Hazard Communication and the Globally Harmonized System

This section will deal with hazard communication methods, and specifically the “Globally Harmonized System” (GHS). The Globally Harmonized System is an internationally agreed upon system of communicating hazards globally as a result of increased international trade. GHS was created by the United Nations beginning in 1992, but as of 2016 it is not yet fully implemented (although it is implemented for the United States and many other countries).

Hazard Classifications

Within GHS, hazards are broken down into physical hazards, health hazards and environmental hazards.

Physical Hazards include:

Explosives
Gases
Flammable Liquids
Flammable Solids
Oxidizing Substances and Organic Peroxides
Toxic and Infectious Substances
Radioactive Substances
Substances Corrosive to Metal
Miscellaneous Dangerous Substances

Health hazards include:

Acute toxicity
Skin corrosion
Skin irritation
Serious eye damage
Eye irritation
Respiratory sensitizer
Skin sensitizer
Germ cell mutagenicity
Carcinogenicity
Reproductive toxicity
Specific target organ toxicity (STOT)
Aspiration hazard

Environmental hazards include:

Acute aquatic toxicity
Chronic aquatic toxicity

Safety Data Sheets (SDS)

The safety data sheet (SDS) is the backbone of hazard communication and is vital to the globally harmonized system. Note that GHS drops the previously used “material” from MSDS. The SDS provides information designed for use in the workplace, and is divided into the following categories:

Identification
Hazard(s) Identification
Composition / Ingredients
First-Aid Measures
Fire-Fighting Measures
Accidental Release Measures
Handling and Storage
Exposure Control / Personal Protection
Physical and Chemical Properties
Stability and Reactivity
Toxicological Information
Ecological Information
Disposal Considerations
Transport Information
Regulatory Information
Other Information

GHS Label Elements

GHS includes detailed requirements for labeling materials and mixtures in a manner that is easily recognizable globally. The standardized label elements include:

Symbols – Symbols and pictograms are used to convey hazard information. Individual pictograms are assigned to specific GHS hazard classes. Pictograms have black symbols framed with a red diamond. Harmful chemicals and irritants are marked with an exclamation mark.

Signal Words – “Danger” or “Warning” will be used to emphasize hazards as dictated by the material’s hazard class.

Hazard Statements – Standard phrases are assigned to specific hazard classes to convey information about the material.

Precautionary Statements – Standardized precautionary statements are used to prevent adverse effects of potential hazards. The four classes of precautionary statements are: prevention, response in cases of spillage or exposure, storage, and disposal.

Product Identifier – The product identifier is essentially an ingredient disclosure, including names, identifying numbers, and chemical identities of substances that pose or contribute to health hazards.

Supplier Identification – The names, addresses, and telephone numbers of the product’s supplier.

Supplemental Information – Information that provides further detail that does not contradict the validity of standardized hazard information, typically information that is useful but not required elsewhere within GHS.

Important Terms

Carcinogenicity – The potential to cause cancer

LC50 – The concentration at which 50% of a population is killed by expposure

LD50 – The dose at which 50% of a population is killed by exposure. Dosages are typically normalized for the mass of the subject, and may contain descriptors about the route of administration and typical times until death.

Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) – Limits for exposure as defined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration ( OSHA).

Recommended Exposure Limit (REL) – Limits for exposure as defined by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).

Threshold Limit Values (TLV) – Limits for exposure as defined by the American Conference for Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH).

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – Protective equipment worn to protect a user from exposure to a hazard, often recommended by an SDS.

Chemical Protective Equipment (CPC) – Protective equipment worn to protect a user from exposure to a chemical, often recommended by an SDS,