Small Business Awareness-Level Training: Globally Harmonized System and Hazard Communication 2012

Funding Provided by: DOL-OSHA and the Georgia Tech Research Institute’s OSHA Consultation Program

Consultation Staff:Paul Schlumper, CSP, PE, MSIE

Michelle Dunham, MSPH

Bob Hendry

Purpose and Goals

With the implementation of the Globally-Harmonized System (GHS), HazCom has been strengthened, but these changes present many business owners, particularly small employers, with new training challenges. United States business owners must learn to integrate their management of hazardous materials into a marketplace with international standards which are not part of their traditional knowledge base. In anticipation of the need for training that will be brought on by the new standard, Georgia Tech has developed an overview presentation on GHS and HazCom 2012. This training program builds on the training that we have conducted in the last two years as the GHS rule was being finalized. In our experience training employers we have found that there remains a great deal of confusion and general misunderstanding on the requirements and expectations for employers as they transition from the existing HazCom rules into the new GHS format. We address this training need through the development of a 6 lesson training modules that will educate students on the new GHS-based HazCom 2012, as well as address the other most important aspects of traditional hazard communication.

At the conclusion of this training management will:

  1. Understand the background of the Global Harmonization System (GHS) and the changes to the Hazard Communication Standard.
  2. Review the major changes to the Hazard Communication Standard and the effective dates for those changes.
  3. Understand the HazCom 2012 and GHS Definitions, Nomenclature Descriptors, and Hazard Descriptors.
  4. Understand the general process of classification performed by manufacturers and importers.
  5. Be aware of the resources provided for the process in the appendices of the Hazard Communication Standard.
  6. Determine the proper signal word, hazard statement, pictogram, and precautionary statement on labels.
  7. Identify the 16 sections of a Safety Data Sheet and distinguish between a HazCom 1994 MSDS and a HazCom 2012 safety data sheet.
  8. Identify the required sections of the HazCom2012 compliant label.

Course Topics:

  1. HazCom 2012 Awareness - Introduction and Overview
  2. HazCom 2012 and GHS – Definitions
  3. HazCom2012 and GHS – Hazard Identification
  4. HazCom2012 and GHS – Safety Data Sheets
  5. HazCom2012 and GHS - Labels
  6. HazCom2012 and GHS – Summary and Wrap Up

Important Web Sites and References

  • Hazard Communication – OSHA Web Page -
  • Side-by-Side Comparison of OSHA's Existing Hazard Communication Standard (HCS 1994)
    vs. the Revised Hazard Communication Standard (HCS 2012) -
  • OSHA Brief – Hazard Communication Standard: Labels and Pictograms -
  • Side-by-Side Comparison of OSHA's Existing Hazard Communication Standard (HCS 1994)
    vs. the Revised Hazard Communication Standard (HCS 2012)
  • OSHA Brief – Hazard Communication Standard: Labels and Pictograms
  • OSHA Brief- Hazard Communication Standard: Safety Data Sheets
  • OSHA Quick Card: Hazard Communication Safety Data Sheets