Lion's office will be closed on Friday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day. For help with online training, please contact support@lion.com.
Search

Mandatory GHS Compliance Starts Today!

Posted on 6/1/2015 by Roger Marks

Now that the June 1 deadline for compliance with OSHA’s revised “GHS” Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) has arrived, it’s critical that EHS managers and safety personnel understand how to comply with a “global” rule. Industry in the US is used to ensuring compliance with a variety of domestic agency regulations from EPA, US DOT, OSHA, and others, and even international rules like the IATA or IMDG hazmat shipping standards. But for businesses that offer or receive international chemical shipments, the “G” in GHS holds important implications.

This blog has covered many facets of GHS compliance since OSHA adopted the standards in 2012. The deadline for compliance is today, June 1.

GHS Flammable Label

GHS and the Law

GHS stands for Globally Harmonized System (of Chemical Classification and Labeling). The “System” is an international model regulation created by the United Nations. GHS is not, in-and-of-itself, an international law.

Unlike an international law, which sets a uniform rule or rules for all countries to follow, the GHS model regulation allows each nation to adopt parts of the system and modify the rules to fit their country’s own needs. In the US, OSHA is the lead GHS agency and has adopted most GHS definitions and standards into its Hazard Communication Standard (HCS), found at 29 CFR 1910.1200.

What It Means for “Global” Shipments

Because GHS is not a set of mandatory standards, compliance in one country does not necessarily translate to compliance in another country. If you ship globally, it is critical to know what parts of the GHS, if any, the destination country has adopted and what changes they may have made to these rules.

For instance, OSHA requires product labels on containers in US workplaces to be written in English. An accurate translation into one or more languages is not forbidden. [29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(2)]

If you ship to a country that requires a different language on containers, it is your responsibility to know this before signing off on the shipment. If your product labels do not comply with the destination country’s standards, you may incur shipping delays or even civil penalties.

To help shippers manage the ongoing worldwide implementation of these GHS standards, the UN committee in charge of GHS provides an international schedule and key contacts here.

GHS Training for Managers and Employees

Make sure your employees are prepared to protect themselves under OSHA’s HCS with the Hazard Communication Online Course, updated to reflect the new GHS standards in effect as of June 1, 2015. For EHS managers who oversee their site’s HazCom program, Lion offers the Managing Hazard Communication Online Course.


Tags: GHS, HazCom, new rules, osha

Find a Post

Compliance Archives

Lion - Quotes

The instructor took a rather drab set of topics and brought them to life with realistic real-life examples.

Tom Berndt

HSE Coordinator

Energetic/enthusiastic! Made training enjoyable, understandable and fun!

Amanda Walsh

Hazardous Waste Professional

I really enjoy your workshops. Thank you for such a great program and all the help Lion has provided me over the years!

George Chatman

Hazardous Material Pharmacy Technician

Very good. I have always appreciated the way Lion Tech develops, presents and provides training and materials.

John Troy

Environmental Specialist

The exercises in the DOT hazardous materials management course are especially helpful in evaluating your understanding of course information.

Morgan Bliss

Principal Industrial Hygienist

Excellent class, super instructor, very easy to follow. No rushing through material. Would like to take his class again.

Lawrence Patterson

EH&S Facility Maintenance & Security Manager

Excellent job. Made what is very dry material interesting. Thoroughly explained all topics in easy-to-understand terms.

David Hertvik

Vice President

The instructor did an excellent job presenting a very dry subject; keeping everyone interested and making it enjoyable.

Marc Bugg

Hazardous Waste Professional

The instructor was energetic and made learning fun compared to dry instructors from other training providers.

Andy D’Amato

International Trade Compliance Manager

I have over 26 years of environmental compliance experience, and it has been some time since I have attended an environmental regulations workshop. I attended this course as preparation for EHS Audits for my six plants, and it was exactly what I was looking for.

Frank Sizemore

Director of Regulatory Affairs

Download Our Latest Whitepaper

In most cases, injuries that occur at work are work-related and must be recorded to maintain compliance with OSHA regulations. This report shows you the 9 types of injuries you don’t record.

Latest Whitepaper

By submitting your phone number, you agree to receive recurring marketing and training text messages. Consent to receive text messages is not required for any purchases. Text STOP at any time to cancel. Message and data rates may apply. View our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.