Update on the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), a division of the United States Department of Labor, was created in 1970 to protect workers from on-the-job hazards.¹ Prior to OSHA’s existence, approximately 14,000 people were hurt or killed on the job each year. By 2021, that number had fallen to 5,190 while the workforce doubled to more than 143 million workers.¹ The OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (HCS), often referred to as the “Right to Understand” standard, plays a pivotal role in safeguarding workers from chemical hazards in the workplace.¹ Initially established in 1983 and updated in 2012 to align with the third revision of the Globally Harmonized System (GHS), the HCS provides guidelines for classifying hazardous chemicals and communicating their risks through labels and safety data sheets (SDS).² In July 2024, OSHA introduced key updates to the GHS seventh revision to further enhance chemical safety, particularly for industries, including dentistry, in which hazardous substances are a routine part of daily operations.

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* References and figures can be found in the original article via the link above.