Paint and coating formulators, distributors and end users must now ask if their chemical labels are GHS compliant – and if not, be prepared to document for OSHA their good faith efforts to become so, including an expected timeline for reaching compliance. The industry will also need to determine how to integrate such compliance with the American Coatings Association’s Hazardous Materials Identification System (HMIS®).
The Globally Harmonized System (GHS) was established by the United Nations to create a unified system for identifying and communicating hazardous chemicals. In the United States, OSHA set a June 2015 deadline for chemical manufacturers to use GHS-compliant labels, followed by a December 2015 deadline for distributors and June 2016 deadline for end users.