July 6, 1989

[Name Withheld]

Dear [Name Withheld]:

This is in response to your letter of February 8, addressed to Mr. Thomas J. Shepich, regarding labeling and material safety data sheet (MSDS) requirements under the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS), 29 CFR 1910.1200. Please accept my apology for the delay in response.

Your first issue deals with the "responsible party." According to the HCS, the "responsible party" means someone who can provide additional information on the hazardous chemical and appropriate emergency procedures, if necessary. This definition applies to chemical manufacturers, importers, and distributors. If your client wishes to list the name, address, and emergency telephone number of the actual manufacturer, the designation of "manufacturer" rather than "responsible party" must be used for clarity.

Regarding your second issue on labeling, the standard specifically requires the name and address of the chemical manufacturer, importer or other responsible party to be identified on the label. Replacing this information with an "A", "B", or "C" is not acceptable on containers leaving the workplace. The label information, in some situations, provides the only identifying and hazard information to employees handling the chemical. Also, employers that do not receive the MSDS with the initial shipment must request one from the chemical manufacturer or distributor. The label again provides the only identifying information. In all cases, the "responsible party" named on the MSDS and the label is held responsible for the accuracy of the information and potentially subject to citation if a violation of the HCS was determined to exist. If the distributor makes changes to the required information on the labels and the MSDSs, the distributor then assumes responsibility. We hope we have adequately addressed your client's concerns. We apologize for any inconvenience caused by the delay in response. If you need further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us again.

This handy poster explains the common hazardous chemical labeling systems. Get yours at Safety Emporium.

Sincerely,

Patricia K. Clark, Acting Director
Directorate of Compliance Programs