In June 2019, U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited Ohio Gratings, a manufacturer of aluminum, stainless steel, and carbon products, nearly $200,000 for a variety of health and safety violations, including the improper labeling of a dip tank. The same year, OSHA cited Champion Modular, a Pennsylvania modular home manufacturer, nearly $700,000 in fines, including for the lack of proper labeling of a chain hoist that ultimately caused a worker serious bodily injury.
Labeling is serious business—not just because it can result in hefty fines, but because people’s lives are at stake.
In the U.S., the federal agency in charge of chemical labeling is the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The law in question is the Hazard Communications Standard (HazCom), which requires entities at all levels of the supply chain, from manufacturing to final use, to maintain clear labels and safety data sheets (SDS) about potentially hazardous substances.
HazCom is the second most frequently cited federal workplace safety and health standard, behind only the construction industry’s fall protection standard. While these violations don’t always make front-page news, they happen more often than you’d think. Between October 2018-September 2019, OSHA cited the HCS 4,102 times, resulting in $5.1 million in fines.
This is why GHS (Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals) labels are such an important line of business for print distributors. GHS provides an internationally recognized standard for identifying chemical hazards throughout any facility, and GHS labels are automatically HazCom compliant. By pursuing GHS labels as a line of business, your clients benefit—and you do, too.
Why GHS Labels Are an Important Line of Business
GHS labels are complex products, and learning their requirements can take time. However, it’s an investment worth making. Many clients don’t realize the danger in which they are placing themselves either by being unaware of OSHA labeling requirements or not paying attention to them. By helping your clients develop GHS-compliant labels, you greatly increase your value to your clients and help them avoid potentially disastrous fines.
Selling GHS labels has great benefits for you, too. They offer these key benefits:
- GHS labels are sticky. They are custom designed for each client based on regulatory requirements, environmental conditions, and more. Once you and the client have designed the label to a set of exacting specifications, you are not going to lose that business easily.
- GHS labels are highly repeatable. They are ordered again, and again, and again. Once they are set up, they are not going to change frequently, if at all. Once you set up GHS label jobs, you bring in recurring revenue with very little effort.
- GHS labels are highly profitable. Often, this profit is in the neighborhood of 30% gross margin.
- Knowledge of GHS labels helps you to cement long-term relationships and win other business inside the client’s company.
Who Needs GHS-Compliant Labels?
What are the top industries needing GHS-compliant labels?
- Medical and chemical supplies
- Industrial sealants, coatings, and primers
- Automotive manufacturing
- Waste management and remediation services
- Agricultural (fertilizers)
What’s in a GHS-Compliant Label?
Regardless of industry, there are three components to a GHS label:
- Contents. GHS labels must contain a variety of information, from clear identification of the substance inside the container to hazards statements, precautionary statements, and contact information of the companies responsible for the container’s contents. For details on these requirements, see OSHA 1910.1200.
- Materials. Selecting materials for GHS labels often comes down to the environments in which the products are designed to be stored or transported. For example, chemical drums transported by sea must comply with British Standard 5609 (BS 5609), which means they must survive being submerged in sea water for three months. Other environmental hazards might include long exposure to direct sunlight, harsh weather conditions, or high humidity. Because of the harsh conditions to which most GHS labels are subjected, stocks used for these applications are generally synthetic, such as vinyl or polyester.
- Production method. Not every printing method will produce GHS-compliant labels. There are three main printing methods used—inkjet, laser, and thermal transfer—each of which has different capabilities to meet both general HazCom requirements and specific individual standards such as BS 5609. Wise offers a variety of printing technologies to meet every GHS labeling need. Our range of equipment ensures that we have the right equipment for every market vertical and application.
Don’t Take Chances
Manufacturers and importers of chemicals simply can’t afford to take chances with GHS labeling. Getting in line with HazCom and creating labels that stand up to high levels of strain and punishment is an essential way to help your clients avoid penalties, make products safer for users at all levels, and set their companies up for success. Plus, they are a highly profitable line of business for you.
Want to learn more? Download our free white paper “GHS Labeling: Protecting Your Clients from OSHA Violations,” or contact your Wise sales representative.
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Confused by all the terminology around HazCom labels? Check out our blog post “DeMystifying Hazardous Communications Labels” here.
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