Labels : What you need to know

This topic covers the labeling requirements of OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard (HazCom), including the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) amendments, which applies to any employer whose workers may be exposed to hazardous chemicals. Manufacturers must label every hazardous chemical container with key information on the substance it contains, and worker training must include an explanation of the labeling system.

The purpose of labels, tags, and markings is to give employees an immediate warning of hazardous chemicals and a reminder that more detailed information is available.

Each container of a hazardous chemical that is shipped must be properly labeled, tagged, or marked. A “container” is any bag, barrel, bottle, box, can, cylinder, drum, reaction vessel, storage tank, or the like that contains a hazardous chemical.

An HNOC does not have to be addressed on the container label. “HNOC” means an adverse physical or health effect identified during the classification process that does not meet the specified criteria for the physical and health hazard classes addressed in Appendices A, B, and C of the rule. This does not extend coverage to adverse physical and health effects for which there is a hazard class addressed in the rule, but the effect either falls below the cutoff value or concentration limit of the hazard class or is under a GHS hazard category that has not been adopted by OSHA, such as Acute Toxicity Category 5.

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