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New OSHA Regulations

5 posts
  1. John Miller
    John Miller avatar
    0 posts
    11/6/2013 3:11 PM
    My colleague in the Southwest, Jeff Jensen did a great job of describing the new OSHA regulations and has included the link to the GCSAA webinar on the topic.

    The new Globally Harmonized System (GHS) of Pesticide Labeling is a significant change for golf facilities. This international approach to hazard communication provides agreed upon criteria for classification of chemical hazards, and a standardized approach to label elements and safety data sheets. It is based on major existing systems around the world, including OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard and the chemical classification and labeling systems of other U.S. agencies. In March of 2012, the Occupational Safety and Health Agency (OSHA) first announced the adoption of the GHS and its integration into the Hazard Communication Standard.

    OSHA is requiring that employees are trained on the new label elements (i.e., pictograms, hazard statements, precautionary statements and signal words) and SDS format by December 1, 2013, while full compliance with the final rule will begin in 2015.

    Link to free webinar for GCSAA members on GHS is below (.2 education points available upon completion):
    http://www.gcsaa.org/_common/templates/ ... gType=1033



  2. Larry Stowell
    Larry Stowell avatar
    0 posts
    11/7/2013 9:11 AM
    Most of the confusion will be with pesticide labels and SDS conflicts. Oils, solvents, fuel, paint, etc. shouldn't be confusing.

    OSHA (SDS worker safety) and EPA (pesticide Label containing some handler/applicator plus environmental and public safety impact) have not harmonized they're signal words and there can be conflicts between the SDS and pesticide labels. In attempt to harmonize the SDS for worker safety globally, the pesticide handling and environmental impact statements have become decoupled. This has impact in development of IPM programs and selection of lower impact pesticides.

    Bottom line, there are more possibly confusing rules. It is important to follow all SDS and product label instructions. OSHA could care less about environmental impacts and they don't even require environmental impact sections on the SDS.

    http://www.epa.gov/PR_Notices/pr2012-1.pdf

    "While EPA recognizes that this guidance may require users of the SDS prepared for pesticide products to become familiar with two different systems, at least until the agencies' requirements are harmonized, it is necessary as an interim measure to ensure that the differences do not cause confusion and to provide regulated industry with a clear pathway to compliance with both agencies' requirements."



  3. Melvin Waldron
    Melvin Waldron avatar
    43 posts
    11/7/2013 12:11 PM
    Larry Stowell said: Most of the confusion will be with pesticide labels and SDS conflicts. Oils, solvents, fuel, paint, etc. shouldn't be confusing.

    OSHA (SDS worker safety) and EPA (pesticide Label containing some handler/applicator plus environmental and public safety impact) have not harmonized they're signal words and there can be conflicts between the SDS and pesticide labels. In attempt to harmonize the SDS for worker safety globally, the pesticide handling and environmental impact statements have become decoupled. This has impact in development of IPM programs and selection of lower impact pesticides.

    Bottom line, there are more possibly confusing rules. It is important to follow all SDS and product label instructions. OSHA could care less about environmental impacts and they don't even require environmental impact sections on the SDS.

    http://www.epa.gov/PR_Notices/pr2012-1.pdf

    "While EPA recognizes that this guidance may require users of the SDS prepared for pesticide products to become familiar with two different systems, at least until the agencies' requirements are harmonized, it is necessary as an interim measure to ensure that the differences do not cause confusion and to provide regulated industry with a clear pathway to compliance with both agencies' requirements."


    Thanks Larry,

    Seems our lawmakers should be working on fixing things like this instead of taking time off or whatever they are doing.

    Mel

    Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO

  4. Jon Canavan
    Jon Canavan avatar
    0 posts
    12/2/2013 2:12 PM
    John:

    I could not get the link to work. Do you have a different link?



  5. John Miller
    John Miller avatar
    0 posts
    12/2/2013 3:12 PM
    Jon,

    Sorry that link may have expired, it is probably best to go to www.gcsaa.org and go to the government relations department, there is a lot of information there and the information about the webcast is in the education area under webcasts. Let me know if you have any other questions.



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