ABSTRACT
Exposure to hazardous chemicals is one of the most serious dangers facing American workers, and too many workers may not even understand the risk that they are taking when working with chemicals. Congress decided that personnel working with or around hazardous materials had a right to know about those hazards. Thus, Occupational Safety and Health Administrations (OSHAs) Hazard Communication Standard was created. Under its Hazard Communication Standard, OSHA requires employers who use or produce chemicals on the worksite to inform all employees of the hazards that might be involved with those chemicals. To provide better worker protection from hazardous chemicals and to help American businesses compete in a global economy, OSHA has revised HazCom to align with the United Nations' Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). The motive behind OSHA modifying the Hazard Communication Standard was to improve the safety and health of workers through more effective communications regarding chemical hazards.
