If you’re not sure, you have by Dec. 1, 2013, to find out. That’s the deadline the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set for all employees to be trained on its new rules regarding chemical hazards.

Granted, you don’t work extensively with chemicals, but think about this for a moment. You do have exposure to chemicals on the job, whether it’s solvents and lubricants or various chemicals for cleaning. Even transferring chemicals from one container to another can put you at risk for hazardous exposures.

To improve employee safety, OSHA adopted a new chemical classification system, known officially as the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals, or GHS for short.

What this means is that chemical labels and safety data sheets (formerly material safety data sheets) will not only look different, but contain different information than you’re used to seeing when handling chemicals.

In order to be in compliance with OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard, all employees must be trained on the key components of these new labels and safety data sheets. Furthermore, the agency can cite companies whose employees don’t receive the necessary training by the Dec. 1 deadline.

The above image is what you might see on a chemical label. It means that the chemical is flammable and can explode under certain circumstances. In other words, handle with extreme care.

In fact, there are several new pictograms, each one revealing a different chemical hazard. And pictograms are really just the beginning. There is a lot of new information you and your employees need to know about chemical safety today  — it’s the law.

Help is available.

We have good news. These safety experts have prepared everything you need to know about GHS in a variety of formats that will assist with training and reinforcement.   

Clement Communications – www.clement.com – 1-800-CLEMENT

Andrew Harmdierks,

The bottom line? You and your employees will be ready if OSHA shows up at your site come Dec. 2, 2013.