Chemical hazard classifications quick guide
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While regulations haven’t changed in several years, OSHA’s hazard communication standard (HCS) (29 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) §1910.1200) remains a compliance pain point for businesses, as it’s one of the agency’s most frequently cited standards, cited 1,947 times in fiscal year (FY) 2021.
It’s critical for manufacturers and importers of chemicals to be able to not only identify chemical hazards, but also to classify these hazards so that workers and downstream users can be informed about and better understand these hazards as required by OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard. Employers who decide to conduct hazard classifications to ensure the accuracy and completeness of information provided to them by suppliers will also benefit.
Who must conduct hazard classifications?
Only chemical manufacturers and importers are required to perform hazard classifications on the chemicals they produce or import. Under the HCS, an employer that manufactures, processes, formulates, blends, mixes, repackages, or otherwise changes the composition of a hazardous chemical is considered a “chemical manufacturer.” Distributors and employers may also choose to conduct hazard classifications if they are concerned about the adequacy of the hazard information received for the chemicals they use in their business or distribute to others.
Guidance on the allocation of the hazard communication label elements is provided in an OSHA Brief on Labels and Pictograms, which can be found here.