The U.N.'s Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) will soon become the norm for HAZMAT/HAZCOM signage in North America and elsewhere around the globe. We're gearing up for the switch here at Century Graphics and will be ready to help your company make the conversion.
We've been fielding a lot of questions lately over certain particulars of the GHS, and are using this post to pass on some of the government guideline we have received. If you have any questions, feel free to call us at 1-800-228-4467, or email us at sales@centurygs.com. We manufacture in-house and service all of North America and overseas, including the Permian Basin, Marcellus Shale, Eagle Ford Shale, Utica Shale, Bakken Shale, and others.
From OSHA memorandum:
When will the GHS be implemented? There is no international implementation schedule for the GHS. It is likely that different national systems/sectors will require different timeframes for GHS implementation. Existing systems will need to consider phase-in strategies for transition from their current requirements to the new GHS requirements.Several international bodies have proposed implementation goals. The World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) and the Intergovernmental Forum for Chemical Safety (IFCS) have encouraged countries to implement the new GHS as soon as possible with a view to having the system fully operational by 2008. The Ministers of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) have also said that as many APEC economies as possible should implement, on a voluntary basis, the GHS by 2006. Under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the Tri-national Occupational Safety and Health Group and the NAFTA Pesticides Technical Working Group are discussing the GHS.
Some of the major existing systems have begun discussions about GHS implementation and situational analyses comparing existing requirements to GHS requirements. Some countries are considering harmonization to the greatest extent possible between their national sectors.
What are the benefits? The basic goal of hazard communication is to ensure that employers, employees and the public are provided with adequate, practical, reliable and comprehensible information on the hazards of chemicals, so that they can take effective preventive and protective measure for their health and safety. Thus, implementation of effective hazard communication provides benefits for governments, companies, workers, and members of the public.
The GHS has maximum value if it is accepted in all major regulatory systems for chemical hazard communication. The diversity of hazard definitions is shown in Figures 1.2 and 1.3. The array of domestic and global labels for one product is shown in Figures 4.1 to 4.7. In the USA implementation of the GHS would harmonize hazard definitions and label information among U.S. regulatory agencies (CPSC, DOT, EPA, OSHA, etc.). If the GHS is implemented globally, consistent information will be communicated on labels and SDSs.
How will the GHS impact existing regulations? The GHS is a voluntary international system that imposes no binding treaty obligations on countries. To the extent that countries adopt the GHS into their systems, the regulatory changes would be binding for covered industries. For countries with existing systems, it is expected that the GHS components will be applied within the framework/infrastructure of existing hazard communication regulatory schemes. For example, exceptions and exemptions found in existing regulations would not be expected to change (e.g., transportation of limited quantities).
However, the specific hazard criteria, classification processes, label elements and SDS requirements within an existing regulation will need to be modified to be consistent with the harmonized elements of the GHS. It is anticipated that ALL existing hazard communication systems will need to be changed in order to apply the GHS. For example, in the U.S. EPA and OSHA would be expected to require hazard pictograms/symbols on labels. Canada and the EU would be expected to adopt the GHS pictograms/symbols instead of those currently in use. The transport sector is expected to adopt the changed criteria (LD50/LC50) for the GHS Acute Toxicity Categories 1 - 3. OSHA HCS, WHMIS and the EU would all need to change their acute toxicity criteria.
