The Hazardous Materials Identification System, HMIS®, was developed by the National Paint & Coatings Association (NPCA) to help employers comply with OSHA's Hazard Communication (HCS), 29 CFR 1910.1200. The system utilizes colored bars, numbers and symbols to convey the hazards of chemicals used in the workplace. See below for an explanation of the system. Alas, the system is proprietary and the NPCA has apparently awarded exclusive rights for HMIS® products and services to a single vendor. In our opinion, this is a totally unacceptable arrangement that runs counter to the facile dissemination of health and safety information.