The Textile Care Allied Trades Association has reminded members that they must comply with the training requirement of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA's) revised Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) by 1 December 2013.
Any company that produces, distributes or uses chemicals must meet the training deadline and OSHA has revised the standard so that it is in line the United Nations' Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals.
The revised standard includes two significant changes: Companies must use new labelling and a standardised format for Safety Data Sheets (SDS), formerly known as Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS). Both changes are designed to improve workers' understanding of the hazards associated with the chemicals in their workplace.
Chemicals are already being supplied with the new labels and data sheets, so worker training needs to be completed at an early stage in the transition.
Full details on the revised standards are available at the Osha hazards communication website (www.osha.gov/dsg/hazcom/index.html).
