modified provisions of this final rule.
· December 1, 2015: The distributors shall not ship containers labeled by the chemical manufacturer or importer unless it is a GHS label.
· June 1, 2016: Employers must update alternative workplace labeling and hazard communication programs as necessary and provide additional employee training for newly identified physical or health hazards.
· Transition Period: All chemical manufacturers, importers, distributors and employers must comply with either 29 CFR 1910.1200 (this final standard), the current standard or both.
OSHA wants all chemical users to update SDSs when new ones become available, provide training on the new label elements and update HazCom programs if new hazards are identified. The agency asks that chemical producers review hazard information for all chemicals produced or imported, classify chemicals according to the new classification criteria and update labels and SDSs. More information on the standard, including the link to the Federal Register notice, can be found here.