Safe Handling Standards May Shift

Printers may soon be updating their material safety data sheets and product labels for pressroom chemicals. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) says it may amend its mainstay Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) to make it consistent with international hazard classification and labeling standards.

Last September, the organization issued an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking aimed at integrating the Globally Harmonized System of Hazard Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS), developed under a mandate from the United Nations, into the HCS—the first major change since its creation in 1985.

The GHS, formally adopted by the U.N. five years ago, should not be viewed as a regulation but as an internationally recognized system for chemical hazard evaluation and labeling. The integration of the GHS into the HCS will require significant changes to the procedures currently used for chemical hazard classification, product labeling and material safety data sheets (MSDS). [Note: under the GHS, Safety Data Sheets (SDS) will replace the familiar MSDS.]

Although training is not addressed by the GHS, OSHA has acknowledged that additional training will be necessary to familiarize employees with the new requirements. Adoption of the GHS also may require changes to other OSHA standards, such as the flammable liquids regulation.

Mixture formulators and producers, such as ink manufacturers and fountain solution providers, will face significant adjustments. Under the existing HCS rules, mixture producers basically followed the 1.0-0.1% cutoffs: 1% or more for non-carcinogens, and 0.1% for carcinogenic materials.

To a certain extent, cutoffs will continue to exist under the GHS (based on the hazard class), but a more complex and systematic tiered approach usually will be required to assess the hazards of the mixture. This results in more specific and consistent health hazard classifications than currently exist. Theoretically, this approach will produce labels and SDSs consistent in content and format, regardless of supplier.

Although there will undoubtedly be some growing pains, the benefits of GHS adoption promise to be worth the effort.

Improved comprehensibility of product labels and safety data sheets should translate into improved employee safety. And one set of labels and safety data sheets will suffice for multinational firms.

The magnitude of changes to labels, material safety data sheets and hazard evaluation procedures—along with the development and distribution of various electronic tools—will require a lengthy phase in, with GHS implementation likely in 2008, says OSHA. www.osha.gov