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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Benefits of Harmonization
> Countries, international organizations,
chemical producers and users of chemicals
all benefit.
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• 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.
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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
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Principles Of Harmonization
> Protections will not be reduced.
Comprehensibility will be key.
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> All types of chemicals will be covered.
Categorization will be based on intrinsic
properties (hazards) of chemicals.
> All systems will have to be changed.
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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.
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The GHS Elements
Classification Criteria
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• Health and Environmental Hazards
• Physical Hazards
• Mixtures
Hazard Communication
• Labels
• Safety Data Sheets (SDSs)
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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
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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
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Comprehensibility
Guiding principles:

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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.
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Labels

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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.
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Key Label Elements
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Product identifier
Supplier identifier
Chemical identity
Hazard pictograms*
Signal words*
Hazard statements*
Precautionary information
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*Standardized
Key Label Elements
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Pictogram Shape and Color

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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.
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Transport Pictograms
GHS Pictograms
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Signal Words
“Danger” or “Warning”
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
Used to emphasize hazard and discriminate
between levels of hazard.
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Hazard Statements
 Describe nature of hazard and degree of
hazard.
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•
•
•
•
Harmful if swallowed.
May cause liver and kidney damage.
Highly flammable liquid and vapor.
May cause fire or explosion; strong oxidizer.
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Precautionary Information

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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.
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Role of the SDS in the GHS

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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.
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SDS Format: ANSI Format
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ANSI MSDS LAYOUT SECTIONS
I & II
> SECTION I
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• 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
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ANSI MSDS LAYOUT SECTION III
> SECTION III
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• Composition/Information on Ingredients
» Ingredient
» CAS Number
» Percent
» Laboratory Protective Equipment
» Storage Color Code
» Trade Secret Information
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ANSI MSDS LAYOUT SECTIONS
IV & V
> SECTION IV
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> SECTION V
• Potential Health
Effects
» Inhalation
» Ingestion
» Skin Contact
» Eye Contact
• First Aid Measures
» Inhalation
» Ingestion
» Skin Contact
» Eye Contact
• Fire-Fighting Measures
» Fire
» Explosion
» Fire Extinguishing
Media
» Special Information
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ANSI MSDS LAYOUT SECTIONS
VI, VII & VIII
> SECTION VI
• Accidental Release Measures
> SECTION VII
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• Handling and Storage
> SECTION VIII
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• Exposure Controls/Personal
Protection
» Airborne Exposure Limits
» Ventilation Systems
» Personal Respirators
» Skin Protection
» Eye Protection
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ANSI MSDS LAYOUT SECTIONS
IX & X
> SECTION IX
• Properties
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»
»
»
»
»
»
»
»
»
»
»
> SECTION X
• Stability and Reactivity
Appearance
Odor
Solubility
Specific Gravity
pH
% Volatiles by volume
Boiling Point
Melting Point
Vapor Density (Air=1)
Evaporation Rate (BuAc=1)
Vapor Pressure
» Stability
» Hazardous Decomposition
Products
» Hazardous Polymerization
» Incompatibilities
» Conditions to Avoid
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ANSI MSDS LAYOUT SECTIONS
XI, XII, XIII & XIV
> SECTION XI
• Toxicological
Information
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> SECTION XII
• Ecological
Information
» Environmental
Fate
» Environmental
Toxicity
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> 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
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ANSI MSDS LAYOUT SECTIONS
XV & XVI
> SECTION XV
> SECTION XVI
• Regulatory Information
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» Chemical Inventory
Status
» Federal, State and
International
Regulations
• Other Information
»
»
»
»
»
»
»
»
NFPA Ratings
Label Hazard Warning
Label Precautions
Label First Aid
Product Use
Revision Information
Disclaimer
Preparer
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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
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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.