June 1, 2016 is the Deadline for Compliance with the New Regulations
An expansion on the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (HCS); GHS, or Globally Harmonized System is a worldwide regulation for classifying and communicating chemical hazards. By adopting the new requirements, the United States is now in alignment with the international standard.
The use of pictograms on GHS labels is intended to more effectively communicate chemical hazards among workers with limited, low literacy or who are not fluent in the native language of the country they are working. The new regulation is expected to improve international trade conditions for chemical manufacturers, increase comprehension of dangers by reducing confusion, facilitate safety training and result in safer handling and use of chemical substances.
There are three main areas in the existing HCS regulation that has changes with the adoption of GHS: hazard classification, labels and safety data sheets. To read all of the details on these changes visit the GHS section of the Resource Center.
Several resources to ensure your company remains complaint are also available for download. Be sure to print these out and keep for your reference.