The United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires the labeling of hazardous chemicals under international standards. OSHA labels typically include a numbering system that defines the hazard and the hazard level. The labels must also indicate the nature of the hazard (explosive, flammable, corrosive, etc.). OSHA labels are often headed with CAUTION, WARNING or DANGER depending on the severity of the hazard.
Importers or manufacturers are required to determine the health risks of the chemicals they produce and sell. Using this data, they must create warnings and information regarding the safe handling of said chemicals. The name of the chemical(s), the allowable amount of environmental exposure, safe handling methods, personal protective equipment that should be used, and the potential health hazards from exposure would be included on these labels.
Company information must also be provided. It is the duty of the manufacturers, importers and distributors to ensure that every container of hazardous chemicals they transport are correctly labeled.If the chemical is transferred from its original packaging to a new container, the employer has to label the new container as well with the same information.
OSHA labels have no specific requirements regarding size, colour or text used, but they must be clearly legible and displayed on a section of the container that will be noticed. The main requirements of OSHA labels are that they must always be easily read and that every container that holds a hazardous chemical must have a label.
OSHA does exempt certain chemicals from labeling requirements because they are covered under other regulations. These chemicals include pesticides, spirits, consumer products, wood products, tobacco products, hazardous waste, ionizing radiation and biological hazards. Chemicals under the Toxic substance Control Act or Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act are also exempt from OSHA labels. However, these products are regulated under another administration and will have their own labeling requirements.
This program is designed to assist you in complying with OSHA Regulations. The video will talk about how and why OSHA was created, when they began and some additional information on what they do.
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