Hazard Communication and GHS (HazCom 2012)

OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200), aligned with the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS), ensures that workers know the identities and hazards of chemicals they work with. The standard's four core components are: chemical inventory, Safety Data Sheets (SDS), container labels, and worker training. As a supervisor, you must maintain a current chemical inventory, ensure all incoming containers have proper GHS labels, make SDSs accessible at all times, and verify that workers are trained before they work with or near hazardous chemicals.

The 16-section SDS format is standardized: Section 1 (Identification), Section 2 (Hazard Identification), Section 3 (Composition/Ingredients), Section 4 (First-Aid Measures), Section 5 (Fire-Fighting Measures), Section 6 (Accidental Release Measures), Section 7 (Handling and Storage), Section 8 (Exposure Controls/PPE), Section 9 (Physical/Chemical Properties), Section 10 (Stability and Reactivity), Section 11 (Toxicological Information), Sections 12–15 (environmental/regulatory, non-mandatory), Section 16 (Other Information including revision date). Supervisors most frequently reference Sections 2, 8, and 4 for day-to-day safety decisions.

GHS container labels must include: product identifier, signal word (DANGER or WARNING), hazard statement(s), precautionary statement(s), pictogram(s), and supplier/manufacturer information. There are nine GHS pictograms: Health Hazard (chronic effects, carcinogen), Flame (flammable), Exclamation Mark (irritant, acute toxicity), Skull and Crossbones (acute lethal toxicity), Corrosion (skin/eye corrosion), Exploding Bomb (explosive), Gas Cylinder (compressed gas), Environment (aquatic toxicity), and Oxidizer (oxidizing chemicals). Signal word DANGER indicates more severe hazard category; WARNING indicates lesser severity.

Supervisors in multi-employer environments must ensure that contractors working in their area are informed of the chemical hazards present, the labeling system in use, the SDS access method, and any precautionary measures required. This cross-employer communication obligation is often overlooked but is explicitly required by HazCom. Written programs must be updated whenever a new hazardous chemical is introduced to the workplace.