Department of Labor September 12, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

OSHA, other Federal agencies, and stakeholder representatives have participated in long-term international negotiations to develop a Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). The GHS has been adopted by the United Nations, and there is an international goal for as many countries as possible to implement the GHS by 2008. The GHS includes harmonized provisions for classification of chemicals for their health, physical, and environmental effects, as well as for labels on containers and safety data sheets (SDS). Adoption of the GHS by OSHA would require modifications to the Agency's Hazard Communication Standard (HCS). For example, an order of information would be established for safety data sheets. In this notice, OSHA is providing further information about the GHS, the benefits of adopting it, and its potential impact on the HCS. OSHA is seeking input from the public on a number of issues related to implementation of the GHS. The Agency is simultaneously announcing the availability of a new guide on its Web site at https://www.osha.gov that describes the GHS.