Sep 11, 2013 - … labels on small shipped chemical containersSep 11, 2013 - … labels on small…containers
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Title: 09/11/2013 - Practical accommodation for hazard communication labels on small shipped chemical containers
Mr. John Davies, CIH Henkel Corporation
32100 Stephenson Highway
Madison Heights, MI 48071
Dear Mr. Davies:
Thank you for your May 2, 2013, letter to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) Directorate of Standards and
Guidance. Your letter was forwarded to the Directorate of Enforcement Programs
for a response. Your question concerns the labeling requirements under the
revised Hazard Communication standard (HCS 2012), (29 CFR 1910.1200. This
letter constitutes OSHA's interpretation only of the requirements herein, and
may not be applicable to any questions not delineated within your original
correspondence. Your paraphrased question and our response is below.
Background: Henkel manufactures various adhesives and
sealants. These products are sold in various size packages ranging from very
large packages (drums and larger) to very small packages (tubes and syringes).
Some of the containers are designed to work with specific dispensing equipment
where the use of fold back labels, pull-out labels or tags could interfere with
the application method. In addition, Henkel also sells products in collapsible
tubes and other products that must be kept frozen. The collapsible tubes and
frozen products pose additional problems with the use of fold back labels,
pull-out labels or tags.
Question: Will OSHA accept, as a practical accommodation, a
label that incorporates as many of the label elements as is practicable for the
product in-question, which includes, at a minimum, the product identifier,
appropriate hazard pictograms, supplier identification, and a reference to the
SDS?
Response: No. The practical accommodation you suggest does
not comply with the practical accommodation developed by OSHA. OSHA
understands your concern that HCS 2012 labels contain more information, which
may be difficult to include on small shipped containers. As such, OSHA developed
a practical accommodation to address situations where the full HCS 2012
required labeling information cannot be provided through the use of pull-out
labels, fold back labels, tags or other methods.
OSHA's practical accommodation requires the shipped small
containers such as, syringes or tubes (i.e., the actual container holding the hazardous
chemical), to contain, at a minimum, the following information:
The outside package must be clearly marked to ensure the
complete label elements are visible and it must clearly inform users that the small
container must be stored in the outer container bearing the complete label.
The complete label must be maintained on the outer package (e.g., not torn,
defaced, destroyed).
The manufacturer must ensure that any alternative labeling
used does not conflict with any other standards. As such, the outside
packaging must not present a hazard while the material is being stored.
The outside packaging described above is the object (e.g.,
bag, box) that the immediate product container is placed into; it does not
refer to the exterior shipping container. In no case is it acceptable to only label
the outside packaging; the immediate container must be labeled. To provide the
most information possible, OSHA encourages manufacturers, distributors, and
importers to add as much information as feasible to the small shipped container
labels.
Based on the requirements listed above, the practical
accommodation you propose would not meet OSHA's requirements, because it fails
to include hazard statements, signal words, and precautionary statements on the
label. Rather than referencing the SDS, in cases where it is infeasible to
include hazard statements, signal words, and precautionary statements directly
on the immediate container's label, you would be permitted to provide this
information on the outer packaging, so long as a statement indicating where the
full label information can be found is included on the immediate container.
Thank you for your interest in occupational safety and
health. We hope you find this information helpful. OSHA's requirements are
set by statute, standards, and regulations. Our letters of interpretation
do not create new or additional requirements but rather explain these
requirements and how they apply to particular circumstances. This letter
constitutes OSHA's interpretation of the requirements discussed. From time to
time, letters are affected when the Agency updates a standard, a legal decision impacts a
standard, or changes in technology affect the interpretation. To assure that
you are using the correct information and guidance, please
consult OSHA's website at https://www.osha.gov.
If you have further questions, please feel free to contact the Office of Health
Enforcement at (202) 693-2190.