In May of 2012, there were updates made to OSHA Standard 1910.1200, which regulates the communication of potential hazards associated with hazardous materials. The updates were made to bring the OSHA standard in line with the United Nations Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals, Revision 3. And while many standards are updated every year, this was the first major update to this standard in nearly 20 years; the first since a major update in 1994. So if your business deals in hazardous materials but your safety team has not reviewed and updated this section of the safety and health management system since last May, there is a good chance your company is no longer compliant, which means it is in danger of potential fines and your employees are potentially at risk.

A company in any industry which deals in hazardous materials, including laboratories, wholesalers, manufacturers, importers, warehouses, and retail stores, just to name a few, needs to ensure that it is up to code in relation to Standard 1910.1200. This standard specifies how to identify and classify hazardous materials and how to communicate this information to employees. It also covers protective communications to employees. This standard is very clear about what is – and is not – a hazardous material, and what preventative steps must be taken to ensure all details of the material are communicated to anyone who might come in contact with the material.

If you have not reviewed your procedures on hazard communication since last May, it is important to have your procedures audited to ensure your company is still up to code. If you would like help in this task, or would like some guidance on how to properly label any new products you have begun working with, please contact us. Should you have any general questions about hazard communication, or would like to add anything else about this standard, please leave a comment.