Department of Labour CHIEF DIRECTORATE: OHS M Ruiters...

Department of LabourCHIEF DIRECTORATE:

OHSM Ruiters

Director :

Occupational Health & Hygiene

Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals

Chief Directorate Communication | 2011.00.00

What is the GHS ?

The Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals

Is a Globally agreed system that harmonises classification

and labelling of chemicals & products to protect people –

Workers, and

The Public

It will replace ALL previous symbols on labels It will have an impact on all of us in some way !

What is the GHS ?

A logical and comprehensive approach to:

Defining physical, health, and environmental hazards

Applying agreed hazard criteria to classify

chemicals based on their hazardous effects

Communicating hazard information via Safety

Data Sheets – SDS, for Industry, and

Labels, for Consumer use

Why the change to GHS ?

• Different countries had different systems and symbols, often leading to confusion

Why was the GHS developed?

Chemicals contribute to improving the

standard of living around the world for:

Purifying water

Promoting growth of food

Improving hygiene

Producing essential goods

Use of these chemicals can also involve risks

to safety and health if not handled correctly

How extensive is chemical use?

Chemicals are part of our daily life & all we do

The world’s largest substance data base is the Chemical

Abstracts Service Registry - CAS:

Currently has over 60 million organic and inorganic substances recorded

Potential for harm to people is great:Chemicals cause a broad range of health effects and adverse

effects on the environmentThe International Labor Organization (ILO) estimates that 25%

of workplace deaths worldwide are due to chemical exposures

Knowledge is essential to safe use

What is the purpose of the GHS?

To provide better information to people

To improve handling and use

Most products - performance chemicals !

Designed for a specific purpose e.g. Paint

Workplace is a controlled environment –communication through Training, SDS & Labels

Retail for the consumer is an uncontrolled environment – communication is through Labels

Hazard information needs to be

clear and simple

Need for the GHS!

• Do we need GHS ???????????

Need?

• YES!!


Systems of communicating chemical hazards

Agreement to develop harmonised hazard

communication system – 1992

GHS First Issue – 2003

Feasibility study

in SA - 2002


Feasibility study focus

• Provide data on comprehensibility of labels

and SDS presently used

• Provide data on the comprehensibility of

proposed GHS symbols to be used

• Identify areas of low comprehension where

training will be required

• Identify areas needing to be addressed during

GHS implementation.


Feasibility study results

Respondents from Chemical Industries, Transport and Agriculture

• Understanding of labels and SDS generally low

• Individuals with in health and safety fraternity had better

understanding

• Elements such as the “skull and bone” and “flammable” symbols

were well understood.

Feasibility study results continue,

• Comprehension of other less common symbols was poor

• A culture of SDS use was not evident

• Red was understood to denote the highest level of hazard

• Limited training interventions resulted in a significant impact

Feasibility study recommendations

• Training should be integral part of GHS implementation

• Safety symbols should where practicable be included on

SDS

• Hazard statements should be explained

• Less complex language should be used for hazard

communication material

• Wide based education program is needed

• Other sources of information such as poison info centers

and informed health personal should be introduced

simultaneously with GHS

GHS Communication

Step 1 - Classify

Step 2 - Compile Safety Data Sheet - SDS

Step 3 - Design Label

New pictogram are ALL red diamonds

With black symbols on a white background

Hazard information needs to be

clear and simple !

GHS: 16 Physical & 10 Health Hazards

Physical 1. Explosives

2. Flammable gases, incl. unstable

3. Aerosols

4. Oxidizing gases

5. Gases under pressure

6. Flammable liquids

7. Flammable solids

8. Self-reactive substances & mixtures

9. Pyrophoric liquids

10. Pyrophoric solids

11. Self-heating substances & mixtures

12. Substances & mixtures: contact with water, emit flammable gases

13. Oxidising liquids

14. Oxidizing solids

15. Organic peroxides

16. Corrosive to metals

Health 1. Acute toxicity

2. Skin corrosion/irritation

3. Serious eye damage/eye irritant

4. Respiratory or skin sensitiser

5. Germ cell mutagenicity

6. Carcinogenicity

7. Reproductive toxicity

8. Specific target organ toxicity Single exposure

9. Specific target organ toxicity Repeated exposure

10. Aspiration hazard

Solution – Standardised ClassificationExample SDS – ISO/SANS 11014

GHS pictograms

Which Countries require it?

• The GHS started in 2002, and has rapidly been taken into Legislation around the world

• Japan, New Zealand and the EU were the first • EU – REACH & CLP since 2011 for single substances & 1 June 2015 final date for mixtures - most consumer products

• China, Japan & Korea have an agreement for 2015. Canada, USA, Brazil & Chile have Regulations

• UNITAR have assisted countries in Africa & SADC, the Caribbean, Indonesia, Malaysia, Bolivia, Guatemala, Mexico, Columbia and former Russian Countries.

• SADC has a Policy for ALL counties to implement

Most countries now require as condition for Trade

GHS implementation around the world

• phtt://www.unece.org/trans/danger/publi/ghs/implementation_e.html

SADC Policy: All CountriesImplementation Target January 2020

Trade & Industry Ministers from All SADC countries Signed Policy to implement the GHS on 30 Nov 2012

A transitional period was agreed, as not all countries will be able to move at the same pace.

Transitional period of 5 years was proposed after a regional harmonised framework is in place agreed by National Lead Agents & other departments

Target date for full implementation in ALL SADC countries is 2020Essential that countries not yet started do so asap

to ensure no TBT to those lagging behind

South Africa: Implications

It will add better information on health & environmental

not just physical hazards

SDS are no longer MSDS and shall be in compliance with

ISO/SANS 11014 : 2009/10

Labels will have the new GHS red diamond symbols,

NOT the old EU orange square !

Employees will be seeing GHS symbols on raw materials in

workplace & products in the stores

Companies who have not yet started need to !

Awareness raising & training, urgent to start

• To avoid being a barrier to Trade

South Africa: Progress

• Corroboration project May 2013

– Department of Labour

– Department of Health

– Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

– Department of Environmental Affairs

– KEMi

• Recommendations :

– Awareness raining of chemical hazards

– Incorporation of GHS into legislation

– Training programs for GHS / classification

– Labels and SDS complaint with GHS

– Risk assessment / exposure assessment

– Control of exposure

Way forward

• Continued collaboration and referrals

• GHS training

• Awareness campaigns

• Incorporation into legislation

• Enforcement

• Improvement of chemical health and safety

Thank You…

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