If you’re a regular visitor to the Safety+Health website, you may have noticed a new feature – a clock counting down to the first compliance date for OSHA’s new Hazard Communication Standard.

Employers have until the end of the business day local time on Dec. 1 to have their employees trained on the Hazcom Standard, including how to read and understand the new labels.

I recommend viewing the countdown clock as a gentle, persistent reminder to ensure you have all the necessary training done on time. It would not be particularly wise, I believe, to view the clock as a means to learn how much longer you can put off the requirements.

As an OSHA spokesperson told me recently, “OSHA recommends that a company does not wait until the last minute.”

If you’re not sure where to start, check out this article I wrote to find out exactly what needs to be done by Dec. 1.

The opinions expressed in "Washington Wire" do not necessarily reflect those of the National Safety Council or affiliated local Chapters.