As of March 20, 2012, OSHA has announced that it has revised its Hazard Communication Standard, to align it with the United Nations' global chemical labeling system. Although this standard is not expected to be fully implemented until 2016, and employers are not required to train to it until December 1, 2013, this is a change that affects virtually every workplace in the US. It is designed to make the implementation of the Hazard Communicaton Standard more standardized and to eliminate some of the inconsistencies that have plagued employers and confused both employees and employers. From Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels: "OSHA's 1983 Hazard Communication Standard gave workers the right to know. As one participant expressed during our rulemaking process, this update will give them the right to understand, as well."