New chemical labelling standards are set to be introduced in the US to tie the country close to global systems.
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With Version 3 of Europe's REACH programme well on the road to adoption, the US Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has announced a revision of its Hazard Communication Standard which, it claims, will prevent around 43 deaths, 585 injuries and improve US annual productivity by some $475m.
The new Standard is being introduced to align with the UN's Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals and is set to be fully in place by 2016 according to the OSHA. It is aimed squarely at workers and employers to ensure better consistency and quality of chemical labelling.
Key changes include specific criteria for hazard classification; consistent labelling for both domestic manufacturers and importers to include hazard and precautionary statements; 16-section safety data sheets and a programme of compulsory training to be completed by the beginning of December 2013.