International Global Harmonization System (GHS) of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals Presenter: Sue Brown WSU Plant Operations Support
Understanding the GHS Labeling System
Background The federal Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) has made changes to the 1983 Federal Hazard Communication Standard based on the United Nations International Global Harmonization System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS), Revision 3. This went into effect in May 2012.
Why change? When OSHA originally created the HazCom Standard, it was performance based, which meant that while the Standard described what companies needed to accomplish, it left them free to decide exactly how they would do that.
What is the Global Harmonization System? It is an international system used to classify hazardous chemicals and standardize hazard information on product labels and safety data sheets.
Who do these changes affect? Chemical manufacturers Chemical importers/transporters Chemical distributors Employers Workers who use chemicals
HazCom 2012 It doesn t replace OSHA s HazCom Standard, it enhances the Standard. It does not change a workers right to know if they are being exposed to hazardous chemicals. It includes information on: What to do to protect themselves from the hazards of the chemical product Where to go to get more information
What HazCom 2012 Does Change 1. Hazard Classification: Provides specific criteria for classification of health and physical hazards, as well as classification of chemical mixtures. 2. GHS first divides chemicals into Hazard Classes then into Hazard Categories
What HazCom 2012 Does Change 2. Labels: Chemical manufacturers and importers will be required to provide a standardized label that includes: Product identifier Signal words A hazard statement A precautionary statement Pictograms Supplemental information
What HazCom 2012 Does Change 3. Safety Data Sheets will replace Material Safety Data Sheets and have a new 16-section format
What HazCom 2012 Does Change 4. Right-to-Know laws are evolving into Right to Understand regulations, meaning workers who handle hazardous chemicals must be trained in a format they can understand to become familiar with the content of the safety data sheets and labeling requirements.
HazCom Training All states must adopt these changes. Washington State s Department of Labor and Industry (L&I) Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) states that employees who may be exposed to hazardous chemicals must be trained on the safety data sheet format and new labelling elements by June 1, 2014.
HazCom Training Training must be presented in a manner workers can understand, even for Non-English speaking workers Illiterate workers The ultimate goal is to more effectively prevent injuries and illnesses and save lives.
HazCom 2012 Once GHS-based requirements go into effect in Washington State, required HazCom programs will need to be modified to include the new labels and standardized SDS format.
Deadlines for Compliance All hazardous chemicals shipped after June 1, 2015 must be labeled with the six new specific elements of the 2012 Hazard Communication Standard, but are permitted to comply with regulation earlier. Distributors may ship containers labeled by manufacturers or importers with earlier HazCom compliance until December 1, 2015.
Labels Labels, as defined in the HCS, are an appropriate group of written, printed, or graphic informational elements concerning a hazardous chemical that are affixed to, printed on, or attached to the immediate container of a hazardous chemical, or to the outside packaging.
Label Requirements 1. PRODUCT IDENTIFIER This can be (but not limited to) the chemical name, code number or batch number. The identifier must be both on the label and in section 1 of the SDS.
Label Requirements 2. SIGNAL WORDS There are only two: Danger and Warning and only one is used on a label. Warning is used for less severe hazards than Danger. If both apply, Danger should appear on the label.
Label Requirements 3. HAZARD STATEMENTS These describe the nature of the hazard(s) of the chemical, including the degree of the hazard. Specific to the hazard classification categories.
Examples of Hazard Statements Causes damage to kidneys through prolonged or repeated exposure when absorbed through the skin. Causes mild skin irritation. Causes serious eye irritation. May cause drowsiness or dizziness. Highly flammable liquid and vapor.
Label Requirements 4. SUPPLIER INFORMATION Must include the name, address and telephone number of the chemical manufacturer, importer, distributor or other responsible party.
Label Requirements 5. PRECAUTIONARY STATEMENTS These describe recommended measures that should be taken to minimize or prevent adverse effects resulting from exposure to a hazardous chemical or by improper storage or handling. There are four types of precautionary statements.
Levels of Precautionary Statements 1. How to prevent exposure 2. First aid procedures in case of accidental exposure 3. Spill response/procedures 4. Storage and disposal requirements They may be combined on a label.
Example of a Precautionary Statement If in eyes: Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses, if present and easy to do. Continue rinsing. Keep away from heat/sparks/open flames/hot surfaces. No smoking. Avoid breathing vapors.
Label Requirements 6. PICTOGRAMS These are graphic symbols used to communicate specific information about the hazards of a chemical. The required pictograms consist of a red square frame set at a point with a black hazard symbol on a white background, sufficiently wide to be clearly visible. GHS uses a total of 9 pictograms.
Pictograms 1. Health Hazard 2. Flame 3. Exclamation Mark 4. Gas Cylinder 5. Corrosion 6. Exploding Bomb 7. Flame Over Circle 8. Environment 9. Skull and Crossbones
Health Hazard Carcinogen Mutagenicity Reproductive Toxicity Respiratory Sensitizer Target Organ Toxicity Aspiration Toxicity
Flame Flammables Pyrophorics Self-Heating Emits Flammable Gas Self-Reactives Organic Peroxides
Exclamation Mark Irritant (skin and eye) Skin Sensitizer Acute Toxicity Narcotic Effects Respiratory Tract Irritant Hazardous to Ozone Layer (Non-Mandatory, per OSHA)
Gas Cylinder Gases Under Pressure
Corrosion Skin Corrosion/Burns Eye Damage Corrosive to Metals
Exploding Bomb Explosives Self-Reactives Organic Peroxides
Flame over Circle Oxidizers
Environment (non-mandatory) Aquatic Toxicity
Skull over Crossbones Acute Toxicity (fatal or toxic)
Label Requirements 7. SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION Additional instructions or information that the label producer deems helpful. May also list any hazards not otherwise classified. Must also identify percentage of ingredients of unknown acute toxicity when it is present in a concentration of 1 percent (and the classification is not based on testing the mixture as a whole).
Transportation/Shipping The transport label for the outside of the container or box The GHS hazard warning label on the product inside the package If the product is in one container, such as a bulk drum, the transport label and GHS hazard warning label will go together.
Alternative Workplace Labels Companies can still use other labeling systems to label in-house containers These alternative workplace labels must contain all the information that is required by the GHS system
Understanding GHS Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
ANSI Material Safety Data Sheet Written or printed material concerning a hazardous chemical (prepared in accordance with WAC 296-901-14014 in Washington). MSDSs are permitted to take on a variety of formats. This can cause confusion in locating information.
Safety Data Sheets All SDS s will follow a consistent, standardized 16-section format and order.
Safety Data Sheets The handling instructions on the Safety Data Sheets are often the same as the ones listed on the chemical s container label.
SDS 16-Section Format 1. Identification 2. Hazard(s) identification 3. Composition /info on ingredients 4. First-Aid measures 5. Firefighting measures 6. Accidental release measures 7. Handling and storage 8. Exposure controls/personal protection 9. Physical and chemical properties 10. Stability and reactivity 11. Toxicological info 12. Ecological info* 13. Disposal considerations* 14. Transport info* 15. Regulatory info* 16. Other info, incl. date of preparation/revision *Not regulated by OSHA
Safety Data Sheets Designed to answer four basic questions: 1. What is the material and what are its hazards? (in Sections 1, 2, and 3) 2. What should I do if a problem occurs when I m working with this material? (in Sections 4, 5 and 6) 3. What precautions should I take to prevent problems when I work with this material? (in Sections 7, 8, 9 and 10) 4. Is there anything else I should know about this material? (in Sections 11 through 16)
Safety Data Sheets Must contain sections 12-15, but OSHA will not enforce the content for these sections. WHY? They are regulated by other agencies (EPA, DOT, etc.)
Safety Data Sheets Section 1: Identification Product identifier used on label Recommended use of the chemical Name, address and telephone number of the manufacturer, importer or other responsible party Emergency phone number
Safety Data Sheets Section 2: Hazard identification Hazard class, and category (i.e. flammable liquid, category 4) Label elements: Signal word (Warning or Danger) Hazard statement (i.e. combustible liquid) Pictograms (none for flammable liquid, cat. 4) Precautionary statement Consistent with label / Heart of SDS
Safety Data Sheets Section 3: Composition/information on ingredients Information on chemical ingredients, trade secrets Section 4: First-aid measures Description of measures based on route of exposure Immediate medical treatment procedures
Safety Data Sheets Section 5: Fire fighting measures Suitable and unsuitable extinguishing media Special hazards presented by the chemical in fire Section 6: Accidental release measures Personal precautions, emergency procedures
Safety Data Sheets Section 7: Handling and storage Precautions for safe handling and storage Any incompatibilities Section 8: Exposure controls/personal protection OSHA PELs, TLVs Appropriate engineering controls (ventilation) PPE
Safety Data Sheets Section 9: Physical and chemical properties Appearance, ph, odor, flash point, vapor pressure, etc. Section 10: Stability and reactivity Chemical stability, possibility of hazardous reactions Conditions to avoid, incompatible materials
Safety Data Sheets Section 11: Toxicological information Routes of exposure, related symptoms, acute and chronic effects Section 12: Ecological information Section 13: Disposal considerations Section 14: Transportation information
Safety Data Sheets Section 15: Regulatory information Section 16: Date of preparation, last revision
Questions?
Terms to Know What is a flash point? The lowest temperature at which a volatile material can vaporize to form an ignitable mixture in air.
Terms to Know What is the flash point of flammables? At or below 100 degrees F.
Terms to Know What is the flash point of combustibles? Above 100 degrees F.
Terms to Know What is an oxidizer? The DOT defines an oxidizer or oxidizing materials as a substance that yields oxygen readily to stimulate the combustion (oxidation) of organic matter. Examples: Chlorate (CI03), permanganate (MnO4), and nitrate (NO3) compounds
Terms to Know What does acute toxicity mean? The adverse (acute) effects resulting from a single dose of, or short exposure to, a substance.
Terms to Know What does acute effect mean? The adverse effect on a human or animal, with symptoms developing rapidly and coming quickly to crisis. Usually occurs following a single exposure to a chemical.
Terms to Know What does chronic effect mean? An adverse effect on a human or animal in which symptoms develop slowly following repeated, normally low level exposures to a chemical over a long period of time, or recur frequently.
Terms to Know What does chronic toxicity mean? Adverse (chronic) effects resulting from repeated doses of, or exposures to, a substance over a prolonged period of time.
Terms to Know What is vapor density? A scientific weight compared to a cubic foot of ambient air at sea level. (Air has a scientific weight of 1.)
Terms to Know What is specific gravity? A scientific weight compared to a cubic foot of distilled water at sea level. (Water has a scientific weight of 1.)
Terms to Know What is a mutagen? A substance that will alter DNA if permitted to enter the body.
Terms to Know What is LC 50? The lethal concentration of a chemical in air or of a chemical in water which causes the death of 50% of a group of test animals.
Terms to Know What is LD 50? The lethal dosage of a chemical given at once which causes the death of 50% of a group of test animals.
Terms to Know What does stability mean? The ability of a material to remain unchanged. A material is stable if it remains in the same form under expected and reasonable conditions of storage and use. Conditions that may cause instability are stated on the SDS.
Terms to Know What does reactivity mean? The tendency of a substance to undergo a chemical change with the release of energy. Reactive chemicals are liable to cause fire or promote an explosion.
Reactivity cause and effect Undesirable effects like pressure buildup, temperature increase, formation of noxious, toxic or corrosive by-products may occur because of a reaction to heating, burning, direct contact with other materials, or other conditions when in use or in storage.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO!!!