OSHA provides SDS guidance for fert blends

Washington—According to the Agricultural Retailers Administration (ARA), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has responded to a letter from ARA and The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) seeking clarification on whether custom blends of fertilizer are required to have labeling and safety data sheets (SDS) under the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) of 2012. The letter, which was submitted to OSHA in June 2015, also asked if agricultural retailers are required to prepare new SDSs for each custom fertilizer blend; if agricultural retailers can use a single generic SDS for multiple blends; and what OSHA recommends as guidance to accommodate custom blending operations if a generic SDS is not compliant with HCS 2012. ARA said OSHA responded by saying custom blending is considered chemical manufacturing, and does require individual labels and SDSs; and a single generic SDS is allowed for complex mixtures with similar hazards, but the concentration ranges used on a generic SDS must meet the intent to disclose the actual concentration range. ARA said OSHA also gave guidance that it believes including an HCS pictogram on a tanker or rail car is not in conflict with Department of Transportation regulations.