Big Changes Are Here: OSHA Aligns with GHS Revision 7
If your business deals with hazardous chemicals, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has officially updated its Hazard Communication Standard (HazCom), aligning with the 7th revision of the United Nations’ Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS). These changes took effect on July 19, 2024, and they represent one of the most significant updates to workplace chemical safety protocols in recent years.
Whether you're a manufacturer, importer, distributor, or employer, understanding these updates is crucial for compliance, safety, and liability management.
Key Updates to the HazCom Standard
Here’s a breakdown of the most impactful changes you need to know:
- Enhanced Labels for Small Containers: Labels are now easier to read and more informative, even on small packaging. This ensures end-users can better understand chemical risks at a glance.
- Improved Trade Secret Disclosure: Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) must now provide more transparent hazard information, even for trade-secret ingredients—ensuring workers and emergency personnel have access to what they need in a crisis.
- Clearer Hazard Classification Process: OSHA’s revisions streamline and clarify the hazard classification process, helping ensure consistency between labeling and SDSs.
- Revised Classification Criteria for Certain Hazards: Categories such as aerosols, desensitized explosives, and flammable gases have updated criteria, providing a more accurate assessment of risk.
- New Hazard Category Added: A completely new class, “Chemicals Under Pressure,” has been introduced within the aerosol category, reflecting emerging risks in modern workplaces.
- Updated Precautionary Statements: The new standard includes revised safety statements to offer clearer instructions for safe handling, storage, and disposal.
- Better Alignment with Canadian and Federal Regulations: These changes also harmonize OSHA’s standards with other U.S. federal agencies and Health Canada’s regulations, improving cross-border consistency and compliance.
Transition Timeline – Know Your Deadlines
To give organizations time to comply, OSHA has established a phased implementation:
- Manufacturers of hazardous substances have 18 months from July 19, 2024, to comply.
- Manufacturers of mixtures have 36 months to comply.
- Employers must update their workplace labeling systems, HazCom programs, and employee training by July 20, 2026.
What This Means for Your Business
For manufacturers and suppliers:
- You may need to reclassify products, revise SDSs, and update labels to meet the new criteria.
For employers:
- It's essential to review your chemical inventory, accept updated SDSs, and conduct revised HazCom training to reflect these changes.
This update is an opportunity to improve safety and reduce the risks associated with chemical handling in your workplace.
How MSDS Source Can Help
Keeping up with regulatory changes like this can be overwhelming—but you don’t have to do it alone. MSDS Source simplifies compliance by offering a comprehensive SDS management solution that evolves with changing legislation. With MSDS Source, you can:
- Automatically receive updated SDSs from manufacturers
- Track compliance with OSHA’s new hazard classifications and labeling requirements
- Ensure accurate and accessible SDS records for workers and emergency responders
- Stay ahead of training deadlines with integrated tools that support HazCom program updates
Don't let regulatory updates catch you off guard. With MSDS Source, you’ll have the tools, resources, and support you need to meet OSHA’s new HazCom standards—confidently and efficiently.
