OSHA Issues Instruction for Consistent Enforcement of Revised HazCom Standard

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OSHA has issued instructions to compliance safety and health officers on how to ensure consistent enforcement of the revised HazCom standard, which improves the quality, clarity and consistency of chemical hazard information that workers receive. OSHA revised the HazCom standard in March 2012 to align with the United Nations Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals.

According to OSHA, the instructions outline revisions to the standard, including the revised hazard classification of chemicals, standardizing label elements for containers of hazardous chemicals, and specifying the format and required content for safety data sheets. In addition, the instructions explain how the revised standard should be enforced during its transition and after the standard is fully implemented on June 1, 2016.