If you work in an industry that handles hazardous materials, it is important to understand the laws around communicating the potential hazards of said materials. OSHA created Standard 1910.1200, which must be followed when labeling and classifying hazardous materials. And while most companies certainly consulted this standard upon creating their Safety and Health Management System, many have not looked back since. Unfortunately, there was a big update last year which changed this standard to bring it up to code with the United Nations Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals, Revision 3. This was the first major revision since 1994 to this standard, and has left many businesses out of compliance.

This standard is extremely specific about how to classify hazardous materials, how to identify hazardous materials, and how to communicate information and appropriate protective measures regarding hazardous materials to employees. This standard applies to laboratories, wholesalers, manufacturers, importers, warehouses, retail stores, and anywhere else hazardous materials might be found. The standard defines what a hazardous material is, what needs to be on the labels, the types of labels required, and what needs to be communicated to employees. It also explains what needs to be included in the written hazard communication program which you develop for your employees. Finally, it discusses what is not a hazardous material, and when hazardous materials are exempt from all or part of this standard. Because of the complexity of this standard, and how it is situated to uniquely handle many different industries differently, it is important that this is a focal point of your annual third party safety audits.

If you are unsure if you are still up to code given the recent changes, then please contact us so that we can further discuss this standard as it relates to your business. And if you have anything to add about the recent changes to hazard communication guidelines, please leave a comment.