HAZCOMM 2012 ? Why Many Businesses Still Aren?t in Compliance

SGIA attended the Society for Chemical Hazard Communication’s Fall Meeting on September 27 and 28, 2016. Among the topics discussed was the 2012 Hazard Communication Standard (HAZCOMM), which became effective in June 2016. Many companies in the United States are not currently in compliance with these most recent HAZCOMM regulations. The reasons for this vary, but are mostly easy fixes. OSHA gave the top five reasons for HAZCOMM violations:

1. Failure to have a written program.
2. Failure to provide sufficient information and training materials.
3. Lack of training on shipping labels, workplace labeling and SDS, and how to obtain and use appropriate hazard information.
4. Failure to maintain an MSDS for each hazardous chemical or not having an MSDS readily accessible during each work shift.
5. Failure on the part of manufacturers or importers to obtain or develop a safety data sheet for each hazardous chemical they produce or import.

These top five violations have been the same over the past three years, and many businesses are repeat offenders. Make sure you are in compliance by avoiding these mistakes and properly training employees on how to deal with chemicals in the workplace. SGIA’s Right to Know program is a resource for businesses to help them through the training process. Sign up to receive the most up-to-date regulatory and legislative information on issues impacting your business.