Introduction to GHS
Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals
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What is GHS?
Who does it effect?
Why is it being implemented?
What will change?
How can employers prepare their employees?
What tools are available to help employers achieve compliance with
the new standard?
What is GHS?
Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals
GHS: Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals
HAZARD COMMUNICATION STANDARD:
In order to ensure chemical safety in the workplace, information about the identities and hazards
of the chemicals must be available and understandable to workers. OSHA’s Hazard
Communication Standard (HCS) requires the development and dissemination of such
information:
– Chemical manufacturers and importers are required to evaluate the hazards of the
chemicals they produce or import, and prepare labels and Safety Data Sheets to convey
the hazard information to their downstream customers;
– All employers with hazardous chemicals in their workplaces must have labels and Safety
Data Sheets (SDS) for their exposed workers, and train them to handle the chemicals
appropriately.
What is GHS?
Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals
What is changing and what does this mean to employers and employees?
CHANGES:
Hazard classification: provides specific criteria for classification of health and physical hazards, as
well as classification of mixtures.
Labels: Chemical manufacturers and importers will be required to provide a label that includes a
harmonized signal word, pictogram, and hazard statement for each hazard class and category.
Precautionary statements must also be provided.
Safety Data Sheets: Will now have specified 16-section format.
Information and training: Employers are required to train workers by December 1, 2013 on the new
label elements and Safety Data Sheets format to facilitate recognition and understanding.
The above information can be found at www.osha.gov/dsg/hazcom
Label Change Example
Additions like pictograms and signal word changes (“Warning”)
are likely on most cleaning chemicals.
GHS
Important Dates for employers, distributors and manufacturers
Employers with staff who use cleaning chemicals:
Important Dates: December 1, 2013 and June 1, 2016
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Employers who come into contact with cleaning chemicals as part of his or her jobs must be trained on
how to read GHS formatted labels and SDS by December 1, 2013.
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By June 1, 2016 employers must be in full compliance with revised OSHA Hazard Communication
Standards including complete training of employees on new hazards and/or revisions to workplace
hazard communication program.
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“Full compliance” includes:
– Updated SDS and chemical stock with the GHS compliant labels.
– All employees trained on how to read SDS and GHS compliant labels.
Cleaning Chemical Distributors:
Important Date: December 1, 2015
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Distributors of chemicals must comply fully with HCS (OSHA Hazard Communication Standard)
requirements by December 1, 2015. This means that distributors must stop shipping products labeled
under the old system.
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All chemicals sold must be accompanied by an SDS.
Cleaning Chemical Manufacturers:
Important Date: June 1, 2015
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Manufacturers of chemicals must comply fully with HCS (OSHA Hazard Communication Standard)
requirements by June 1, 2015.
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All chemicals sold must have updated labels and be accompanied by an SDS.
MSDS  SDS Training
Employee Training Requirement
Effective December 1, 2013 OSHA requires that all employers with hazardous
chemicals in their workplace train employees on new label elements and Safety
Data Sheets (SDS), formerly known as Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) as
part of the GHS revision to the OSHA Hazard Communications Standard. (This
includes all cleaning chemicals)
What resources are available to help me train
my employees by December 1, 2013?
To support our customers, EnvirOx has reviewed many of the training options
available. Our goal is to recommend a thorough, user-friendly and cost effective
solution to help customers meet the upcoming December 1, 2013 OSHA deadline.
ISSA GHS Training System
ISSA GHS Training System is…
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Cost-effective at $12 per employee
Meets SDS training requirements
Easy to use
From the leading resource organization for the JanSan industry
How It Works:
1. Go to http://issa.learnercommunity.com/home
2. Register by clicking the “Log In/Register”
3. Go to “Course Catalog”
4. Click on “Hazard Communications 2012 SDS, Pictograms and Label Elements”
5. Click “ADD TO CART”
6. Check out
7. Watch the training
8. Complete the quiz
9. Print and file the completion page for your employees’ files and proof of compliance
Next Steps
Go to http://issa.learnercommunity.com/home