workplaces (other than business offices) employees use some chemical that may be harmful to the body. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires every employer to evaluate the hazards present on the workplace, to develop written exposure control plans, to provide engineering controls and personal protective equipment, and to train employees. This includes the presence of hazardous chemicals in the workplace. Hazard Communication Standard (HCS), which will be phased in over the next three years. The new Standard still requires manufacturers or importers to make certain determinations about the chemicals they produce or import, to label the chemical containers and to provide documents for downstream customers. Employers are still required to list their workplace chemicals, ensure proper labeling, make safety data sheets available, and train employees. Chemicals that were exempted from most requirements then are still exempt; this includes general consumer products and business office products used according to the manufacturers intended use and in similar volumes and frequency as used in the home or the business office.
Last date updated on April, 2024