OSHA, Health Canada to decide on mutual labeling, classification for hazardous chemicals

September 6th, 2016 by Dakota Software Staff Industry News

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Health Canada, the organization that is in some ways OSHA's counterpart north of the border, recently announced the development of a mutual work plan related to hazardous workplace chemicals. The document, "2016-2017 Workplace Chemicals Work Plan," aims to develop a high degree of cooperation between the two regulators. It emphasizes the mutual acceptance and understanding of current and future requirements involving hazardous chemicals, their classification, communication of information related to them and health and safety concerns.

A number of international goals
Safety + Health magazine reported the work plan is the result of a memorandum of understanding signed in 2013, when OSHA and Health Canada first decided to coordinate on the creation and development of a single system to label hazardous chemicals and disseminate information related to them. This approach allows both countries to use a unified system that includes one standardized label and safety data sheet on both sides of the border. This eases burdens on the health and safety agencies, creates conditions for more efficient compliance efforts and makes some aspects of international commerce easier from a regulatory standpoint.

The specific items involved in the work plan include creating materials that will help involved stakeholders develop greater understanding of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling and aid in implementation. The document also includes guidelines for coordinating opinions related to issues that come up in international conversations about the GHS. The third and final major item highlighted by OSHA is the work plan's role in aligning the two countries when the time comes to update various elements of the GHS.

"This plan is part of ongoing efforts between OSHA and Health Canada to reduce regulatory barriers between U.S. and Canadian systems responsible for chemical safety and provide concise information to protect workers exposed to hazardous chemicals," said Dr. David Michaels, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health.

The work plan's overarching goal is to increase alignment between the U.S. and Canada in terms of the GHS, and it appears the two agencies have addressed a number of the largest considerations related to it. Businesses that have operations in both countries or make sales from one to the other involving such chemicals now have a single standard which they can use to address GHS compliance concerns.