On February 16, 2021 (86 FR 9576), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published a proposed ruling in the federal register to modify the Hazard Communication Standard (HazCom or HCS) to conform to the United Nations’ Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) Revision 7 (GHS, Rev. 7), to address issues that arose during the implementation of the 2012 update to the HCS, and provide better alignment with other U.S. agencies and international trading partners, without lowering overall protections of the standard. OSHA has preliminarily determined that the proposed revisions to the HCS will reduce costs and burdens while also improving the quality and consistency of information provided to employers and employees regarding chemical hazards and associated protective measures. OSHA has preliminarily determined that the proposed revisions will enhance the effectiveness of the HCS by ensuring employees are appropriately apprised of the chemical hazards to which they may be exposed, thus reducing the incidence of chemical-related occupational illnesses and injuries. The proposed modifications to the standard include revised criteria for classification of certain health and physical hazards, revised provisions for updating labels, new labeling provisions for small containers, technical amendments related to the contents of safety data sheets (SDSs), and related revisions to definitions of terms used in the standard. Please submit comments, requests for hearing and other information requests by April 19, 2021.  

Download the OSHA federal register using this link (25 MB)

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/02/16/2020-28987/hazard-communication-standard