CHICAGO — June 1 isn’t D-Day — but, then again, it sort of is as far as global chemical labeling standards and your business are concerned.
According to the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) (29 CFR 1910.1200(g)) requires that the chemical manufacturer, distributor or importer provide Safety Data Sheets (SDS) (formerly known as MSDS, or Material Safety Data Sheets) for each hazardous chemical to downstream users, such as dry cleaners, to communicate information on these hazards.
To clarify, OSHA has new standardized labels and forms and requirements for training your employees on hazardous chemicals. The OSHA deadline to comply: June 1.
In regards to the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard, “these regulations are written and designed to protect the workers,” says Fred Schwarzmann, president, A.L. Wilson Chemical Co. “By being compliant, dry cleaners are working to protect their workers and businesses.”
Operators must have new OSHA Safety Data Sheets (SDS) available, pictograms for individual products, new standard labels and employee training on hazardous chemicals in their work area.
“We don’t want to have an inspector come into a dry cleaner and pick you as the ‘canary in the coal mine’ and get cited and fined,” says Schwarzmann.
“Pre-existing OSHA data sheets, employee training and labeling requirements have been around for decades,” he points out. “Today, we’re obligated to comply with the Hazard Communication Standard, but on June 1 a new updated standard becomes mandatory.
“We are evolving from an old standard to a new one.”
An OSHA newsletter indicates the agency wants its new materials to be “presented in a consistent, user-friendly way.”
“For some time, OSHA has wanted to look at a more effective way to communicate hazards,” notes Jon Meijer, membership director, Drycleaning & Laundry Institute (DLI).
“Because chemicals are blended and come from all over the world, Material Safety Data Sheets were inconsistent and always looked different,” says Meijer. “What OSHA is doing is making one format to make it easier to communicate these hazards.”
In a small random sampling, American Drycleaner asked some owners of drycleaning businesses around the U.S. about their knowledge of and compliance with the OSHA standard.
Speaking anonymously, several indicate an awareness of OSHA’s new standardized labels and describe efforts under way prior to the June 1 deadline to gain compliance. One notes that globalization is “everybody’s issue,” not just that of dry cleaning.
Schwarzmann emphasizes that “responsibility falls with dry cleaners.”
Both Schwarzmann and Meijer indicate that businesses can face steep fines, possibly in the $10,000-$15,000 range, if an OSHA inspector visits and cites a business for failure to comply.
American Drycleaner phoned OSHA headquarters in Washington, seeking comment on the Standard and its enforcement. Ultimately, the agency referred the publication to its Office of Communications. Multiple phone messages left there have not been returned by this posting.
As an operator, you may already be in full compliance. But as Meijer insists, “If you’re not getting SDS, go out and get them.”
Information about the Hazard Communication Standard is available by visiting the OSHA website. The agency’s phone number is 800-321-6742.
Download the pictogram and labels here:
Have a question or comment? E-mail our editor Dave Davis at [email protected].