US OSHA Updates Hazard Communication Standard to Align with GHS 7

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has announced a final rule to update the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS). This update aligns the HCS primarily with the seventh revised edit of the United Nations’ Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS 7). Published on May 20, 2024, the rule will take effect on July 19, 2024.

This final rule aims to address issues that have arisen since the implementation of the 2012 standard, as well as improve alignment with other federal agencies and Canada.

History:

The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) has been adopted worldwide to standardize the handling and labeling of hazardous chemicals. In 2012, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) revised its Hazard Communication Standard (HCS), 29 CFR 1910.1200, to align with the third revision of the GHS (GHS 3) (77 FR 17574). The GHS is updated every two years to incorporate improvements and clarifications. Since OSHA adopted GHS 3, there have been seven updates, the most recent being Revision 10, published in 2023. The current rulemaking primarily aligns the HCS with GHS 7, which waspublished in 2017.

Established in 1983, the HCS aims to standardize the communication of workplace hazards associated with hazardous chemicals. It mandates chemical manufacturers and importers to classify the hazards of the chemicals they produce or import. The latest amendments do not alter the basic structure of the HCS.

OSHA has determined that these updates will improve the effectiveness of the HCS, ensuring that employees are better informed about the chemical hazards they may encounter. This, in turn, is expected to reduce the incidence of chemical-related occupational illnesses and injuries. The revisions include updated criteria for classifying certain health and physical hazards, new provisions for updating labels and labeling small containers, changes related to trade secrets, technical amendments concerning the contents of safety data sheets (SDSs), and updates to definitions used in the standard.

Major changes to the Hazard Communication Standard:

• Hazard Classification: Provides specific criteria for classifying health and physical hazards and classifying of mixtures.

• Labeling: Chemical manufacturers and importers must now include a harmonized signal word, pictogram and hazard statement for each hazard class and category on their labels. Precautionary statements are also mandatory. Additionally, labels on shipped containers must display the date the chemical is released for shipment. There are new, detailed labeling requirements for small containers, specifically those with a capacity of 100 ml or less.

• Safety Data Sheets: The format for Safety Data Sheets (SDS) is now standardized to a specified 16-section layout.

• Information and Training: Employers are required to train their workers on the new label elements andupdated Safety Data Sheets format to facilitate recognition and understanding.

• Trade Secrets: When claiming a specific concentration of a substance as a trade secret, prescribed concentration ranges must now be used, adding a layer of transparency and safety.

Manufacturers, importers and distributors must comply with the new requirements by January 19, 2026, for substances and by July 19, 2027, for mixtures. Employers have until July 20, 2026, for substances and January 19, 2028, for mixtures tocomply with the new standards.

Please see the Federal Register Notice for more information.