NEWSWATCH

OSHA's New Hazard Classification Guidance Assists Manufacturers, Importers, Employers

In February, OSHA released new hazard classification guidance for chemical importers and manufacturers that discusses how to identify and classify chemical hazards so that workers and downstream users can better understand them as required by the agency’s Hazard Communication Standard. According to OSHA, the document might also be useful for employers who conduct hazard classifications to ensure the accuracy and completeness of information provided by suppliers. The new document provides guidance on the processes involved in hazard classification, which OSHA describes as selecting chemicals to evaluate, collecting data, analyzing collected data, and recording the rationale behind the results obtained. The document also includes guidance for classifying hazards covered by the HazCom Standard. The 432-page document, “Hazard Classification Guidance for Manufacturers, Importers, and Employers,” is available as a PDF from OSHA’s website.