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OSHA is readying to publish a new Letter of Interpretation that provides a further explanation of labeling rules for importing and exporting hazardous chemicals under the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS 2012). OSHA issued the letter as a response to an inquiry from the American Coatings Association (ACA) around labeling best practices for goods that will be […]

The December 1, 2015 OSHA deadline has now passed for all distributors of hazardous chemicals to begin sending only GHS-labeled products and safety data sheets. What does this mean for American workplaces?  Well, theoretically, now every hazardous material that ships will feature the new GHS-compliant labels. However, in practice, it’s likely the case that many […]

The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs has published its fall agenda for federal agencies, which includes over 70 proposed rules, prerules, or final rules for the Department of Labor and/or OSHA. (OSHA’s rulemaking process is a multi-stage affair that usually lasts several years, as this OSHA flowchart explains.) The new agenda contains timelines for […]

What is Ammonia? Ammonia is a colorless gas with a characteristically pungent odor. One of the most common industrial chemicals in the U.S., ammonia is used primarily as an agricultural fertilizer. Other uses for ammonia include: Potential Ammonia Health Hazards Ammonia gas reacts instantly with the moisture in the skin, eyes, mouth, and respiratory tract […]

What is Xylene? Xylene is a colorless liquid chemical with a somewhat greasy consistency. This chemical is present in small quantities in gasoline and other fuels, comprising approximately 0.5-1% of crude oil. Millions of tons of xylene are produced each year, as the chemical is used as a solvent in the printing, leather, and rubber […]

This month, Mexico announced that it has made GHS alignment mandatory beginning in 2018. The official announcement, published in the Official Journal of the Federation of Mexico, states that during the three-year phase-in period, older standards can continue to be used. Mexico based its alignment on Revision 5 (Rev. 5) of the GHS, first published […]

According to OSHA, eye injuries cost U.S. businesses more than $300 million per year in lost production time, medical expenses and worker compensation, and NIOSH reports that about 2,000 U.S. workers suffer job-related eye injuries each day. Clearly, eye injuries are a major concern for both workers and employers. October is Eye Injury Prevention Month, […]

A previous post concluded with the advice to manage MSD risk factors and mitigate risks properly. That brings up another question: How do you manage MSD risk factors and identify the appropriate metrics to manage your ergonomics process properly? Here are 5 key metrics to track. A risk profile is critical to identify where exposures […]

At this year’s National Safety Council Congress and Expo in Atlanta, OSHA provided important insight into its thinking around inspections and enforcement directives. Delivering a keynote speech at the event, OSHA head Dr. David Michaels stressed that OSHA will be making changes intended to bolster the effectiveness of enforcement. There were several areas Dr. Michaels […]

OSHA named the Top 10 OSHA violations of 2015 at this year’s National Safety Council Congress and Expo in Atlanta. Once again, Hazard Communication maintained a stranglehold on the #2 spot, second only to Fall Protection. Here is the complete Top 10, as well as the listings for previous years: Most Cited Violations of 2015 […]