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The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) is rolling out an initiative designed to streamline the safety data sheet (SDS) process under which chemical information is provided by suppliers to retailers. The association represents major U.S. retailers such as Target, Walmart, Lowe’s, the Home Depot, Sears, jcpenney and Walgreens.
Retailers require detailed information to safely handle chemical products in accordance with various regulations promulgated by federal agencies such as OSHA, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and EPA. In an effort to enhance efficiency in the requests made by retailers, RILA created an SDS template, which aligns with the 16-section format prescribed by OSHA’s hazard communication (HazCom) standard.
“The recent changes to the HazCom standard provide an opportunity for the retail industry to upgrade requests for chemical information since chemical manufacturers must rewrite their SDS’s based on the global harmonization criteria,” said Lisa LaBruno, senior vice president of retail operations for RILA. “Consistent retailer requests will enhance supply chain efficiency and communication regarding chemical information, as well as assist retailers in properly handling chemical products for the benefit of customers, workers, communities and the environment.”
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