Page 46 - Occupational Health & Safety, July 2017

GHS/SDS
Revisiting GHS Label Compliance One Year After OSHA’s Deadline
A new survey shows more than 21 percent of companies did not meet all GHS compliance requirements.
BY COLWIN CHAN
46 Occupational Health & Safety | JULY 2017
www.ohsonline.com
One year after OSHA’s June 1, 2016, “Globally Harmonized System” (GHS) label end user deadline, more than 21 percent of compa- nies had not yet met all requirements, ac-
cording to a new survey. The survey, conducted by Occupational Health & Safety magazine and Avery Products Corporation, an industrial and consumer label provider, reveals the perceived top barriers to GHS label compliance.
Fortunately, the tools and strategies exist that can help small to mid-sized companies achieve GHS label compliance rather quickly and inexpensively. With higher OSHA penalties making non-compliance more costly, taking advantage of these tools and at-
taining compliance is more important than ever. “The OSHA GHS label deadline for end users has come and gone, and it is now a costly compliance is- sue,” said Christine Webb, CSP, a consultant at Avitus Group, a U.S.-based provider of services that allow small companies to strengthen and grow their busi- nesses. Some of these services include safety, compli-
ance, training, payroll, and more.
Webb, who is a former OSHA compliance officer,
noted that, last year, Congress enacted a bill that al- lowed federal agencies to raise their fines, which had not been updated in decades.
“OSHA increased its fines by 78 percent, so a more severe citation that could cost up to $7,000 previously
AVERY PRODUCTS CORPORATION