SCHC - Alliance Annual Report ‐ November 1, 2010

ANNUAL ALLIANCE REPORT
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) And The
Society for Chemical Hazard Communication (SCHC) Alliance
November 1, 2010

  1. Alliance Background

    Date Signed

    October 22, 2003

    Date Renewed

    December 5, 2005
    March 24, 2008

    Evaluation Period

    October 22, 2009 ‐ October 21, 2010

    Overview

    The OSHA and SCHC Alliance focuses on providing SCHC's members and others, including small businesses, with information, guidance, and access to training resources to protect employees' health and safety. In particular, the Alliance will focus on reducing and preventing exposure to health and physical hazards of chemicals and addressing hazard communication, including training, labeling and material safety data sheets in the workplace. In addition, the Alliance will work to distribute information and increase awareness of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals.

    Implementation Team Members

    OSHA:

    Cathy Cronin
    Director, Office of Training and Educational Development (OTED), Directorate of Training and Education (DTE)
    Karen Heckman
    OIndustrial Hygienist, OTED, DTE
    Deana Holmes
    Health Scientist, Office of Chemical Hazards-Metals (OCH-M), Directorate of Standards and Guidance (DSG)
    *Eric Lahaie
    Team Leader, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances (OOSA), Directorate of Cooperative and State Plans (DCSP)
    Kathy Landkrohn
    Health Scientist, OCH-M, DSG
    Kathy Landkrohn
    OCH‐M, DSG
    Bill Matarazzo
    Industrial Hygienist, Office of Health Enforcement, Directorate of Enforcement Programs
    **Morgan Seuberling
    Safety and Occupational Health Specialist, OOSA, DCSP

    SCHC:

    Ann Brockhaus
    Committee Member, SCHC
    Mark Cohen
    Past President, SCHC
    Denise Deeds
    Chairperson of Outreach, SCHC
    Dad Levine
    Chairperson of Web-Committee, SCHC
    Suzanne Matuszewski
    President, SCHC
    Dave Peters
    Vice-President, SCHC
    Michelle Sullivan
    Board Member, SCHC

    * Eric Lahaie served as the Alliance Coordinator until January 19, 2010.
    ** Morgan Seuberling has served as the Alliance Coordinator since January 19, 2010.

  2. Implementation Team Meetings

    February 17, 2010
    Implementation Team Meeting
    June 24, 2010
    Implementation Team Meeting

  3. Results

    1. Events and Products

      Training and Education Goal

      • Work with OSHA to provide expertise to develop training and education programs for small business and other employers regarding hazard communication and to provide expertise in communicating such information to employers and employees in the industry.

        Products

        The OSHA and SCHC Alliance Implementation Team has not completed work on programs or projects to address this goal.

        Outreach and Communication Goals

      • Work with OSHA to provide expertise in developing information on the recognition and prevention of workplace hazards, and to provide expertise in developing ways of communicating such information (e.g., print and electronic media, electronic assistance tools and OSHA's and the SCHC's Web sites) to employers and employees in the industry.

        Products

        Info Sheet #1: Pictograms
        Through the OSHA and Society for Chemical Hazard Communication (SCHC) Alliance, SCHC developed an information sheet that provides employees with pictograms, symbols of classification, labeling of chemicals, and corresponding chemical hazards as used in the Globally Harmonized System (GHS). SCHC posted the Info Sheet #1 on its Web site and OSHA established a link to it from the OSHA and SCHC Web page and the Alliance Program Participant Developed Product page on the OSHA Web.

        Info Sheet #2: Flammable and Combustible Liquids
        Through the OSHA and Society for Chemical Hazard Communication (SCHC) Alliance, SCHC developed an information sheet that provides details on how U.S. regulations and consensus standards define flammable and combustible liquids, how the GHS classification and labeling of chemicals harmonizes its flammable liquid criteria, and GHS label elements for flammable and combustible liquids. SCHC posted the Info Sheet #2 on its Web site and OSHA established a link to it from the OSHA and SCHC Web page and the Alliance Program Participant Developed Product page on the OSHA Web.

        Info Sheet #3: What is the GHS?
        Through the OSHA and Society for Chemical Hazard Communication (SCHC) Alliance, SCHC developed an information sheet that provides employees with the definition and benefits of GHS classification and labeling of chemicals and addresses how the GHS will affect compliance with the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard. SCHC posted the Info Sheet #3 on its Web site and OSHA established a link to it from the OSHA and SCHC Web page and the Alliance Program Participant Developed Product page on the OSHA Web.

        Info Sheet #4: Labeling-OSHA vs. GHS
        Through the OSHA and Society for Chemical Hazard Communication (SCHC) Alliance, SCHC developed an information sheet that provides employees with the definition and benefits of GHS classification and labeling of chemicals and addresses how the GHS will affect compliance with the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard. SCHC posted the Info Sheet #4 on its Web site and OSHA established a link to it from the OSHA and SCHC Web page and the Alliance Program Participant Developed Product page on the OSHA Web.

        Info Sheet #5: Eye Damage/Eye Irritation
        Through the OSHA and Society for Chemical Hazard Communication (SCHC) Alliance, SCHC developed an information sheet that provides employees with the GHS definition of each injury and labeling requirements and addresses GHS substance classification based on animal testing and physical characteristics of a compound. SCHC posted the Info Sheet #5 on its Web site and OSHA established a link to it from the OSHA and SCHC Web page and the Alliance Program Participant Developed Product page on the OSHA Web.

        Info Sheet #6: Germ Cell Mutagenicity
        Through the OSHA and Society for Chemical Hazard Communication (SCHC) Alliance, SCHC developed an information sheet that provides employees with the GHS definition and classification of germ cell mutagenicity and addresses classification under GHS and hazard communication labeling. SCHC posted the Info Sheet #6 on its Web site and OSHA established a link to it from the OSHA and SCHC Web page and the Alliance Program Participant Developed Product page on the OSHA Web.

        Publications

        An article entitled "SCHC Releases GHS Information Sheets" was written by Dave Peters and published in the June 2010 edition of the Alliance Quarterly Review. The article provides information on the six Info Sheets developed by SCHC through the OSHA and SCHC Alliance.

        OSHA and SCHC Alliance Web page

        OSHA is continuing to update the OSHA and SCHC Alliance Web page that is posted on the OSHA Web site. The page includes the OSHA and SCHC Alliance agreement, renewal agreements, annual reports, news releases, information on activities and events, milestones and successes of the alliance, and links to resources developed by SCHC through the Alliance Program.

        SCHC and OSHA Alliance Web page

        SCHC is continuing to update the SCHC and OSHA Alliance Web page that is posted on the SCHC Web site. The page includes the goals of the Alliance and a link to the OSHA and SCHC Alliance Web page on the Agency's Web site. In addition, the site hosts resources developed by SCHC through the OSHA and SCHC Alliance including information sheets focusing on GHS, a number of OSHA's compliance assistance tools, and updates on the Alliance program.

        OSHA Electronic Assistance Tools

        Representatives from SCHC serve on the editorial boards of the following OSHA Safety and Health Topics pages, providing OSHA with their expertise and technical review:

        • Hazard Communication
          • Michele Sullivan, Board Member SCHC; Annandale, VA

          • Daniel Levine, Product Safety Solutions; Basking Ridge, NJ

        • Making the Business Case for Safety and Health

          • Ann Brockhaus, Consultant, ORC Worldwide, Washington, DC

        • Personal Protective Equipment

          • Denese Deeds, CIH, Industrial Health & Safety Consultants, Inc., Woodbridge, CT

        • Respiratory Protection

          • Denese Deeds, CIH, Industrial Health & Safety Consultants, Inc., Woodbridge, CT

      • Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA's or SCHC's conferences, local meetings, or other events.

        SCHC Spring Meeting, April 10-14, 2010, Marriott New Orleans Hotel, New Orleans, Louisiana

        Suzanne Matuszewski made a brief presentation on the activities and successes of the OSHA and SCHC Alliance to 121 members attending the session on April 14, 2010.

        SCHC Fall Meeting, October 2-6, 2010, Marriott Gateway Crystal Hotel, Arlington, Virginia

        OSHA supported SCHC's Fall Meeting through the following activities:

        • On October 5, 2010, Maureen Ruskin, Director, OCH, DSG, USDOL-OSHA, gave presentation entitled "GHS Update" to 150 conference attendees.
        • On October 5, 2010, OSHA personnel staffed an Alliance Program exhibit booth.
        • On October 6, 2010, Dave Peters, Vice President, SCHC, made a brief presentation on the activities and successes of the OSHA and SCHC Alliance to 125 session attendees.

      • Share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding effective approaches to hazard communication issues in the workplace and publicize these results through outreach by SCHC and through OSHA- or SCHC-developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures.

        OSHA and SCHC Alliance Sponsored GHS Webinars

        Through the OSHA and SCHC Alliance, SCHC has provided OSHA staff with access to the following informational webinars:

        • On November 17, 2009, Jennifer Silk, Consultant to OSHA, presented a webinar through the SCHC entitled "Changes to the Hazard Communication Standard ‐ An In-depth View of OSHA's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS)." Nine OSHA staff participated in the webinar.
        • On November 19, 2009, Jennifer Silk, Consultant to OSHA, and Denese Deeds, Chairperson of Outreach, SCHC, presented a webinar sponsored by AIHA through SCHC entitled "OSHA's Proposal to Adopt the Globally Harmonized System for Hazard Communication." Three OSHA staff participated in the webinar.
        • On December 12, 2009, Michele Sullivan, Board Member, SCHC, presented a webinar entitled "The GHS - the Impact on US Hazard Communication, Classification, SDS and Labeling." Five OSHA staff participated in the webinar.
        • On June 23, 2010, John Astad, Senior Consultant, Combustible Dust Institute, presented a webinar through the SCHC entitled "Combustible Dust and Hazard Communication." Nine OSHA staff participated in the webinar.
        • On August 3, 2010, Paul Brigandi, Executive Consultant, CGI Technologies and Solutions, Inc., presented a webinar through the SCHC entitled "GHS Acute Toxicity Mixtures Workshop." Three OSHA staff participated in the webinar.

        • On September 15, 2010, Dave Peters, Co-Chair, ACC ANSI Work Group, Regulatory Compliance Lead, Monsanto Company, presented a webinar through the SCHC entitled "ANSI: The Combined Standard." Nine OSHA staff participated in the webinar.

      • Work with other Alliance participants on specific issues and projects on hazard communication that are addressed and developed through the Alliance Program. The OSHA and SCHC Alliance Implementation Team has not completed work on programs or projects to address this goal.

        The OSHA and SCHC Alliance Implementation Team has not completed work on programs or projects to address this goal.

        National Dialogue on Workplace Safety and Health Goal

      • Convene or participate in forums, round table discussions, or stakeholder meetings on hazard communication issues to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues.

        2010 North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week, May 2-8, 2010, Washington, DC

        The Society for Chemical Hazard Communication (SCHC) and a number of other Alliance Program participants supported 2010 NAOSH Week, "Mission NAOSH 2010: Safe Workplaces." Sponsored annually by the American Society of Safety Engineers, an Alliance Program participant, and the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering, the week focuses on the importance of preventing injuries and illnesses in the workplace. To help support the week, SCHC promoted 2010 NAOSH Week at the Spring Meeting and distributed the 2010 NAOSH poster to its members.

    2. Executive Summary

      Through the Alliance Program, OSHA and SCHC are working together to develop resources that will focus on reducing and preventing exposure to health and physical hazards of chemicals and addressing hazard communication, including training, labeling and material safety data sheets in the workplace. In addition, the Alliance is working to distribute information and increase awareness of the GHS. The positive relationship that SCHC has developed over the past seven years has led to the development of the many programs and projects that the team is currently working on or has produced.

      Through the Alliance Program, SCHC developed and disseminated six information sheets focusing on:

      • The definition of GHS,
      • Pictograms used in classification,
      • Labeling differences between OSHA and GHS,
      • Eye damage/eye irritation,
      • Reducing or preventing exposure to health or physical hazards of flammable and combustible liquids, and

      • Classification of germ cell mutagenicity.

      The Info Sheets are a valuable resource to educate the public and increase awareness of the forthcoming GHS standard. SCHC posted the information sheets on its Web site, and OSHA linked to them from the OSHA and SCHC Web page and the Alliance Program Participant Developed Products page on the OSHA Web.

      In order to share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding effective approaches to hazard communication issues in the workplace, SCHC has sponsored several webinars addressing:

      • Changes to the Hazard Communication Standard ‐ An In-depth View of OSHA's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS),
      • OSHA's Proposal to Adopt the Globally Harmonized System for Hazard Communication,
      • The GHS - the Impact on US Hazard Communication, Classification, SDS and Labeling,
      • Combustible Dust and Hazard Communication,
      • ANSI: The Combined Standard, and

      • GHS Acute Toxicity Mixtures Workshop.

      In addition, SCHC invited OSHA staff to speak, attend the professional development courses on GHS, and staff an OSHA and SCHC Alliance exhibit booth at their Fall Meeting, October 2-6, 2010, in Arlington, Virginia.

      SCHC representatives are also sharing their expertise with OSHA through participation on the editorial boards for the following OSHA Safety and Health Topics pages:

      • Hazard Communication
      • Making the Business Case for Safety and Health
      • Personal Protective Equipment

      • Respiratory Protection

      Finally, as part of their outreach efforts, SCHC supported 2010 NAOSH Week, May 2-8.

    3. Alliance Program Reach

      Type of Activity (Conference, Training, Print and
      Electronic Distribution, etc.)      		 Number of Individuals
      Reached or Trained
      OSHA and SCHC Alliance Web page on OSHA Web site No Data Available
      SCHC and OSHA Alliance Web page on the SCHC Web site 4,438
      OSHA Hazard Communication Safety and Health Topics Page 52,458
      OSHA Making the Business Case for Safety and Health, Safety and Health Topics Page 6,753
      OSHA Personal Protective Equipment Safety and Health Topics Page 21,292
      OSHA Respiratory Protection Safety and Health Topics Page 66,094
      June 15, 2010: "SCHC Releases GHS Information Sheets," Alliance Quarterly Review 43
      October 5, 2010 - SCHC Fall Meeting, October 2-6, 2010, Arlington, Virginia
      Speaker: Maureen Ruskin, Director, OCH, DSG, USDOL-OSHA, gave presentation entitled "GHS Update."      		 150
      November 17, 2009 - OSHA and SCHC Alliance Sponsored GHS Webinar
      Speaker: Jennifer Silk, Consultant to OSHA, presented a webinar entitled "Changes to the Hazard Communication Standard - An In-depth View of OSHA's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS)."      		 9
      November 19, 2009 - OSHA and SCHC Alliance Sponsored GHS Webinar
      Speaker: Jennifer Silk, Consultant to OSHA, and Denese Deeds, Chairperson of Outreach, SCHC, presented a webinar sponsored by AIHA through SCHC entitled "OSHA's Proposal to Adopt the Globally Harmonized System for Hazard Communication."      		 3
      December 12, 2009 - OSHA and SCHC Alliance Sponsored GHS Webinar
      Speaker: Michele Sullivan, Board Member, SCHC, presented a webinar entitled "The GHS - the Impact on US Hazard Communication, Classification, SDS and Labeling."      		 5
      June 23, 2010 - OSHA and SCHC Alliance Sponsored GHS Webinar
      Speaker: John Astad, Senior Consultant, Combustible Dust Institute, presented a session on "Combustible Dust and Hazard Communication."      		 9
      August 3, 2010 - OSHA and SCHC Alliance Sponsored GHS Webinar
      Speaker: Paul Brigandi, Executive Consultant, CGI Technologies and Solutions, Inc., presented a webinar entitled "GHS Acute Toxicity Mixtures Workshop."      		 3
      September 15, 2010 - OSHA and SCHC Alliance Sponsored GHS Webinars on GHS
      Speaker: Dave Peters, Co-Chair, ACC ANSI Work Group, Regulatory Compliance Lead, Monsanto Company, presented a webinar entitled "ANSI: The Combined Standard."      		 9
      TOTAL 151,266

  4. Upcoming Milestones

    In the upcoming year, OSHA and SCHC plan to undertake several additional projects through the Alliance to help employers and workers reduce or prevent exposure to health and physical hazards of chemicals. For example, through the Alliance, SCHC will draft and finalize two more resources: Info Sheet #7 Carcinogenicity and Info Sheet #8 Compressed Gas.

    SCHC will also develop resources to help workers comprehend and use information on a Material Safety Data sheets. In addition, SCHC will host several Webinars addressing GHS issues, to which OSHA staff will be invited.

    SCHC will work with OSHA on projects related to the publication of the final Hazard Communication rule, including a possible Alliance Program GHS Roundtable.

    In addition, SCHC representatives will continue to provide OSHA their expertise in serving on the editorial boards of the following OSHA Safety and Health Topic pages: Hazard Communication, Making the Business Case for Safety and Health, Personal Protective Equipment and Respiratory Protection.

    SCHC also expects to reach out to other Alliance Program participants regarding potential joint projects related to Hazard Communication.

    Finally, SCHC representatives will be joining with other Alliance Program participants to support 2011 North American Occupational Safety and Health Week, May 1-7, 2011, "NAOSH 2011- Celebrating a Century of Safety."

    Report prepared by: Morgan Seuberling, Safety and Occupational Health Specialist, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances, November 1, 2010.