Requirements in OSHA Health Standards

There are very specific signs and label requirements in the OSHA health standards which regulate exposures to individual toxic substances. These requirements were not adopted from voluntary consensus standards, and are very specific to the type of hazard presented by the substemce. 

The OSHA authority to promulgate labeling requirements is given in Section 6(b)(7) of the Act which states  

Any standard promulgated under this subsection shall prescribe the use of labels or other appropriate forms of warning as are necessary to insure that employees are apprised of all hazards to which they are exposed, relevant symptoms and appropriate emergency treatment, and proper conditions and precautions of safe use or exposure. 

Where appropriate, such standard shall also prescribe suitable protective equipment and control or technological procedures to be used in connection with such hazards. 

Each health standard promulgated by OSHA since 1971. except for 1910.1002, Coal Tar Pitch Volatiles, contains a requirement for the posting of appropriate signs in specific locations where the substance may pose a problem to workers. Most of these same standards also contain requirements for the labeling of containers. 

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