OSHA’s Proposal to Adopt the Globally Harmonized System for Hazard Communication 

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Presented By

• Jennifer Silk, former Deputy Director of Standards and Guidance for OSHA and current Training Advisor to the United Nations Institute of Training and Research
• Denese Deeds, CIH, Industrial Health & Safety Consultants, Inc.

Course Level

Who Will Benefit

The program will benefit safety and health professionals who are responsible for preparing labels and safety data sheets, implementing workplace  hazard communication programs, or using hazard communication information to determine appropriate protective measures.

Course Description

OSHA’s proposal to align its Hazard Communication Standard with globally harmonized provisions is the first major rulemaking action of the agency by the new administration.  GHS provides specific criteria to characterize health, physical, and environmental hazards of chemicals.  It also includes harmonized label elements, and an agreed format for safety data sheets.  

• Jennifer Silk will explain the provisions of the proposed rule, and discuss the differences between the proposal and the existing requirements of the Hazard Communication Standard.  The proposed revisions involve extensive changes to the approach to evaluating hazards, as well as to communicating those hazards on container labels and safety data sheets.
• Denese Deeds will discuss the implications of adopting the GHS for safety and health professionals, and the changes to existing programs that the revised standard will require. Specific topics will include how the revised standard will affect your current written hazard communication program, your in-plant labeling systems and training programs.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion, participants will be able to:

• Describe OSHA’s proposal to revise the Hazard Communication Standard
• Discuss the differences between the proposed revisions and the current standard
• Identify changes that will be needed in workplace hazard communication programs
• Prepare to implement  proposed revisions

Presenter Biographies

Jennifer Silk chaired the international coordinating group that managed the development of the Globally Harmonized System for Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS), and represented the US government during the negotiations.  She was also the US expert to the United Nations Subcommittee of Experts on the GHS.  Retired from OSHA, where she was Deputy Director of Standards and Guidance, Jennifer is currently working as a consultant, and is a Training Advisor to the United Nations Institute of Training and Research on issues related to the GHS.

Denese Deeds is co-founder of Industrial Health & Safety Consultants, Inc (IH&SC) where she is the Director of Chemical Regulatory Services. In that function she prepares MSDS, labels and other hazard communication documents, files international chemical registrations and assists companies with overall chemical regulatory compliance. She has 38 years in the field and is a recognized expert in her field. Prior to founding IH&SC she worked as an industrial hygienist for General Electric and Westinghouse.

Important Certification Information

This TeleWeb is ABIH approved for 0.42 IH certification maintenance (CM) points, and has been awarded 0.25 continuance of certification (COCs), and 0.25 continuing education units (CEUs).

Individual participants seeking CM points, COCs, and CEUs MUST:

• participate in the live TeleWeb or

• review the CD and complete the final exam and evaluation

• *submit a processing fee Post-TeleWeb ($35 per student)

All final exam/certificate request forms must be received within one month of purchasing the archive. Materials received after this set completion time will not be accepted or awarded CM points, CEUs, or COCs.  Local Sections - Please contact the Distance Learning Program Manager at cminan@aiha.org for a submission deadline.

Course Materials

Every site registered or archive purchased will include materials prepared by the speaker, which may be duplicated for each participant. Handout materials will be available for a limited time only after the TeleWeb.

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