In 1983, OSHA enacted the Hazard Communication Standard to ensure the hazards of all chemicals produced or imported are classified and information on the classified hazards is communicated to employers and their employees through a comprehensive hazard communication program, container labeling, material safety data sheets and employee training.
The United Nations Globally Harmonized System for the classification and labeling of chemicals provides a specific set of criteria to standardize the classification and labeling of chemicals worldwide according to their health and physical hazards.