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OSHA News Release
2006 - 09/07/2006 - OSHA Accepting Comments on Hazard Communication and the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) |
OSHA News Release - Table of Contents |
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Trade News Release Sept. 7, 2006 Contact: Frank Meilinger Phone: (202) 693-1999 OSHA Accepting Comments on Hazard Communication and the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS)
Agency introduces new guidance document on GHS WASHINGTON -- The Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced today that it will publish an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Federal Register on Sept. 12, 2006, seeking public comment on the implementation of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). Adoption of the GHS by OSHA will require OSHA to propose changes to the Agency's Hazard Communication Standard (HCS). The GHS is a system for standardizing and harmonizing the classification and labeling of chemicals by providing a comprehensive approach to defining the health and physical hazards of chemicals, creating classification processes, and communicating hazard information through uniform labels and safety data sheets. "GHS is expected to bring more consistency and clarity, both from a national and international perspective, to hazardous chemical regulations in the workplace," said OSHA Administrator Edwin G. Foulke, Jr. "The diverse and sometimes conflicting national and international requirements can create confusion among employers who seek to use hazard information to effectively protect their employees. One of the many benefits of adopting GHS is that it would provide a consistent format for labels and safety data sheets, making the information easier to comprehend and access when making hazard assessments." To help those who are not familiar with the approach in the GHS, OSHA has prepared a guidance document that summarizes the GHS requirements. The GHS has been adopted by the United Nations with a goal of broad international adoption of the GHS by 2008. The adoption of the GHS will facilitate international trade by increasing the consistency between the laws in different countries that currently require different information be provided to employers and employees about chemicals during their production, transportation, use, and disposal based on jurisdiction. Written comments (in triplicate) must be submitted not later than Nov. 13, 2006, to the OSHA Docket Office, Docket No. H-022K, Room N2625, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. Electronic comments may be submitted to: http://ecomments.osha.gov/. Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthful workplace for their employees. OSHA's role is to assure the safety and health of America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach, and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual process improvement in workplace safety and health. For more information, visit www.osha.gov. ###
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