[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 221 (Thursday, November 15, 2012)][Notices][Page 68152]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-27751]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Preparations for the 24th Session of the UN Sub-committee of
Experts on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and
Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) and Stakeholder Meeting
AGENCY: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Labor.
ACTION: Notice of Public Meeting.
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SUMMARY: OSHA invites interested parties to participate in an open,
informal public meeting to discuss proposals in preparation for the
24th session of the United Nations Sub-committee of Experts on the
Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals
(UNSCEGHS). The UNSCEGHS meeting will be held December 12-14, 2012, in
Geneva, Switzerland. OSHA, along with the U.S. Interagency GHS
Coordinating Group, plans to consider the comments and information
gathered at this public meeting when developing the U.S. Government
positions for the UNSCEGHS meeting.
DATES: The date for the public meeting is as follows: November 28,
2012, beginning at 2 p.m., in Washington, DC.
ADDRESSES: The location for the public meeting is as follows: The U.S.
Department of Labor, Francis Perkins Building, 200 Constitution Avenue
NW., Washington, DC 20210, Room C5320, and Conference Room 6.
Conference Call Information: Conference call-in capability will be
provided for this meeting. To participate by telephone, dial 1-800-369-
1938, and enter participant passcode 12725. During the call, please
press *6 to mute/unmute your individual lines.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maureen Ruskin, Director, Office of
Chemical Hazards-Metals, OSHA Directorate of Standards and Guidance,
Room N-3718, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW.,
Washington DC 20210; telephone: (202) 693-1950; email:
ruskin.maureen@dol.gov.
Copies of this Federal Register notice can be obtained as follows:
Electronic copies are available at http://www.regulations.gov. This
Federal Register notice, as well as other relevant information, is
available also on the OSHA Web page at http://www.osha.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Meeting
OSHA is hosting an open informal public meeting of the U.S.
Interagency GHS Coordinating Group to provide interested groups and
individuals with an update on GHS-related issues and an opportunity to
express their views orally and in writing for consideration in
developing U.S. Government positions for the upcoming UNSCEGHS meeting.
The public is invited to attend without prior notification.
The Meeting Agenda, in general, is as follows:
Discussion of working papers for the 24th Session of the
UNSCEGHS
Update on UNSCEGHS correspondence group activity
Discussion of the program of work for the 2013-2014
biennium
II. Background
The GHS was formally adopted by the United Nations Committee of
Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods and on the Globally
Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals in
December 2002. The GHS is a single, harmonized system for
classification of chemicals according to their health, physical, and
environmental effects. It also provides harmonized communication
elements, including labels and safety data sheets. The GHS is
considered to be a living document and is regularly revised and updated
as necessary to reflect new technology and scientific developments or
to provide additional explanatory text. OSHA incorporated the GHS 3rd
revision into its Hazard Communication Standard on March 26th of this
year, 77 FR 17574, and intends to update the standard from time to time
through rulemaking in order to remain consistent with any revisions to
the GHS as appropriate under the OSH Act.
The UNSCEGHS is responsible for maintaining and updating the GHS.
The U.S. has been an active member of the UNSCEGHS for many years, and
OSHA currently serves as the head of the U.S. delegation for this Sub-
committee.
In preparation for the bi-annual meetings of the UNSCEGHS, the U.S.
Interagency GHS Coordinating Group meets to discuss issues related to
the GHS and to develop a coordinated U.S. position on issues and
proposals regarding the GHS. The U.S. Interagency Coordinating Group
consists of U.S. agencies that regulate in the area of chemical hazard
communication and includes the Department of Transportation (DOT), the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Consumer Product Safety
Commission (CPSC), and OSHA.
Information on the work of the UNSCEGHS, including meeting agendas,
reports, and documents from previous sessions, can be found on the
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Transport
Division Web site located at the following web address: http://www.unece.org/trans/danger/publi/ghs/ghs_welcome_e.html.
The UNSCEGHS bases its decisions on Working Papers. The Working Papers for the 24th
session of the UNSCEGHS are located at http://www.unece.org/trans/main/dgdb/dgsubc4/c42012.html.
Informal Papers submitted to the UNSCEGHS provide information for
the subcommittee and are used either as a mechanism to provide
information to the subcommittee or as the basis for future Working
Papers. Informal Papers for the 24th session of the UNSCEGHS are
located at: http://www.unece.org/trans/main/dgdb/dgsubc4/c4inf24.html.
Authority and Signature
This document was prepared under the direction of David Michaels,
Ph.D., MPH, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and
Health, U.S. Department of Labor, pursuant to sections 4, 6, and 8 of
the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 653, 655,
657), and Secretary's Order 1-2012 (77 FR 3912), (Jan. 25, 2012).
Signed at Washington, DC, on November 9, 2012.
David Michaels,
Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health.
[FR Doc. 2012-27751 Filed 11-14-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-26-P
