What's Changing in the Revised HCS for 2021?

Written By: Atanu Das on Saturday, March 13, 2021

As a reminder, the UN GHS rules are updated every two years and the most current version is Revision 9. While OSHA strives to keep current with these versions, the Hazard Communication Standard was updated in 2015 and only aligns with Revision 3 so even getting alignment with Revision 7 this year will be quite an achievement.

Here's a synopsis of what's being revised:

Appendix A (health hazards): mostly editorial

–Revised health hazard definitions

(e.g.) Germ Cell mutagenicity definition update

–Updated Skin corrosion/irritation and Serious eye damage/eye irritation chapters

Clarification on how these are classified

–General updates to hazard classes

Using human experience data for acute toxicity

Appendix B (physical hazards):

–Flammable gases –expanding hazard categories

Adding or clarifying: Pyrophoric/Unstable/Flammable

–Desensitized explosives

A new chapter defining this hazard and classification criteria 

–Aerosols –including additional hazard category based on properties and heat of combustion

Appendix C (label elements)

–New or updated hazards, updated guidance, and precautionary statements

Appendix D (SDS)

–Updates to SDS Sections 9, 11

If you need help staying current with the latest updates to the Hazard Communication Standard, let us know