We have expertise in human factors and the environment in workplace, consumer and community settings. We evaluate communications, including labels and Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs), against historic and present-day standards and norms. We can provide support in matters of chronic, acute and general environmental hazard communication. We can provide expert assistance regarding compliance with OSHA, CPSC, and/or EPA regulations, as well as state-specific regulations such as California's Proposition 65.
Our expertise has been applied to a variety of chemicals and hazards such as:
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We have an extensive reference library related to environmental hazard communication spanning the early 20th century through the present. Some of the resources we regularly consider include the following:
Workplace settings- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations, rulemakings, and interpretations
- OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (“HazCom” or HCS)
- OSHA chemical-specific standards (Vinyl Chloride Standard, Asbestos Standard, Benzene Standard, etc.)
- OSHA Air Contaminants Standard
- OSHA Respiratory Protection Standard
- Bureau of Mines (BOM) and Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) regulations
- ANSI Z129.1 and ANSI Z400.1 standards for chemical labeling and Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs)
- State regulations
- American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Values (TLVs)
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Health Hazard Evaluations (HHEs)
Consumer Settings
- Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) regulations
- Federal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA)
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations
- Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)
- State regulations (e.g., California’s Proposition 65)
Historical Settings
- Pre-OSHA safety and health regulations (e.g., Longshoremen’s and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act)
- Pre-OSHA hazard communication regulations (e.g., Department of Labor Hazardous Materials Regulations for Ship Repairing, Shipbuilding, and Shipbreaking)
- OSHA Cancer Policy
- Manufacturing Chemists’ Association (MCA) Manual L-1: Guide to Precautionary Labeling of Hazardous Chemicals
- National Toxicology Program (NTP) Reports on Carcinogens
- International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Monographs and carcinogen classifications
- American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Values (TLVs)
- Trade and industry publications