Hazardous Materials Identification System®

ACA’s Hazards Materials Identification System®

ACA’s Hazardous Materials Identification System (HMIS®) and corresponding HMIS® Implementation Manual, Fourth Edition aid employers with the development and implementation of a comprehensive Hazard Communication Program. The program and manual address hazard assessment, labeling, Safety Data Sheets (SDS), and employee training. 

ACA’s HMIS® hazard rating scheme is designed to be compatible with workplace labeling requirements of the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) revised Hazard Communication Standard (HCS). It is constructed to communicate in-plant hazard information to employees through training and the use of colors, numbers, letters of the alphabet, and symbols of types of personnel protective equipment (PPE). 

Everything You Need for HCS Compliance

Intro to the revised HCS

The OSHA standard titled “Hazard Communication” found in Title 29 (Labor) of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 1910, section 1200, requires chemical manufacturers, importers, distributors, and employers to provide hazard information to employees and customers. This standard was revised and published on March 26, 2012 to align with the United Nations’ Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) and provides specific requirements for labeling, SDS elements, and training. 
 

Using the employee training guide

HMIS® serves as a primary means of complying with the OSHA HCS workplace labeling component and ACA’s HMIS® Implementation Manual may be used as the basis of a written hazard communication program. The training portions of the implementation process have been realigned to satisfy OSHA’s requirements for workplace labeling of hazardous materials and employee instruction per the revised HCS. 

Safety data sheets (SDS) in conjunction with HMIS

The revised OSHA HCS mandates new requirements for assignment of hazard ratings based on the United Nations’ Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling (GHS). These new hazard classification requirements affect the hazard information on both safety data sheets (SDSs) and labels. Specifically, to align with the GHS, chemical manufacturers and importers must now evaluate hazards based on specific criteria outlined in the revised HCS and provide GHS-conforming SDS and labels that include a harmonized signal word, pictogram and hazard statement for each hazard class and category. Precautionary statements must also be provided. HMIS® provides a consistent method of hazard communication during this transition period, and will continue to provide a consistent method of hazard communication when the regulation is fully implemented. 
 

Convert OSHA HCS Classifications to HMIS

ACA’s HMIS® Implementation Manual contains an entire chapter dedicated to applying the Comparison Tables to generate HMIS® ratings using SDSs that contain GHS classifications, pictograms, signal words and hazard statements, offering numerous, step-by-step examples, enabling employers to determine HMIS® hazard ratings from the information provided on shipped container labels and in SDSs. The manual’s exclusive Comparison Tables are designed to provide the user a simple means of converting GHS classifications to HMIS® ratings. 
 

And much more!

HMIS® provides a checklist of items OSHA requires in a written hazard communication program; a glossary of terms, and answers to frequently asked questions. The HMIS® Implementation Manual also includes an appendix that should be used for determining hazard ratings for existing MSDS and non-GHS information.