HAZCOM 2012
GLOBAL HARMONIZATION SYSTEM
29 CFR 1910.1200
Background
What is OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard?
OSHA’s Hazard Communication standard (29 CFR
1910.1200), promulgated 1994, requires that
employees be informed of the hazards of chemical(s)
that they work with or are present in their work area.
OSHA Hazard Communication
Standard (continued)
The four elements of the program include:
 Ensuring chemicals are labeled
 Maintaining departmental/work unit/laboratory
chemical inventories
 Maintaining Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
 Training of personnel by Supervisor on the
chemicals that are used or in the workplace
OSHA collaborates with United Nation
Understanding the need for
consistent classifications of
hazards chemicals, OSHA
decided to better align with the
United Nations’ Globally
Harmonized System by adopting
a common classification and
labeling of chemicals.
To view details of this
report, double click picture.
Benefits of Adopting GHS
There are several benefits for OSHA in adopting the
Globally Harmonized system. In particular, it will
provide a common and coherent approach to
classifying chemicals and communicating hazard
information on labels and safety data sheets. Thus
resulting in:
• Consistency of information provided
• Increase comprehension of hazards
• Help address literacy problems
• Facilitation of international trade of chemicals
OSHA Publishes Revised Standard
In March 2012, the revised Hazard Communication Standard
became law and included an established timeframe for
implementation. The table below outlines the effective dates,
requirements and responsible parties.
Effective Completion Date
Requirement(s)
Who
December 1, 2013
Train employees on the new label elements and SDS
format.
Employers
June 1, 2015*
Comply with all modified provisions of this final rule,
except:
December 1, 2015
Distributors may ship products labeled by
manufacturers under the old system until December 1,
2015.
Chemical
manufacturers,
importers, distributors
and employers
June 1, 2016
Update alternative workplace labeling and hazard
communication program as necessary, and provide
additional employee training for newly identified
physical or health hazards.
Employers
Transition Period
Comply with either 29 CFR 1910.1200 (this final
standard), or the current standard, or both
All chemical
manufacturers,
importers, distributors
and employers
Benefit of HazCom2012
With the University’s mission to “serve North Carolina,
the United States, and the World through teaching,
research, and public service,” the new requirements
under HazCom 2012 will enhance clarity for
University employees positioned on campus as well as
abroad.
HazCom2012 Requirements
By December 2013, all University employees are to
have received general training regarding
“definitions”, “label” and “Safety Data Sheet” for
chemicals under new HazCom 2012 standard.
Supervisors are still required to provide job specific
training to employees on the chemicals used in their
area at least once and every time a new chemical is
added. The training must cover proper use, handling,
and personal protective equipment required for the
safe handling of the hazardous chemicals.
Definitions
HazCom 2012 will use a “specification” approach
rather than a “performance-oriented” approach.
Hazards will be classified thus providing a specific
criteria for classification of health and physical
hazards, as well as classification of mixtures.
Specifically:



Appendix A defines health and physical hazards
Appendix B includes additional parameters to evaluate health
hazard data
Appendix F pertains to Carcinogens
Labels
HazCom 2012 requires
chemical manufacturers and
importers to provide a
label that includes a
harmonized product
identifier, pictogram, signal
word, and hazard
statement for each hazard
class and category.
Precautionary statements
must also be provided.
Labels - Pictograms
Pictograms are required on labels to alert users of the chemical
hazards to which they may be exposed. Each pictogram consists
of a symbol on a white background framed within a red border
and represents a distinct hazard(s), such as health, physical, and
environmental . The pictogram on the label is determined by the
chemical hazard classification. There are nine pictograms with
only the environmental pictogram being optional.
Labels – Distinct Hazards
As previously stated, “Distinct hazards” are chemicals
in which there is scientific evidence that a health,
physical, and/or environmental hazards may occur.



Health Hazard - acute or chronic health affects may occur if
exposed.
Physical Hazard - a combustible liquid, a compressed gas,
explosive, flammable, an organic peroxide, an oxidizer,
pyrophoric, unstable (reactive) or water-reactive
Environmental Hazard – pose risk or danger to the
environment
Labels – Pictograms (Health)
Skull and Cross Bones will appear on the most severely toxic
chemicals. Depending on the toxicity of the chemical, the skull
and crossbones indicates that the chemical may be toxic or
fatal. Specifically it can mean:
 Acute Toxicity (fatal and toxic)
 Fatal in contact with skin
 Fatal if inhaled
 Fatal if swallowed
 Toxic if swallowed
 Toxic in contact with skin
Examples: Carbon Monoxide, Ammonia,
Acrylonitrile, Arsenic
Labels – Pictograms (Health)
Corrosive will appear on chemicals that have
corrosive properties. Depending on the properties
of the chemical(s) in the product, the corrosion
pictogram can mean:

May be corrosive to metals

Causes severe skin burns

Causes serious eye damage
Examples: Sodium Hydroxide (lye) and Sulfuric Acid
Labels – Pictograms (Health)
Exclamation Mark will appear on chemicals with less severe toxicity. This
symbol will never be used with “skull and crossbones” symbol. Depending
on the health hazard, it can mean:











Harmful if swallowed
Acute Toxicity (harmful)
Harmful in contact with skin
Skin Sensitizer
Harmful if inhaled
Respiratory Tract Irritant
Causes skin irritation
Irritant (skin and eye)
Causes serious eye irritation
May cause allergic skin reaction
Hazardous to Ozone Layer
Examples: Isopropyl Alcohol, Ethyl Alcohol, Acetone
Labels – Pictograms (Health)
Health Hazard will appear on chemicals with less severe toxicity. This
symbol will never be used with “skull and crossbones” symbol. Depending
on the health hazard, it can mean:

Carcinogen

Mutagenicity

Reproductive Toxicity

Respiratory Sensitizer

Target Organ Toxicity

Aspiration Toxicity
Examples: Carbon Monoxide, Hexanes
Labels – Pictograms (Health/Physical)
Gas Cylinder can cause fires, explosions, oxygen
deficient atmospheres, toxic gas exposures as well as the
innate physical hazard associated with cylinders under
high pressure





Gases under pressure
Compressed gases
Liquefied gases
Refrigerated liquefied gases
Dissolved gases
Examples: Butane and Propane
Labels – Pictograms (Physical)
Exploding Bomb symbol will appear on chemicals that
have explosive properties.



Unstable Explosives
Self-reactive substances and mixtures
Organic peroxides
Examples: Nitroglycerine and TNT, Gunpowder, Rocket
propellants, and Pyrotechnic mixtures (fireworks).
Labels – Pictograms (Physical)
Flame symbol will appear on chemicals that are flammable.
Depending on the properties of the chemical(s) and the
product, the flame can mean:








Extremely flammable gas
Extremely flammable aerosol
Self-Heating
Flammable aerosol
Extremely flammable liquid and vapor
Highly flammable liquid and vapor
Flammable liquid and vapor
Flammable solid
Examples: Butane, Pyrophorics, Organic Peroxides
Labels – Pictograms (Physical)
Flame over circle symbol will appear on chemicals that are:


Oxidizers
Oxidizing gases, liquids, and solids
Examples: Hydrogen Peroxide and Nitrous Oxide
Labels – Pictograms (Environment)
Environment symbol will appear on chemicals which
are acutely hazardous to fish, crustacean, or aquatic
plants. This is the only symbol that is not mandatory.

Aquatic Toxicity

Acute hazards to the aquatic environment

Chronic hazards to the aquatic environment
Label – Signal Word
A Signal Word is used to indicate
the relative level of severity of
hazard and alert the reader to a
potential hazard on the label. The
signal words used are:


"Danger" - used for the more
severe hazards
“Warning" - used for less
severe hazards.
Labels- Hazard Statement
A Hazard Statement describes the nature of the
hazard(s) of a chemical, including where appropriate
the degree of hazard.
All of the applicable hazard
statements must appear on
the label.
Labels – Precautionary Statement
A Precautionary Statement
is a statement that describes
recommended measures that
should be taken to minimize
or prevent adverse effects.
Label –
What do UNC Employees need to do?
Effective June 1 2015, all chemicals received
at the University should have the required
label. Any material transferred to another
container must also have the same label
versus just chemical/product name.
Safety Data Sheets
HazCom 2012 requires Safety Data Sheets - SDS
(formerly known as Material Safety Data Sheets –
MSDS) to use a specified 16-section standardized
format.
Under the new format, employees wanting information
regarding Exposure Controls/Personal Protection will
always refer to Section 8 of the Safety Data Sheets.
Safety Data Sheets
To improve employee understanding, information
listed on the label, like Precautionary Statement, will
be same information the employee will find on the
Safety Data Sheet.
The standardize 16 sections is broken down as
follows:
Safety Data Sheet – 16 Sections
1.
2.
3.
Identification of the substance
or mixture and of the supplier
11.
12.
Hazards identification
Composition/information on
ingredients Substance/Mixture
4.
First aid measures
5.
Firefighting measures
6.
Accidental release measures
7.
Handling and storage
8.
Exposure controls/personal protection
9.
Physical and chemical properties
10.
Stability and reactivity
13.
14.
15.
16.
Toxicological
Ecological information
(non mandatory)
Disposal considerations
(non mandatory)
Transport information
(non mandatory)
Regulatory information
(non mandatory)
Other information including information
on preparation and revision of the SDS
Safety Data Sheets –
What do UNC Employees need to do?
By December 2015, distributors must provide the new
format of Safety Data Sheets. Supervisors need to
update the Safety Data Sheet notebooks and/or
computer links in their job specific area to the newly
format sheets.
Remember SDS(s) must be accessible to employees at
all times.
NC OSHA– Enforcement
By June 2016, NC OSHA will begin to enforce
compliance with HazCom 2012 by conducting site
evaluations.
Environment, Health and Safety will continue to assist
University departments with the implementation of the
specific requirements covered in this training.
Resources OSHA’s HazCom2012 Web Page
OSHA has
developed an
extensive web
page to provide
additional
resources for
employees at
http://www.osha.gov/dsg/hazcom/index.html
Resources Guidance & Outreach
Supervisors can find printable
guidance material that can be utilized
when training employees.
• Guidance
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»
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OSHA Briefs
Fact Sheet
Quick Cards
Conclusion
If you have any questions regarding this training, other trainings,
or any Environment, Health and Safety concern, please contact
EHS at (919) 962-5507.
In order to receive credit for this training, you must complete the
following post test.