OSHA allies with chemical hazard group to boost safety

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced on Monday a renewed alliance with the Society for Chemical Hazard Communication to help mitigate worker exposure to chemicals hazards.

The Annandale, Virginia-based professional society works with professionals to promote knowledge and awareness in areas of chemical hazard communication, including worker safety, toxicology, and risk analysis.

“American workers use thousands of chemicals every day, and every year tens of thousands of workers are made sick or die from occupational exposures to hazardous chemicals,” Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels said in a statement. “Our renewed partnership with SCHC will extend our efforts toward ensuring healthier workers and safer workplaces.”

Under terms of the renewed agreement, OSHA and the chemical hazard society will work jointly to produce information materials that apprise workers and employers of their rights and responsibilities of what? under the Occupational Safety and Health Act.

The partnership also will look to educate companies about the pending implementation of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals. In March 2012, OSHA ruled that as of June 1, 2015, all chemical manufacturers, importers, distributors, and employers must use GHS-compliant labels on hazardous materials in order to comply with OSHA’s revised Hazard Communication Standard.