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OSHA instructs compliance officers on how to enforce

the revised hazard communication standard. BY BETSY BECKWITH

he Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued instruc- tions to its compliance officers on how to ensure consistent enforcement of the revised Hazard Communication Standard (HCS). OSHA revised the HCS in March 2012 to align with the United Nations Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals and the revisions are intended to improve the quality, consistency and clarity of chemical hazard information that workers receive. Specifically, the revised standard changes hazard determination to the specific require- ments for hazard classification of chemicals, standardizes label elements for containers of hazardous chemicals, and specifies the format and required content for Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) - previously referred to as a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS).

As a reminder, remember that an SDS is a docu- ment that contains information on the use, storage, handling and emergency procedures related to the hazards of a material or chemical in the workplace. Distributors are responsible for ensuring that their customers are provided a copy of the SDS and employers must have an SDS for each hazardous chemical that they use. Most professional automotive recyclers facilities have on site chemicals that require SDSs such as used oil, different types/grades of antifreeze, transmission fluid, fuel, refrigerant, and lead acid batteries.

ARA urges members to ensure that the new stan-

dard’s requirements are in place at their facilities as the publication of this new OSHA Instruction is sure to bring workplaces under greater scrutiny.

The new 129 page instruction outlines the changes that:

• revise the hazard classification of chemicals, • standardize label elements for containers of haz- ardous chemicals, and

• specify the format and required content for SDSs. The instruction also explains how the revised stan- dard is to be enforced during its transition period

Your Premier Safety Resources

A great resource for Automotive Recycling Safety Education is the ARA University and materials provided from the ARA Safety Committee. Check out ARAUniversity.org or email betsy@a-r-a.org to be included in the news and offerings from the ARA Safety Committee.

September-October 2015 | Automotive Recycling 51