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ARTICLE · 10 SEPTEMBER 2024

Redefining Workplace Safety: OSHA's Updated Hazard Communication Rule Explained

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In May 2024, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a final rule to amend the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS), aligning it more closely with the seventh revision of the United Nations' Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals.

United StatesEmployment and HR
Ayah Housini
Ayah Housini
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In May 2024, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a final rule to amend the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS), aligning it more closely with the seventh revision of the United Nations' Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS).

This amendment aims to improve communication about chemical hazards and enhance worker safety by ensuring employees are well informed about chemical hazards they may encounter. This, in turn, is expected to reduce the occurrence of chemical-related occupational illnesses and injuries.

Key Updates to the HCS

The amended HCS introduces several important updates:

  1. Revised Definitions and Classifications: The final rule revises definitions and hazard classifications to be more consistent with the latest GHS standards. This includes new classifications for aerosols, desensitized explosives, and flammable gases. The updates also provide more detailed criteria for the

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