Safety & Compliance News

First, a Quick Refresher on What HazCom Actually Is

At its core, OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard is designed to make sure workers know what chemicals they are working with and what hazards those chemicals present. It covers the labels on chemical containers, the Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) that provide detailed hazard information, and the training employees need so they can understand and use that information effectively.

What’s Actually Changing in GHS 7

So what is different this time? GHS 7 includes several substantive changes that affect how chemicals are classified, how SDSs are written, and how labels are presented. These are not just wording updates. In some cases, they can change how hazards are described and how information is communicated to workers. The changes are:

• New and Revised Hazard Categories: GHS 7 expands classification for certain health and physical hazards. Desensitized explosives, for example, now have their own hazard class. Some existing categories have been refined with new subcategories that require different labeling and SDS language.
• Updated SDS Requirements: Section formatting and content requirements are being revised in several areas. Employers and chemical manufacturers will need to review existing SDS documents to ensure they reflect the updated classification criteria and language. If you’re an employer who receives SDS from suppliers, you’ll need to verify that incoming documents meet the new standard.
• Label Changes: Some products will require updated pictograms, signal words, or hazard statements based on reclassification under GHS 7. That means physical labels on containers may need to be reprinted and replaced.
• Exposure Limits and Inhalation Hazards: GHS 7 brings more specificity to how inhalation hazards are communicated, particularly for aerosols and mixtures.

What the May Deadline Covered

OSHA’s GHS 7 update was not designed as a single cutoff date. Instead, it was rolled out in phases, with different obligations applying at different points in time. The May 2026 deadline primarily affected chemical manufacturers, importers, and distributors. By then, those upstream parties were expected to update chemical classifications and begin issuing labels and SDSs that align with the revised standard.

For employers, that phase matters because it marks the point when updated information should begin flowing into the workplace. If you receive hazardous chemicals from suppliers, the SDSs and shipped labels you get should increasingly reflect the new classification language and formatting requirements.

That does not mean employers can treat compliance as only a supplier issue. You are still responsible for making sure the SDSs in your workplace are current, your labels reflect the hazards of the chemicals in use, and employees are trained on the information they rely on. If a supplier is slow to update documentation, that gap can quickly become your problem during an inspection.

That is why now is the time to start reaching out to chemical vendors and reviewing your own program. Ask suppliers whether their SDSs have been updated to GHS 7 standards, track what you receive, and follow up on anything that is missing or unclear. November will arrive quickly, and employers that wait too long may find themselves rushing through updates that should have been planned in advance.

Roadmap for November Update

The best way to approach the November deadline is as a practical compliance project rather than a last-minute document review.

1. Chemical inventory audit: You cannot update what you have not identified, so pull together a complete inventory of every chemical in the workplace, including cleaning products, maintenance supplies, and production materials. That inventory becomes the baseline for everything that follows.
2. Review and update your SDS library: Contact suppliers and request GHS 7-compliant SDSs for each product on your inventory. Do not assume existing files are already current. Create a simple tracking system so you know which documents have been updated, which are still pending, and where follow-up is needed.
3. Audit your physical labels: Walk the facility and compare container labels to the updated hazard information you are receiving. If products have been reclassified or now use different pictograms, signal words, or hazard statements, your in-house labels may also need to change. Starting early is important, especially for larger facilities where relabeling can take time.
4. Revise your written HazCom program: This should be treated as a living document that reflects current practice. Review it carefully and update language, procedures, and responsibilities so they align with the revised standard and with the way your facility actually manages chemical hazards.
5. Retrain your workforce and brief supervisors: Employees need to understand what changed, what updated labels and SDSs mean, and how those changes affect handling, storage, and response expectations. Supervisors should receive deeper guidance so they can answer questions, recognize compliance gaps, and reinforce the updated program in day-to-day operations.

Key to remember: Now is the time to prepare for November's Hazard Communication Standard deadline.