CFR 1910.1200 is the "Right to Know" OSHA law. It mandated that employers inform workers of the hazards of chemicals that were used in the workplace. It is known as the Hazard Communication Standard. One component of the HCS is the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) that is now being used to inform workers of the hazards and ways to prevent and mitigate any exposure to harmful chemicals. In 1992 the United Nations convened the Earth Summit and out of that conference a mandate to harmonize all hazard communication systems throughout the world was agreed upon. It has been called the Global Harmonization System. It is not a new law but is an enhancement to the existing HCS. Some of the enhancements include a uniform 16 section SDS and new pictograms to help explain the hazards in picture form.

 David Michaels, OSHA Assistant Secretary was recently quoted saying "with the new globally harmonized standard, workers are now getting the right to understand. That means not only knowing about potential hazards, but also better understanding what the warning means, what to do if exposed and how to protect one’s self."

With this new system, training requirements also were mandated. All employers are required to provide the new GHS training to all employees by December 1, 2013.  NEPPA has acquired the latest training requirements. If you have not yet complied with this mandate, please contact the NEPPA office to schedule this mandatory training.

It has come to our attention that OSHA has sent a memo dated 10/16/2012 to all OSHA inspectors mandating an increased focus on work zone safety violations. The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices will be followed in inspecting work sites and any violations may result in citations. Handy pocket manuals are available from each individual state (such as Mass Highway in Massachusetts) to aid all crews in setting up a safe work zone that is in compliance with the MUTCD. You may have already heard this information on the radio as it has been broadcast over the airways quite often this spring. Consider this article a forewarning and also an encouragement to inform your crews to be most diligent in all work zone setups as we all seek to protect our employees and the general public from highway accidents at our work sites. If you are in need of a training session covering Work Zone Safety, please call the NEPPA office to schedule this training refresher.