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705 Hazard Communication Program
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The Classification Process

Chemical manufacturers and importers must follow a formal classification process to determine health hazards, physical hazards, and the degree of hazard. The steps in the process include the following:

Identify and analyze data to categorize chemicals.
  1. Identify: Review the relevant data regarding the hazards of a chemical. There is no requirement to test the chemical to determine how to classify its hazards.
  2. Analyze: Compare and analyze the data to determine the hazards associated with the chemical; and
  3. Categorize: Decide whether the chemical will be classified as hazardous according to the definition of hazardous chemicals.

Mixtures

To classify mixtures, chemical manufacturers and importers may rely on the information provided on the current safety data sheets of the individual chemical ingredients except where the chemical manufacturer or importer knows, or should know, that the safety data sheet misstates or omits relevant information.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

1-10. What must chemical manufacturers and importers rely on to classify mixtures?