June 1, 2015.  Are you compliant? Chemical manufacturers, importers, distributors, and employers must be in compliance with all modified provisions of the Hazard Communication Standard (with minor exceptions). All of the hazardous chemicals are to be classified, and compliant safety data sheets (SDS) are to be in place/used.

 

But what about the old MSDS documents -- toss them, right? WRONG. MSDS (and the new SDS, too) are generally considered exposure records and must be maintained for 30 years under the record-keeping rules.

• Washington State does allow an alternative. See it here >>  
• Idaho and Oregon are not as flexible. See their rule here >>

By the way, if you are finding your GHS training needs some help (or is overloading your staff) consider some free online training. It is interactive and has short quizzes to test employee retention on the new placard symbols and the new required SDS format layout. Click here for more information >> 

EPA will be holding a public meeting on its proposed rule published in the Federal Register of April 6, 2015, involving proposed reporting and record-keeping requirements for certain chemical substances when they are manufactured or processed at the nanoscale. Specifically, the proposal involves one-time reporting for existing nanoscale materials and one-time reporting for new discrete nanoscale materials before they are manufactured or processed. As stated in the proposed rule, the public meeting will provide an opportunity for further discussion of the proposed requirements and is intended to facilitate comments on all aspects of the proposed rule. The public meeting will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on June 11 in Washington, DC. Requests to participate in the meeting must be received by June 1. Learn more here >>  

In recent years, scientific evidence has begun to accumulate that indicates taking aspirin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on a daily basis may lower the risk of developing colorectal cancer. Now, a new study provides more precise information on who might benefit from this particular prevention strategy, as well as who might not. Click here for more information >> 

Formaldehyde is a naturally-occurring organic compound that can be in gas or liquid form. In widespread use, formaldehyde's toxicity and volatility make exposure a significant consideration for human health. Access the AIHA Center here >> 

OSHA's Final Rule on Confined Spaces in Construction (link here >>) was published May 4 in the Federal Register, closing the book on a rulemaking process that began more than a decade ago.  

 

The rule, which becomes effective August 3, 2015, will provide construction workers with protections similar to those provided to workers in manufacturing and general industry, with some differences tailored to the construction industry. The rule requires employers in construction to share vital safety information and to continuously monitor hazards, according to an OSHA press release (link here >>).

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