BRENTWOOD, TN (October 16, 2017)—The EHS Daily Advisor® has released the results of its latest research effort into hazard communication (HazCom) and the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS). The 2017 Hazard Communication Survey: HazCom/GHS Successes and Pain Points, was sponsored by VelocityEHS, the global leader in cloud environment, health, safety (EHS) and sustainability software and creator of the MSDSonline chemical management solutions.
The survey, launched in June of 2017, was taken by over 400 EHS professionals. With OSHA’s phased-in GHS deadlines now in effect and the Agency’s expressed intent to consider aligning HazCom with newer versions of GHS in the future, there have been both successes and pain points in implementing HazCom programs, including the new labeling, safety data sheet (SDS), written plan, and training requirements.
Highlights from the study include the following:
- 70% of survey participants say that HazCom compliance is a high priority at their organizations.
- 53% of respondents find that obtaining and managing updated SDSs for hazardous chemicals is a challenge, making this factor the #1 pain point among businesses.
- 63% of respondents say their SDS libraries contain documents that have not yet been updated to the GHS format, though 47% indicate that more than half of their documents have been updated.
- 52% of those polled use a system that does not have the capability to provide them with access to GHS-updated SDSs.
- 11% are “not confident” that their SDSs are current for each chemical.
- 53% of respondents say the biggest challenge to providing HazCom/GHS training is difficulty organizing the training around variable employee work schedules.
“The results of this survey confirm what we’ve suspected for a while now that despite a four-year transition period, confusion around GHS remains rampant,” said Glenn Trout, president and CEO of VelocityEHS. “The reality is that GHS isn’t going away; OSHA has already indicated its intent to review and align with future revisions of the GHS – most recently setting its attention on aligning with GHS Revision 7. It’s critical that employers address any confusion they have about GHS now and continue to work towards building a strong foundation with the most up-to-date SDSs and properly formatted labels in place that will make adopting any future changes an easier process moving forward.”
Download the entire survey report HERE.
About VelocityEHS and MSDSonline
VelocityEHS is the leading global provider of cloud-based environment, health and safety (EHS) software. Its comprehensive software platform and innovative mobile applications, including its award-winning MSDSonline chemical inventory management solutions, aim to make enterprise-level EHS functionality accessible and affordable to businesses of all sizes, helping them solve complex compliance and regulatory challenges in simple ways. Today, more than 13,000 customers worldwide, from virtually every industry, trust VelocityEHS and its solutions to improve EHS performance. Recognized by the industry’s top independent analysts, including leading scores in the Verdantix 2017 Green Quadrant Analysis and 2017 NAEM EHS & Sustainability Software Ratings Report, VelocityEHS helps customers reach their EHS goals faster with quick implementations, affordable solutions and unparalleled customer support. VelocityEHS is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois with locations in Canada, the UK and Australia. For more information, visit www.EHS.com. VelocityEHS is an Actua (Nasdaq: ACTA) company.