Regulatory Review: New SDSs and Labels for GHS Compliance - Don't Panic Yet
Adhesive and sealant formulators still have time to square away everything they need for developing accurate SDSs and labels to meet GHS standards.
Flipping the calendar to June 2015 has provided the kind of dread that can only be rivaled by scheduled root canal work or an IRS audit—especially for those who deal with dual Environment, Health and Safety (EH&S) and shipping responsibilities within their company. June 1 was the date mandated by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) for all chemical suppliers and formulators to be compliant with new safety data sheet (SDS) and label requirements for the new Global Harmonization System (GHS), which was adopted in 2012.
During the GHS discussion phase of the regulatory proposal process, the Adhesive and Sealant Council (ASC) made a point of urging that implementation of the new rule be phased in to allow chemical manufacturers to first get their labels and paperwork in order. This would allow formulators adequate time to receive the needed data from their suppliers to create their own SDSs and labels. For whatever reason, OSHA failed to heed our warning that they were creating a compliance logjam that could be impossible for some companies to navigate.