OSHA’s GHS Adoption Clears OMB

According to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) website, OMB concluded its review of the revised Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) on February 21, 2012 with a ruling that OSHA’s rule was “consistent with change.” (To see the complete rule click HERE.) "Consistent with change" means that OMB agrees with the intent of the rule, but wants to see a “substantive” change before it is published. Once the change is made, it may be published in the Federal Register. OMB approval was the last major hurdle before OSHA could publish the final rule on GHS in the Federal Register. OSHA is expected to move quickly to address the change(s).

Aligning the Hazard Communication Standard with GHS (also known as the Globally Harmonized System) will affect over 5 million U.S. workplaces and over 40 million U.S. workers with exposure to hazardous chemicals.

“With this latest development, it is time for businesses to get serious about transitioning to GHS,” said Glenn Trout, president and CEO of MSDSonline. “The three main tasks for most businesses are employee training, managing the safety data sheet churn, and making sure the workplace labeling is compliant with GHS.”

Trout added, “Employers would do well to look to cloud technology for readymade solutions for all three critical GHS transition tasks.

Adapted from: MSDSOnline

The complete original article can be found HERE.

For OSHA's website on GHS click HERE.
For EPA's website on GHS click HERE.

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