In 2012, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) adopted revised rules for its Hazard Communications Standard (HCS). The revision aligns the OSHA standard with the international Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). The biggest changes are in the areas of safety data sheets, labeling, and combustible dust.In December 2013, Jess McCluer, director of safety and regulatory affairs with the National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA), presented a workshop on the revised HCS at the opening of NGFA's Country Elevator Conference in St. Louis, MO. This article isbased on that presentation. One of the major deadlines associated with the revised HCS already has passed. As of Dec. 1, 2013, employers were to have trained their employees on the new requirements of the revised standard, as well as documented the training.If you haven't completed that training, however, it's important to do it now.Upcoming deadlines:June 1, 2015 - Manufacturers must convert all of their safety data sheets (SDSs, formerly Material Safety Data Sheets or MSDSs) to the new GHS format and begin sending them out to distributors and suppliers.
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