California State University, Northridge
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
GHS Hazard Communication
Employee Training
November 2013
OBJECTIVES:
 Understand Hazard
Communication including
revisions to GHS
 Label Requirements
 Safety Data Sheets
Purpose of Hazard Communication Standard
The Hazard Communication Standard provides
employers and employees with information
about the chemical hazards on the job, and how
to protect against those hazards.
Globally Harmonized System (GHS)
2012 Revisions of the Hazard
Communication Standard (HCS)
conform with the United Nations‘
GHS System.
GOAL:
 To provide a common and
coherent approach for
classifying chemicals.
 Communicate hazard
information on labels and
safety data sheets.
Globally Harmonized System (GHS)
Major Changes:
Label Requirements
Safety Data Sheets
Who is Affected?
Manufacturers, Distributors, Importers:
 Change SDS information, format and labeling.
Employers:
 Train employees on changes to SDS and Labels.
Employees:
 Recognize and understand new labels and SDS.
Hazard Communication Standard – General Training
EMPLOYER RESPONSIBILITY:
 Implement a Written Program.
 Identify and list hazardous chemicals in
the workplace.
 Obtain Safety Data Sheets and labels for
chemicals.
 Communicate hazard information to
employees.
Hazard Communication Standard – General Training
Training is required for employees who
are exposed to hazardous chemicals in
their work area:
At the time of initial
assignment
 Whenever a new hazard
is introduced into their work area

Employer Responsibility
 The Written Program is managed by CSUN
Department of Environmental Health and Safety &
Risk Management (EH&S)
 Information regarding hazardous chemicals used in
this workplace can be found by contacting
individual faculty, or the EH&S office.
 Use the internet to obtain the latest SDS on
chemicals used in the individual lab.
 For further information contact: William Lee, dept
safety coordinator, at extension 3371.
What is a Hazardous Chemical?
Any chemical classified as a physical or
health hazard that can do harm to your
body.
How Chemicals Enter the Body
 Ingestion – swallowing the
chemical
 Inhalation – breathing in the
chemical
 Absorption – chemical passes
through the skin
The Three Forms of Chemicals
Solid
Liquid
Gas
9
Label Requirements:
Each container of hazardous
chemicals entering the workplace
must be labeled or marked with:




Identity of the chemical
Appropriate hazard warnings
Name and address of the responsible
party
Labels must be legible and in English.
Label Requirements:
Chemical manufacturers and importers
must provide a label that includes:
Product Identifier
Signal word
Pictogram
Hazard Statement
Precautionary Statement for each hazard
class and category.
Supplier Information
label requirements
Labels Requirements - Secondary Containers
 Same label as the
original label
OR
 Product Identifier
 Words, pictures,
symbols, or a
combination
 No conflicting hazard
statements or
warnings.
Training – Shipping Labels
 Effective June 1, 2015 all shipping labels will be
required to have all GHS label elements.
 Department of Transportation (DOT) regulates
shipping containers and has unique pictograms.
Transport Pictograms
Flammable Liquid Flammable Gas
Flammable Aerosol
Flammable solid Self-Reactive
Substances
Pyrophorics (Spontaneously
Combustible) Self-Heating Substances
Substances, which in contact with water,
emit flammable gases (Dangerous When
Wet)
Oxidizing Gases Oxidizing Liquids
Oxidizing Solids
Explosive Divisions 1.1, 1.2, 1.3
Explosive Division 1.4
Explosive Division 1.5
Explosive Division 1.6
Compressed Gases
Acute Toxicity (Poison): Oral, Dermal,
Inhalation
Corrosive
Marine Pollutant
Organic Peroxides
Label Requirements – Pictograms
Label Requirements – Pictograms
 9 pictograms (8) regulated by OSHA
 Categorized as follows:
Health Hazards
Physical Hazards
Environmental Hazards*
Label Requirements – Pictograms: Health Hazards
Acute Toxicity ( Fatal/ Toxic)
Irritant/Skin Sensitizer
Skin Corrosion/Serious eye
damage
Carcinogen
Respiratory sensitizer
Reproductive toxicity
Pictogram – Health Hazard, Acute Toxicity
Pictogram – Health Hazard, Irritant
Pictogram – Health Hazard
skin corrosion/ serious eye damage
Pictogram – Health Hazard, Carcinogen
Label Requirements – Pictograms: Physical Hazards
 Explosives
 Flammables
 Gases Under Pressure
 Oxidizers
 Corrosive to Metals
Pictogram– Physical Hazard, Explosive
Pictogram– Physical Hazard, Flammable
Pictogram – Physical Hazard, Gas Under Pressure
Pictogram – Physical Hazard, Oxidizer
Pictogram – Physical Hazard, Corrosive to Metals
Pictogram – Environmental Hazard
Acute Aquatic Toxicity
Label Requirements - Pictograms, review
 Can you identify which are the health
hazards and physical hazards pictogram?
 Which pictogram is not regulated by
OSHA?
Label Requirements - Signal Words
Used to indicate severity of hazard:
Danger - more severe
Warning - less severe
Label Requirements - Hazard Statements
Standardized sentences that describe
level of hazard
Label Requirements– Precautionary Statements
 Steps employees can take to protect
themselves
Safety Data Sheets
 Must be in English
 Required to keep for at least 30 years
 Hardcopy and/or electronic
 Readily accessible
Safety Data Sheets
 Under the revised HCS Standard, Material Safety
Data Sheets (MSDS) are now called Safety Data
Sheets (SDS).
 All SDSs will have a consistent 16-section format.
Safety Data Sheets: 16 - section format:
1. Product and
Company
Identification
2. Hazard Identification
3. Composition /
Information On
Ingredients
4. First Aid Measures
5. Fire Fighting
Measures
6. Accidental Release
Measures
7. Handling and Storage
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
Exposure Control /
Personal Protection
Physical and Chemical
Properties
Stability and Reactivity
Toxicological Information
Ecological Information
Disposal Considerations
Transport Information
Regulatory Information
Other Information
Safety Data Sheets: sections 12-15*
12.Ecological information*
13.Disposal considerations*
14.Transportation information*
15.Regulatory information*
16.Other information
* These sections will not be enforced by OSHA
because they do not have jurisdiction (e.g. EPA,
DOT, CPSC, FDA).
Training – how to read a safety data sheet
 Print or download the attached file on
the sample SDS of Chlorine
Training – how to read a safety data sheet
SECTION 1 – IDENTIFICATION:
Identifies the chemical name, recommended uses and
provides the essential contact information of the supplier.
SECTION 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION:
 Appropriate warning information associated with those
hazards.
SECTION 3– COMPOSITION/INGREDIENTS:
Identifies chemical name; impurities and stabilizing Additives;
mixtures.
SECTION 4- FIRST AID MEASURES:
 Recommendations for immediate medical care; important
symptoms
Training – how to read a safety data sheet
SECTION 5 – FIRE FIGHTING MEASURES:
Suitable and unsuitable extinguishing methods.
SECTION 6 – ACCIDENTAL RELEASE MEASURES:
 Special precautions, personal protective equipment,
emergency procedures.
SECTION 7– HANDLING AND STORAGE:
Precautions for safe use and storage
SECTION 8- EXPOSURE CONTROLS/PERSONAL
PROTECTION:
 Exposure limits, engineering controls, protective
measures.
Training – how to read a safety data sheet
SECTION 9 – PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES:
Physical and chemical properties associated with
substance or mixture, such as color, odor.
SECTION 10 – STABILITY AND REACTIVITY:
 List of conditions that should be avoid, for example,
static discharge.
SECTION 11– TOXICOLOGICAL INFORMATION:
Information on routes of exposure, inhalation, ingestion,
skin and eye contact.
SECTION 12- ECOLOGICAL INFORMATION:
 Anything toxic to aquatic life, fish, birds, plants, etc…
Training – how to read a safety data sheet
SECTION 13 – DISPOSAL CONSIDERATION:
Special handling procedures for discarding waste including
types of containers.
SECTION 14 – TRANSPORT INFORMATION:
 Special conditions to move within or outside premises.
SECTION 15– REGULATORY INFORMATION:
 Additional regulatory information of the chemical or mixtures
SECTION 16 – OTHER INFORMATION
 Date of last SDS preparation or revision.
Final review
Overview of Hazard Communication
Standard
Globally Harmonized System (GHS)
Labeling Requirements
Safety Data Sheets