Adoption of the SGA model in the USA
In 1983, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) created the hazard communication standard. This standard ensures that employers inform employees about hazardous chemical materials. The “HazardCommunication Standard” (HCS) established by OSHA 29 CFR 1910. 1200. In 2012, OSHA aligned the Hazard Communication standard with the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) of the United Nations.
The standard was published in March 2012 and its application dates have been:
December 1, 2013: On behalf of employers, train employees on the new elements of the label and format of the safety data sheet (SDS).
June 1, 2015: On the part of manufacturers of chemical products, importers, distributors and entrepreneurs, classify, label and package the products in compliance with all the modified provisions of this final rule (except distributors).
December 1, 2015: Distributors must not ship containers labeled by the chemical manufacturer or importer unless it is a label that complies with this standard.
June 1, 2016: On behalf of employers, update labeling in the workplace and provide additional employee training for newly identified physical or health hazards.
The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) of the work department is responsable for the application and interpretartion of this standard.
