FLASH: NEW OSHA HAZARD COMMUNICATION STANDARDS

In March, 2012 the U.S. Department of Labor published a final update of the Hazard Communication Standard in order to make the US standard adhere to the United Nations’ “Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals.”  Incidentally, if the reader is familiar with Agenda 21, the UN global initiative to promote one-world sustainability and order, one may question if, in fact, this initiative is one more way that the UN is seizing control of multi-layers of our lives.  Nevertheless, the standard is now a reality and dental practices as well every other organization in which hazardous chemicals are used must adhere to new rules and regulations.

GHS (Globally Harmonized System) is an approach to hazard communication that is recommended internationally under the auspices of the United Nations.  When fully implemented, the GHS will provide a single set of criteria to classify the health and physical hazards of all chemicals worldwide. 

Changes include:  Material Safety Data Sheets with which every dental professional is familiar will be replaced by standardized formatted “Safety Data Sheets.”  Additionally, labels used by chemical manufacturers will be changed and standardized internationally.  The new labels will have (1) pictograms (a total of eight different designs will be used), (2) signal words that are to communicate the severity of the hazard, and (3) precautionary statements that give measures to minimize or prevent adverse effects when chemicals are handled. 

Chemicals will be re-evaluated, presumably by the manufacturers, based on specific criteria and labeled accordingly.  By December 1, 2013, one year from now, all employees who utilize hazardous chemicals must be trained on the new hazardous chemicals’ labels and Safety Data Sheets.  By June 1, 2016 all employers using hazardous chemicals in the workplace must have appropriately labeled chemicals with updated Safety Data Sheets for each one.