Chemicals directly or indirectly affect us in almost every facet of life — from the paint in our homes and pesticides on the produce at the grocery store — to specialized chemicals used in hair salons or manufacturing companies. Any one of these potentially toxic chemicals can be inhaled, or inadvertently come in contact with skin or eyes or ingested.
Safeguarding the health of the people who come in contact with these chemicals should be priority one. Because of this, it’s imperative to have the hazardous properties in the chemicals as well as recommended control and safety measures readily available.
In short, the sound management of chemicals needs to include systems through which chemical hazards are identified and communicated to all who are potentially exposed — including workers, consumers, emergency responders and the public. Currently, there are many classification and labeling systems at the local, national and international levels.
But safety problems arise as chemicals are traded between those different regions or even countries — when there isn’t a common identification system of chemicals and their potential dangers.
That’s where GHS labels come into play.
What exactly is GHS?
GHS is an acronym for the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals, the system for standardizing and harmonizing the classification and labeling of chemicals.
According to OSHA, it intends to accomplish the following with GHS labels:
OSHA expects GHS labels to have clear, tangible benefits for the following sectorsi: Government:
- Define the health, physical and environmental hazards of chemicals
- Create classification processes that use available data on chemicals for comparison with the defined hazard criteria
- Communicate hazard information, as well as protective measures, on labels and Safety Data Sheets (SDS).
- GHS will not cover pharmaceuticals, food additives, cosmetics and pesticide residues in food at the point of consumption.
- GHS will cover pharmaceuticals, food additives, cosmetics and pesticide residues where workers may be exposed — as in workplaces and in the transport of these chemicals.
- Medical use of human or veterinary pharmaceuticals is generally addressed in package inserts and is not part of existing hazard communication systems.
- Foods normally are not labeled under existing hazard communication systems.
OSHA expects GHS labels to have clear, tangible benefits for the following sectorsi: Government:
- Fewer chemical accidents
- Lower health care costs
- Improved protection of workers and the public
- Avoid duplicated efforts in creating national systems
- Decreased costs of enforcement
- Improved reputation on chemical issues, both domestically and internationally
- A safer work environment and improved employee relations
- Better efficiency and reduced costs from compliance with hazard communication regulations
- Application of expert systems, resulting in maximizing expert resources and minimizing labor and costs
- Expanded use of training programs on health and safety
- Fewer accidents and illnesses equal lower costs
- Improved corporate image
- Focused and consistent communication about chemical hazards and safe handling/use will make for improved safety for workers and others.
- Expanded awareness of hazards can result in safer use of chemicals in workplaces and homes.
- Symbols (hazard pictograms): To communicate health, physical and environmental hazard information.
- Signal words: The words “Danger” or “Warning” will be used to emphasize a hazard and its level of severity.
- Hazard/precautionary statements: GHS will require standard phrases assigned to a hazard class and category, describing the nature of the hazard.
- Product identifier: Product name and code number
- Supplier identification: Includes company’s physical address and emergency phone number