[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 221 (Thursday, November 15, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 68152]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing 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: 
[email protected].
    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