What GHS?Logical and comprehensive approach to:

• Defining health, physical and environmental hazards of chemicals

• Creating classification processes that use available data on chemicals for comparison with the defined hazard criteria

• Communicating hazard information, as well as protective measures, on Labels and Safety Data Sheets (SDS)

The GHS itself is not a standard or a regulation.

The GHS document (referred to as “the purple book”) establishes agreed hazard classification and

communication provisions with explanatory

information on how to apply the system

The GHS document “the purple book” establishes agreed hazard classification and communication provisions with explanatory information on how to apply the system

The GHS itself is not a standard or a regulation

What is GHS?

Why is GHS Necessary?

• The primary purpose of GHS is to reduce illness and injury caused by chemicals

• OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard was published in 1983 • Resulted in a <42% in acute illness and

injuries from chemicals

Why is GHS Necessary?

• In the US alone there are many different classification systems used by various authorities.

This means that the same product can be non-hazardous or hazardous with

different labels and SDS

GHS BenefitsOverall

• Enhance the protection of human health and the environment

• Provide a recognized framework to develop regulations

• Facilitate international trade in chemicals whose hazards have been identified on an international basis

• Reduce the need for testing and evaluation against multiple classification systems

GHS Timeline in US

• December 1, 2013 train employees on the new label system

• June 1, 2015 comply with all modified provisions of the final rule, except:

Distributers may ship products labeled under the old system until Dec 1, 2015

• During transition may comply with 29CFR1910.1200 or current standard

GHS Major Elements

• Classification- Physical- Health- Environmental

• Communication- Labels- Safety Data Sheets

GHS Classification

• Definitions changed to provide specific criteria for classification: – health and physical hazards – Classifications of mixtures

• Specific Criteria will help ensure: – Evaluations of hazardous effects are

consistent across manufacturers – Labels and SDS’s are more accurate

GHS Classification

• Chemicals are first classified by one or more of three Hazard Classes: – Physical, Health or Environmental

• Each Hazard Class is divided onto hazard categories– Hazard categories may be further divided

into • divisions, types, groups etc..

Physical Hazards

• Explosives• Flammable gasses• Flammable aerosols• Oxidizing gasses• Gasses under pressure• Flammable liquids• Flammable solids• Self-reactive substances

Physical Hazards

• Pyrophoric liquids• Pyrophoric solids• Self heating substances• Substances which in contact with water

emit flammable gasses• Oxidizing liquids• Oxidizing solids• Organic peroxides• Corrosive to metal

Health Hazards

• Acute toxicity• Skin corrosion/irritation• Serious eye damage/eye irritation• Respiratory or skin sensitive• Germ cell mutantgency• Carcinogenicity• Reproductive toxicity

Health Hazards

• Target organ/systemic toxicity-single dose

• Target organ/systemic toxicity-repeated exposure

• Aspiration toxicity

Environmental Hazards

• Hazardous to aquatic environment– Acute aquatic toxicity– Chronic aquatic toxicity• Bioaccumulation• Rapid degradability

Hazard Communication

• Once the chemical has been classified, the hazard(s) MUST be communicated to target audiences

• The international mandate for the GHS included to development of a harmonized communication system including:– Labels– Safety Data Sheets (SDS)– Easily understandable symbols

Pictograms

• Pictogram is a communication:– Intended to convey specific information– 9 pictograms to convey:• Health hazards• Physical hazards• Environmental hazards

Pictograms

Health Hazard• Carcinogen• Mutagen• Respiratory sensitizer• Reproductive toxicity• Target organ toxicity• Aspiration toxicity

Pictograms

Flame• Flammables• Pryophorics• Self-Heating• Emits flammable gas• Self-reactive• Organic peroxides

Pictograms

Exclamation mark• Irritant (skin and eye)• Skin sensitizer• Acute toxicity (harmful)• Narcotic effects• Respiratory tract irritant• Hazardous to ozone

layer

Pictograms

Gas cylinder• Gas under pressure

Flame over circle•Oxidizers

Pictograms

Corrosion• Skin corrosion/burns• Eye damage• Corrosive to metals

Exploding bomb•Explosives•Self-reactives•Organic peroxides

PictogramsSkull and crossbones• Acute toxicity (fatal or

toxic)

Environment(non-mandatory)•Aquatic toxicity

Labels

Existing systems have labels that look different for the same product. Which leads to confusion, consumer uncertainty and the need for additional resources to maintain different systems

Label Elements• Signal word: is a word that typically

appears near the top of a label. Final rule requires the use of 1 of 2 signal words– DANGER– WARNING

• Hazard Statements describe the hazards associated with a chemical. – Intended to form a set of standardized

phrases about the hazards of chemical substances

Hazard Statements, Physical Hazards

Code Physical hazard statement

GHS Hazard Class Hazard Category

H200 Unstable explosive Explosives Unstable

H201 Explosive: mass explosive hazard

Explosives Div 1.1

H202 Explosive, severe projection hazard

Explosives Div 1.2

H203 Explosive: fire, blast or projection hazard

Explosives Div 1.3

H204 Fire or projection hazard Explosives Div 1.4

H205 May mass explode in fire Explosives Div 1.5

H220 Extremely flammable gas Flammable gasses 1

H221 Flammable gas Flammable gasses 2

Hazard Statements, Health Hazards

Code Health hazard statement GHS Hazard Class Hazard Category

H300 Fatal if swallowed Acute toxicity, oral 1,2

H301 Toxic if swallowed Acute toxicity, oral 3

H302 Harmful if swallowed Acute toxicity, oral 4

H303 May be harmful if swallowed

Acute toxicity, oral 5

H304 May be fatal if swallowed and enters airway

Aspiration hazard 1

H305 May be harmful if swallowed and enters

airways

Aspiration hazard 2

H310 Fatal in contact with skin Acute toxicity, dermal 1,2

H311 Toxic in contact with skin Acute toxicity, dermal 3

H312 Harmful in contact with skin

Acute toxicity, dermal 4

Label Elements

Precautionary statements

Indicate how the product should be handled, used and stored to minimize risks to the user and the environment

Label Elements

Precautionary statements• General statements

- If medical advice is needed, have product container or label at hand- Keep out of reach of children- Read Label before use

Label Elements

Precautionary statements• Prevention statements

- Obtain special instructions before use- Do not handle until all safety precautions have been read- Keep away from heat/sparks or open flames- Ground/bond container and receiving equipment- Wear protective gloves/clothing/eye protection- Use required PPE

Label Elements

Precautionary statements• Response statements

- IF SWALLOWED- IF ON SKIN- IF ON SKIN OR HAIR- IF INHALED- IF IN EYES- IF ON CLOTHING

Label Elements

Precautionary statements• Storage statements– Store in closed container– Store locked up– Store in corrosive resistant container– Maintain air gap between stacks and

pallets– Store away from other materials– Store is dry place

Label Elements

Precautionary statements• storage statements– Store in closed container– Store in well ventilated place– Keep container tightly closed

• Disposal statements– Dispose of contents/container….

Safety Data Sheets (SDS)

The GHS established a standardized 16 section format for SDS to provide a consistent sequence for presentation to SDS users.

Items of primary concern to exposed employees and emergency responders are presented at the beginning of the document, while more technical information is presented later

SDS Format

• Section 1: identification - Product identifier used on label- Other means of identification- Recommended use- Restrictions on use- Name, address and phone number of the

chemical manufacturer, importer or responsible party

SDS format

• Section 2: Hazard(s) identification- Classification of the chemical in accordance with 1910.1200- Signal word- Hazard statements- Symbols

SDS Format

• Section 3: composition/information on chemicals- Chemical name and concentration if it’s a mixture- CAS number- Common name- Other unique identifiers

SDS Format

• Section 4: First aid measures- Description of measures for all routes of exposure- Most important symptoms/effects, acute and delayed- Identification of immediate medical attention or special treatment needed, if necessary

SDS Format

• Section 5: Fire-fighting measures- Suitable extinguishing media- Specific hazards arising from chemical fire- Special protective equipment or precautions for fire-fighters

SDS Format

• Section 6: Accidental release measures- Personal precautions, PPE and protective equipment- Methods for containment and clean up

SDS Format

• Section 7: Handling and storage- Precautions for safe handling- conditions for safe storage, including any incompatibilities

SDS Format

• Section 8: Exposure controls- OSHA PEL ACGIH TLV and any other exposure limit used or recommended by the chemical manufacturer

SDS Format

• Section 9: Physical and Chemical properties- Appearance- Odor- pH- Flash point- Vapor density- Vapor pressure- IDLH- Upper/lower explosive limit

SDS Format

• Section 10: Stability and reactivity- Reactivity- Chemical stability- Possibility of hazardous reactions- Conditions to avoid- Incompatible materials- Hazardous decomposition products

SDS Format

• Section 11: Toxicological information- Information on likely routes of exposure- Symptoms related to exposure- Delayed effects from long term exposure- Numerical measures of toxicity- If product listed as carcinogen in NTP

SDS Format

Sections 12-15 are not mandatory• Section 12: Ecological information• Section 13: Disposal considerations• Section 14: Transport information• Section 15: Regulatory information• Section 16: Other information• Including date of SDS or last revision