OSHA and the Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch of the Department of Health of Canada signed a Memorandum of Understanding on June 19 to work together on implementing the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling in their respective jurisdictions. Dr. David Michaels, assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health, and Suzy McDonald, director general for HECS, signed the agreement in which both parties will establish a working group to reduce barriers between the systems responsible for occupational safety and health of workplace chemicals.
"Today we live and work in a global environment with varying and sometimes conflicting national and international requirements," said Michaels. "Through GHS and now this MOU, OSHA and Health Canada have forged a relationship to jointly provide concise information to protect those exposed to hazardous chemicals."