Introduction to the GHS: An overview for

Comprehensibility Testing

UNITAR-CWMDate:

Location:

22Chemicals in our lives

Chemicals contribute to improving the standard of living around the world

Purifying water

Promoting growth of food

Improving hygiene

Producing essential goods

Use of these chemicals involves risks to safety and health

33Results of conflicting requirements

Every country has a different system, or no system

Extensive international trade in chemicals = people seeing a wide variety of labels and safety data sheets

Differences in communication = differences in effectiveness

The broad range of provisions also leads to technical barriers to trade

Small companies in particular are effectively left out of international trade by the difficulties of complying with all these requirements

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Need for the GHS

55The GHS

The Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) is:

An international system which harmonises the classification and labelling of hazardous chemicals

A logical and comprehensive approach for:

Defining health, physical, and environmental hazards of chemicals

Applying agreed hazard criteria to classify chemicals based on their hazardous effects

Communicating hazard information on labels and safety data sheets

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GHS as the Basis for National Chemicals Management Programmes

Safe Use of Chemicals

Risk Management

Systems (risk communication,

exposure monitoring/control)

Hazard Communication (GHS Labels and SDS)

GHS Classification

77Benefits of the GHS

Provides a chemical classification and labelling system that is updated and maintained internationally

Includes provisions for a common and coherent approach to classifying hazards and preparing labels and safety data sheets

Results in more effective communication worldwide

Facilitates trade in chemicals

88Benefits of the GHS continued

For governments, industry, and chemical users (workers and consumers)

Enhances the protection of human health and the environment through the provision of harmonized chemical safety and health information

Reduces the need for duplicative testing of chemicals

Provides the informational infrastructure for chemical safety and health management programs

Increases efficiencies; reduces costs of compliance; lowers health care costs, etc.

99The Purple Book

United Nations (UN) publication of the GHS

Outlines the provisions in four parts:

Introduction (scope, definitions, hazard communication)

Classification criteria for physical hazards

Classification criteria for health hazards

Classification of environmental hazards

Updated every few yearsCurrently in the 3rd revised edition

10United Nations

Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods

and the GHS

Subcommittee of Experts on the GHS (SCEGHS)

Subcommittee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous

Goods (SCETDG)

UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)

UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) - Secretariat

UNITAR/ILO• PAG

• WSSD Partnership

Who is responsible for implementing the GHS?

Member Countries

Industry Groups NGOs

Related IGOs (ex: Basel, FAO)

1111What chemicals are covered?

All hazardous chemicals are covered:

Includes substances, products, mixtures, and preparations

Pharmaceuticals, food additives, cosmetics, and pesticide residues in food will not be covered at the point of consumption, but will be covered in the workplace and in transport

1212Chemical product life cycle

1313Sectors of GHS implementation

Industrial workplace: Workers are a key sector to be considered. Chemicals are often present in all types of workplaces, from manufacturing facilities to construction, retail services to health care.

Agriculture (pesticides): Involves both workplace and consumer exposures, and is often regulated separately by countries.

1414Sectors, cont.

Transport (emergency response): Another subset of occupational exposures that is often regulated separately. Involves many provisions beyond classification and labelling (e.g., packaging). Also impacts public exposures.

Consumer Products (public): Involves products sold to the general public, and exposures of vulnerable populations (e.g., children).

1515Hazard Class and Category

“Hazard class” means the nature of the physical, health or environmental hazard, e.g., flammable solid, carcinogen, oral acute toxicity

“Hazard category” refers to the severity of the hazard, meaning the division of criteria within each hazard class, e.g. oral acute toxicity includes five hazard categories and flammable liquids include four hazard categories

161616 Physical hazards

171710 Health hazards

18182 Environmental hazards

Hazardous to the aquatic environment

Short and long-term effects (with consideration of other factors such as degradability)

Hazardous to the ozone layer

Substances found to deplete the ozone layer by the Montreal Protocol

1919Tools available

Labelling/Placards

Safety Data Sheets (SDSs)/Transport Documents

Training

2020Tools available by sector

Workplace/industrial sector: labels, SDSs, specific training

Agriculture/pesticides: labels, specific training, SDSs in some situations

Consumers: labels

Emergency responders: labels, placards, specific training, transport documents

Transport: labels, placards, transport documents, specific training

2121

2222

2323Other required information

Precautionary statements are required

GHS includes possible statements, but they have not yet been harmonised

There are 5 types of statements:

General

Prevention

Response

Storage

Disposal

These have been assigned to hazard classes and categories

2424Product and supplier identification

Chemical identity required for substances

For mixtures either:

All the ingredients contributing to the hazard of the mixture/alloy, or

All the ingredients contributing to any health hazards presented by the product other than irritation

Supplier identification required on all labels, including name, address, and phone number

2525The GHS label

2626GHS safety data sheet

Comprehensive sources of information about substances and mixtures

Provides information about the hazards, but also information to establish risk management programs

Audiences for the 16 sections vary, but include workers, safety engineers, physicians, and other professionals providing protection to exposed people

272716 sections of an SDS

1. Identification of the substance/mixture and supplier

2. Hazards identification

3. Composition/information on ingredients

4. First aid measures

5. Firefighting measures

6. Accidental release measures

7. Handling and storage

8. Exposure controls/personalprotection

2828SDS sections, cont.

9. Physical and chemical properties

10.Stability and reactivity

11.Toxicological information

12.Ecological information

13.Disposal considerations

14.Transport information

15.Regulatory information

16.Other information including information on preparation and revision of the SDS

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GHS Implementation

Industrial Workplaces

Transport AgricultureConsumerProducts

GovernmentBusiness/Industry

Civil Society

3030Contacts

Training and Capacity Building Programmes in Chemicals and Waste ManagementUNITARPalais des NationsCH-1211 Geneva 10Switzerland

Fax: + 41 22 917 8047Email: gpghs@unitar.orgWebsite: www.unitar.org/cwm