Introduction to the GHS: An overview for Comprehensibility Testing UNITAR-CWM Date: Location:

22 Chemicals 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

33 Results 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

44 Need for the GHS

55 The 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

66 GHS as the Basis for National Chemicals Management Programmes

77 Benefits 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

88 Benefits 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.

99 The 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 years Currently in the 3 rd revised edition

10 United 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)

11 What 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

12 Chemical product life cycle

13 Sectors 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.

14 Sectors, 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).

15 Hazard 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

16 16 Physical hazards

17 10 Health hazards

18 2 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

19 Tools available Labelling/Placards Safety Data Sheets (SDSs)/Transport Documents Training

20 Tools 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

21

22

23 Other 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

24 Product 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

25 The GHS label

26 GHS 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

27 16 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

28 SDS 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

29 GHS Implementation Industrial Workplaces TransportAgriculture Consumer Products Government Business/ Industry Civil Society

30 Contacts Training and Capacity Building Programmes in Chemicals and Waste Management UNITAR Palais des Nations CH-1211 Geneva 10 Switzerland Fax: