by Brianna Crandall — February 4, 2013—The new Globally Harmonized System (GHS) of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals is one of the biggest regulatory changes to affect the commercial cleaning industry in 25 years, says ISSA, The Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association. The GHS is an international, harmonized system intended to guide governments around the world in effectively labeling potentially hazardous chemicals in order to protect workers and the public who are exposed to the chemicals. The guidelines appear in a publication referred to as the “Purple Book,” which is not a regulation or a standard. Governments and regulatory bodies can choose to adopt all, part, or none of those recommendations.
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently used the GHS to revise its Hazard Communication standard, which regulates the labeling and MSDSs (material safety data sheets) of most chemical cleaning products in the United States. The GHS revisions are intended to harmonize the U.S. system of hazard communication with that of the international community and to “enhance worker comprehension, resulting in appropriate handling and use of chemicals,” according to OSHA.
Sweeping in scope, the new regulations are expected to impact every segment of the industry worldwide including manufacturers, distributors, facilities services providers, and any workplace in which personnel are exposed to chemicals. Effective December 1, 2013, all employers in companies that use chemicals will need to update MSDSs, provide training on the new label elements, and update their hazard communication programs if and when new hazards are identified. Chemical manufacturers and importers must comply with all aspects of the final rule, including creating updated labels and MSDSs, by June 1, 2015. Distributors will be able to ship products with old labels and SDSs until December 1, 2015. All companies will have until June 1, 2016, to update any alternative workplace labeling and hazard communication program as necessary and provide additional employee training for newly identified physical or health hazards.
ISSA Environmental Services and Legislative Affairs Director Bill Balek has created an Educational Quick Clip video called “Complying with the New GHS Regulations” that explains what companies need to do to comply and offers resources to learn more. ISSA is also providing GHS Online Training as well as an ISSA Webinar, “GHS Training for Results,” which will be broadcast Thursday, February 14, 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. CST to provide further information.
For more information about the Globally Harmonized System (GHS), see “GHS: Are You Ready?” on FMLink.
