Presentation Transcript

2. What is the GHS? • A common and coherent approach to defining and classifying hazards, and communicating information on labels and safety data sheets. • Target audiences include workers, consumers, transport workers and emergency responders. • Provides the underlying infrastructure for establishment of national, comprehensive chemical safety programs.

3. Why is the GHS needed? • No country has the ability to identify and specifically regulate every hazardous chemical product. • For example, in the United States, there are an estimated 650,000 such products. • Adoption of requirements for information to accompany the product helps address protection needs.

4. Why? (cont.) • Many different countries have come to the same conclusion about using information dissemination as a regulatory means to address chemical hazards. • While similar, they are different enough to require multiple labels and safety data sheets for the same product in international trade.

5. Why? (cont.) • Countries with systems have different requirements for hazard definitions, as well as information to be included on a label or material safety data sheet. • For example, a product may be considered flammable or toxic in one country, but not in another to which it is being shipped.

6. Benefits of Harmonization • Countries, international organizations, chemical producers and users of chemicals all benefit. • Enhance protection of humans and environment. • Facilitate international trade in chemicals. • Reduce need for testing and evaluation. • Assist countries and international organizations to ensure the sound management of chemicals.

7. Major Existing Systems • UN Transport Recommendations • European Union (EU) Directives on Substances and Preparations • Canadian Requirements for Workplace, Consumers and Pesticides • US Requirements for Workplace, Consumers and Pesticides

8. Principles Of Harmonization • Protections will not be reduced. Comprehensibility will be key. • All types of chemicals will be covered. Categorization will be based on intrinsic properties (hazards) of chemicals. • All systems will have to be changed.

9. The Scope of the GHS • Covers all hazardous chemical substances, dilute solutions and mixtures. • Pharmaceuticals, food additives, cosmetics and pesticide residues in food will not be covered at the point of intentional intake, but will be covered where workers may be exposed, and in transport.

10. The GHS Elements Classification Criteria • Health and Environmental Hazards • Physical Hazards • Mixtures Hazard Communication • Labels • Safety Data Sheets (SDSs)

11. Health and Environmental Hazards • Acute Toxicity • Skin Corrosion/Irritation • Serious Eye Damage/Eye Irritation • Respiratory or Skin Sensitization • Germ Cell Mutagenicity • Carcinogenicity • Reproductive Toxicity • Target Organ Systemic Toxicity - Single and Repeated Dose • Hazardous to the Aquatic Environment

12. Physical Hazards • Explosives • Flammability - gases, aerosols, liquids, solids • Oxidizers - liquids, solids, gases • Self-Reactive • Pyrophoric - liquids, solids • Self-Heating • Organic Peroxides • Corrosive to Metals • Gases Under Pressure • Water-Activated Flammable Gases

13. Comprehensibility Guiding principles: • Information should be conveyed in more than one way. • The comprehensibility of the components of the system should take account of existing studies and evidence gained from testing. • The phrases used to indicate the degree (severity) of hazard should be consistent across different hazard types.

14. Labels • The UN Working Group identified about 35 different types of information that are currently required on labels by different systems. • To harmonize, key information elements needed to be identified. • Additional harmonization may occur on other elements in time, in particular for precautionary statements.

15. Key Label Elements • Product identifier • Supplier identifier • Chemical identity • Hazard pictograms* • Signal words* • Hazard statements* • Precautionary information *Standardized

16. Key Label Elements

17. Pictogram Shape and Color • For transport, pictograms will have the background and symbol colors currently used. • For other sectors, pictograms will have a black symbol on a white background with a red diamond frame. A black frame may be used for shipments within one country. • Where a transport pictogram appears, the GHS pictogram for the same hazard should not appear.

18. Transport Pictograms

19. GHS Pictograms !

20. Signal Words “Danger” or “Warning” • Used to emphasize hazard and discriminate between levels of hazard.

21. Hazard Statements • Describe nature of hazard and degree of hazard. • Harmful if swallowed. • May cause liver and kidney damage. • Highly flammable liquid and vapor. • May cause fire or explosion; strong oxidizer.

22. Precautionary Information • Recommended measures to minimize or prevent adverse effects resulting from exposure to a hazardous chemical or its improper storage/handling. • Do not eat/drink/smoke when using this product. • Keep away from heat. • Do not breathe dust or mists. • Wash hands and face thoroughly after handling.

23. Role of the SDS in the GHS • The SDS should provide comprehensive information about a chemical substance or mixture. • Primary Use: The Workplace • Employers and workers use the SDS as a source of information about hazards and to obtain advice on safety precautions.

24. SDS Format: ANSI Format

25. SECTION I Chemical Product and Company Identification Emergency Phone Number Chemical Formula Product Code/ Identifier Recommended Use SECTION II Hazard Identification Chemical Hazards GHS Pictograms and Label Requirements ANSI MSDS LAYOUT SECTIONS I & II

26. SECTION III Composition/Information on Ingredients Ingredient CAS Number Percent Laboratory Protective Equipment Storage Color Code Trade Secret Information ANSI MSDS LAYOUT SECTION III

27. SECTION IV Potential Health Effects Inhalation Ingestion Skin Contact Eye Contact First Aid Measures Inhalation Ingestion Skin Contact Eye Contact SECTION V Fire-Fighting Measures Fire Explosion Fire Extinguishing Media Special Information ANSI MSDS LAYOUT SECTIONS IV & V

28. SECTION VI Accidental Release Measures SECTION VII Handling and Storage SECTION VIII Exposure Controls/Personal Protection Airborne Exposure Limits Ventilation Systems Personal Respirators Skin Protection Eye Protection ANSI MSDS LAYOUT SECTIONS VI, VII & VIII

29. SECTION IX Properties Appearance Odor Solubility Specific Gravity pH % Volatiles by volume Boiling Point Melting Point Vapor Density (Air=1) Evaporation Rate (BuAc=1) Vapor Pressure SECTION X Stability and Reactivity Stability Hazardous Decomposition Products Hazardous Polymerization Incompatibilities Conditions to Avoid ANSI MSDS LAYOUT SECTIONS IX & X

30. SECTION XIII Disposal Considerations SECTION XIV Transportation Information Domestic (Land, DOT) International (Water, IMO) Proper Shipping Name Hazard Class UN/NA Information reported for product/size ANSI MSDS LAYOUT SECTIONS XI, XII, XIII & XIV • SECTION XI • Toxicological Information • SECTION XII • Ecological Information • Environmental Fate • Environmental Toxicity

31. SECTION XV Regulatory Information Chemical Inventory Status Federal, State and International Regulations ANSI MSDS LAYOUT SECTIONS XV & XVI • SECTION XVI • Other Information • NFPA Ratings • Label Hazard Warning • Label Precautions • Label First Aid • Product Use • Revision Information • Disclaimer • Preparer

32. Implementation Schedule • December 1, 2013 - employee training deadline • June 1, 2015 - chemical manufacturer compliance deadline • June 1, 2016 - deadline to update labeling and HazCom program including updated SDSs

33. Conclusion • Development of the GHS has been a long and complicated process. • Hopefully, it will be adopted by countries around the world and will achieve the projected benefits for protection and trade.