Last year, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reported that Hazard Communication infractions were the second most commonly cited workplace violations. Not only does this put employees and stakeholders at risk, the organization in question can face significant fines as well as damage to its reputation.
New GHS (Global Harmonization System) labeling elements means that organizations that work with potentially hazardous chemicals and compounds need to increase their efforts towards compliance, and ensure that their team members have been trained on the newest best practices.
According to OSHA, GHS chemical labels need to contain at least six elements, outlined below:
- Product Identifier
- Signal words (Danger, Warning, etc.)
- Pictograms (One or more of the nine images that represent specific hazards)
- Hazard Statements (Physical, Health or Environment Hazards)
- Precautionary Statements
- Company Information (Manufacturer/Distributor identification)
This latest set of guidelines was adopted to help mitigate workplace risks and avoid employee accidents or potential injuries. This global system should also better help protect those working for major chemical importer/exporters, as American workers often see labels and safety data sheets from other countries.
As of December 1, 2015, chemical manufacturers, distributors and employers must use this new system in order to ship any of their potentially hazardous chemicals or compounds. This means that any products that were manufactured before this date will likely have to update their labels.
An in-house labeling solution can help your organization avoid any costly fines or potential harm to its reputation. The Epson TM-C3500 and Epson GP-C831 can print GHS-compliant labels in full color, eliminating manufacturers’ reliance on expensive third-party suppliers. GHS labeling remains a key focus of OSHA, and organizations must be able to guarantee that their products are in compliance.