Hazard Communication Is Developing Safer Work Environments
The Hazard Communication standard developed by OSHA recently underwent a major renovation
by adopting the Globally Harmonized Standard (GHS) that is an international policy aimed at streamlining Hazard Communication across borders. The change allows for hazardous chemicals to more quickly travel across borders of countries because the safety standards are uniform. The GHS include creates a uniform system for labeling of toxic chemicals, information about the hazardous material, and training of the employees working in hazardous environments.
Hazard Communication requires all toxic chemicals to be have the inherent dangers of the chemicals labeled on the containers so workers can readily identify the potential hazards of the chemical. In the past, the labels on the chemicals could be different and create a confusing situation for the employees. For instance a company that received the same chemical from two manufactures could have two containers with labels that were different. The new system creates a labeling system so the same chemical will have the same label, even if that chemical comes from different manufacturers. The worker will be able to readily identify fewer labels and simplify the identification of the potential hazard.
The GHS also alters the way information is presented to employees about the hazardous chemicals. All hazardous materials shipped come paired with a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) to explain the hazards of the chemical in greater detail. The material was set, but the order in which the material was presented could vary depending on the manufacturer of the chemical. The GHS sets a template to have all of the material ordered in the same way across all chemical manufacturers. This allows the employee to find the needed information quickly. An emergency situation may require the employee to quickly retrieve the needed information and it is important to save precious seconds in a potentially dangerous environment.
Training for the new policies and mandates is required to bring the workers up to speed with the revisions. The worker has a right to understand the potential hazards that they face on a daily basis. An employee that understands the risks has the capacity to be safer overall during their daily duties.
Click here to contact a Certified Safety Professional to work with your company and get you up to speed with the revisions. The Globally Harmonized Standard has a timeline for future revisions and it is imperative that your company stay on top of the changes as they occur. A Certified Safety Professional can be your go to expert on these changes and any future changes.