Today’s workplaces look far different than they have in the past, taking on many shapes, sizes and settings. As a result, more workers from multiple employers are working side-by-side at the same locations, increasing the shared responsibility for worker safety among employers.

OSHA revised its Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) to align with the United Nations' Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) and published it in the Federal Register in March 2012 (77 FR 17574).

Employers continue to struggle with identifying and communicating hazards posed by dangerous chemicals. Fortunately, they can take steps toward complying with HazCom 2012 and GHS standards with simple, effective visual communication tools.

Periodic reviews are the best way to make sure that chemical inventories are still accurate, the people responsible for coordinating elements of the hazard communication program are still performing needed duties and training continues to addresses chemical hazards appropriately.

The new standard covers over 43 million workers who produce or handle hazardous chemicals in more than five million workplaces across the country. The modification is expected to prevent over 500 workplace injuries and illnesses and 43 fatalities annually.