Xin Li and Linda Knobben

Health, Safety and Wellbeing Coordinators

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE STORAGE

AND SEGREGATION SYSTEM UNDER

THE GLOBALLY HARMONISED SYSTEM

What is GHS?Globally Harmonised System of Labelling Hazardous Substances (GHS)

The University of Adelaide Slide 2

What is GHS?Globally Harmonised System of Labelling Hazardous Substances (GHS)

The University of Adelaide Slide 3

Dangerous Goods (ADG Codes)

GHS ≠ DG

The University of Adelaide Slide 4

Change in classification criteria

❖ Classification criteria of Health Hazards varied significantly to those in DG

eg. DG9 – Apart from the environmental hazards, others dispersed into other GHS classes

Non-dangerous goods – Many now have health hazard and exclamation mark pictograms

❖ Classification criteria of Physical Hazards changed slightly

Pictogram Representation

❖ Flame pictogram represent more than 1 GHS classification and covers more than 1 DG class

What are problems in storage?

The University of Adelaide Slide 5

❑ Flame pictogram includes more than 1 classification

- It covers 10 classifications, many of which are not compatible to be stored with each other

Example

Pyrophoric

Type C-F

organic peroxide

- Combustible liquid is listed as an individual category under Flammable Liquid

H250 Catches Fire Spontaneously if exposed to air

H242 Heating may cause a fire

What are problems in storage?

The University of Adelaide Slide 6

❑ Problem of the order of the pictograms

Example

Potassium dichromate

❑ SDS’s are not providing consistent information

Example

Sodium azide

DG 6

Primary DG 8Secondary DG 5.1

ChemWatch

Sigma Aldrich

What are problems in storage?

The University of Adelaide Slide 7

❑Non-GHS Code

The University of Adelaide Slide 8

What about continue to use DG for storage?

The University of Adelaide Slide 9

❑ Mixed storage – greater safety risk

Example

Nitric acid Primary DG 8 Secondary DG 5.1

Acetic acid Primary DG 8 Secondary DG 3

❑ Storage according to DG does not fully meet AS requirement

➢ AS/NZS 4452-1997: The storage and handling of toxic substances

➢ AS 3780-2008: The storage and handling of corrosive substances

❑ Pyrophoric Liquid is never recognised as a separate class/subclass.

❑ Self-reactives are always hidden under 4.1

What has been done in other countries or outside HE sector?Germany – Governmental

Technical Rules for Hazardous Substances (TRGS 510)

➢ Reclassification according to physical safety

➢ Storage according to the new classes

Ireland - Governmental

A series of guidance materials to concentrate on toxics and corrosives that are also flammable

Australia – Commercial

Pfizer introduced coloured dots system – every chemical has a coloured dot and workers only store according to the colours dots

The University of Adelaide Slide 10

The University of Adelaide Slide 11

Example Acrolein

The University of Adelaide Slide 12

Primary DG 6.1Secondary DG 3

Example 1-ethylpiperazine

The University of Adelaide Slide 13

Primary DG 8Secondary DG 3

Flammable Amines

Example Propionic acid

The University of Adelaide Slide 14

Primary DG 8Secondary DG 3

Organic Acids

Questions?

CRICOS Provider Number 00123M