SHA’s highly anticipated changes for chemical labeling are now available for public viewing. As expected, the new changes incorporate several key elements of the United Nation’s Globally Harmonized System of Chemical Labeling (GHS) into the agency’s own Hazard Communication Standards (HCS). However, new changes for labeling won’t require implementation for several years.
OSHA’s new labeling requirements are expected to have the greatest impact on U.S.-based chemical manufacturers and chemical importers, with few mandatory changes slated for other general chemical storage. Chemical manufacturers and importers are targeted by the new standards to ensure their chemical containers will display a label similar to those now used in Europe and many other GHS adopters beginning June 1, 2015.