OSHA aligns with Health Canada for chemical labeling

Chemical labeling regulations are constantly evolving, especially as the effects of globalization make distribution and sale of chemicals increasingly international. One small step the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has taken recently to address inconsistencies in regulation is to partner with Health Canada, OSHA’s counterpart to the north. 

“We work in a global environment with varying and sometimes conflicting national and international requirements,” said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health David Michaels. “Through this partnership, OSHA and Health Canada will work together to reduce inconsistencies among hazard communication regulations and provide concise information to protect workers exposed to hazardous chemicals without reducing current protections.”

The aim of this partnership is to get workplaces and manufacturers in the United States and Canada on the same page regarding their treatment and procedure involving toxic chemicals. This year, OSHA unveiled a new set of standards for chemical labeling that mandates a series of information sets, from visual pictograms to instructions and several different levels of warnings. 

Ultimately, creating cross-border consistency in regard to chemical labeling will help workers who encounter dangerous chemicals to stay as safe as possible. With transparency and legibility, individuals can access the information they need to know before interacting with a product. 

Chemical manufacturers risk falling behind regulatory protocol if their custom label printing strategy isn’t flexible to changing standards. One of the best ways to implement a flexible label strategy is to invest in an industrial label printer like those we sell at DuraFast. Contact us today to learn more about how this important investment can help your enterprise remain compliant in the face of changing guidelines for drum labels.