Safety and Health Topics: Hazard Communication

Hazard Communication Standard	OSHA Compliance Assistance

Enforcement of MSDS Requirement	Society for Chemical Hazard Communication

Globally Harmonized System (GHS)	OSHA Safety and Health Topic: Hazard Communication

In order to ensure chemical safety in the workplace, information must be available about the identities and hazards of the chemicals. OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) requires the development and dissemination of such information:

	Chemical manufacturers and importers are required to evaluate the hazards of the chemicals they produce or import, and
	Prepare labels and material safety data sheets (MSDSs) to convey the hazard information to their downstream customers.
	All employers with hazardous chemicals in their workplaces must have labels and MSDSs for their exposed workers, and train them to handle the chemicals appropriately.

What's New [As of December 2009]:

GHS Hazard Communication proposed rule; notice of informal public hearings. OSHA Federal Register Notice 74:68756-68758 (2009, December 29). Also available as a 53 KB PDF, 3 pages.
Globally Harmonized System for Classification and Labelling of Chemicals, Revision 3. Each Chapter and Annex is provided as a separate Adobe Acrobat file. The printed bound text is also available for purchase through the UN Bookstore.
GHS Hazard Communication proposal. OSHA Federal Register Notice 74:50280-50549 (2009, September 30). Also, available as an 11 MB PDF, 271 pages. Hazard Communication; Proposed Rule. More information on the proposed Rulemaking can be found on the Globally Harmonized System for Hazard Communication topic page.
OSHA/EPA Occupational Chemical Database. OSHA and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Includes reports: "Physical Properties," "Exposure Guidelines," "NIOSH Pocket Guide," and "Emergency Response Information," including the US Department of Transportation (DOT) Emergency Response Guide. In addition, an all-in-one report, "Full Report," is available.
A Guide to The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). OSHA, (2006, September). Also available as a 759 KB PDF, 90 pages.
Hazard Communication. OSHA Federal Register Notice 71:53617-53627, (2006, September 12). Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM). Also available as a 3 MB PDF, 11 pages.
Hazard Communication in the 21st Century Workplace - Final Report. OSHA.
Inspection Procedures for the Hazard Communication Standard. OSHA Directive CPL 02-02-038 [CPL 2-2.38D], (1998, March 20). Additional information is provided in an 87 KB PPT*, 31 slides.

Accessibility Assistance: Contact the OSHA Directorate of Standards and Guidance at 202-693-1950 for assistance accessing PDF and PPT materials.

^*These files are provided for downloading.