ACA has developed a new program that helps safety managers train their employees on the new U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) and the adopted Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). As part of the program, ACA is offering three complimentary webinars for all ACA members, entitled "Train the Trainer," which are intended to aid safety managers in complying with OSHA's Dec. 1, 2013, HCS training requirement deadline, and will be offered on July 18, 2013, Aug.15, 2013, and Sept.10, 2013, from 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm (ET). Members may register for one of the three complimentary webinars at http://www.paint.org/events/item/1223-ghs-training-webinars.html
In March 2012, OSHA revised its HCS to align with the United Nations' GHS. Two significant changes contained in the revised standard require the use of new labeling elements and a standardized format for the new 16-section Safety Data Sheet (SDS), formerly known as the Material Safety Data Sheets. While OSHA has granted a seemingly long implementation timeframe for this regulation — requirements are keyed to 2015 and 2016 dates — many industry trade practices require significant "lead time" in order to allow for a cost-effective transition by our industry. As such,ACA is preparing compliance guidance and materials for members with a timetable for release detailed below.
The webinars are just ACA's latest support effort to help members with the transitions mandated by the updated HCS and the GHS. In November 2012, ACA held a successful one-and a-half-day seminar, "The New OSHA Hazard Communication Standard: Integrating the Globally Harmonized System," which reviewed the sweeping OSHA revisions from the perspective of the paint industry. The seminar helped jumpstart members' compliance efforts and apprise companies of ACA's compliance assistance effort, including anticipated changes to the ACA Paint Industry Labeling Guide (pending sixth edition) and Hazardous Materials Identification System® (HMIS®).
In addition to the July, August and September webinars, by July 1, 2013, ACA will provide its members with a paint industry-focused presentation aligned with the new "initial training" requirements, related OSHA handout materials on labels and SDSs, an employee quiz, and an employee training documentation form. ACA is encouraging its members to use this presentation and related materials to inform all employees exposed to hazardous chemicals about the pending changes in labels and SDSs that will be coming in the next few years. All of these resources are available to ACA members via http://www.paint.org/resources/globally-harmonized-system.html
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