GHS

2. GHS Jim Shelton, CAS, HNAO Updated by Jorge Delucca, OKCAO

3. GHS • On March 26, 2012 OSHA published the final rule to align the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) with the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) • The change will help ensure improved quality and more consistency in the classification and labeling of all chemicals

4. GHS • The benefits include enhanced worker comprehension resulting in appropriate handling and use of chemicals. The harmonized format of the safety data sheets will enable workers to access the information more efficiently • Also currently multiple labels and safety data sheets must often be developed by chemical manufacturers for the same product when shipped overseas. This creates a major compliance burden increasing costs

5. GHS • The primary benefit of the GHS is that it provides a single set of harmonized criteria for classifying chemicals according to their health and physical hazards and specifies hazard communication elements for labeling and safety data sheets. Under the GHS labels would include signal words, pictograms, and hazard and precautionary statements and safety data sheets would have a standardized format

6. GHS • The major proposed changes to the HCS: • Hazard Classification (changed from hazard determination) • Labels • Safety Data Sheets (changed from materials safety data sheets) • Information and Training • Will affect nearly 40 million workers and 5 million workplaces

7. TLVs, PELs, & other exposure llimits • TLVs, PELs, and “any other exposer limit recommended by the chemical manufacturer, importer or employer are required”

8. Carcinogenicity • If a chemical is listed as carcinogen by IARC or NTP, it must be noted on the SDS • If OSHA finds a chemical to be a carcinogen, it must be noted on the SDS

9. GHS • It is estimated that implementing the GHS will prevent 43 fatalities and 585 injuries and illnesses annually • The DOT has already modified their requirements for classification and labeling to be consistent with UN transport requirements and the GHS

10. Phase-In dates

11. GHS Hazard Classification • The list of chemicals presenting a ‘Health’ hazard was deleted from the current HCS and the proposed HCS has identified a new listing • A ‘Health Hazard’ means a chemical which is classified as posing one of the following hazardous effects:

12. GHS Hazard Classification • Acute Toxicity (any route of exposure) • Skin Corrosion or Irritation • Serious Eye Damage or Eye Irritation • Respiratory or Skin Sensitization • Germ Cell Mutagenicity • Carcinogenicity • Reproductive Toxicity • Specific Target Organ Toxicity (single or repeated exposure) • Aspiration Hazard

13. GHS Hazard Classification • The list of chemicals presenting a ‘Physical’ hazard was deleted from the current HCS and the proposed HCS has identified a new listing • A ‘Physical Hazard’ means a chemical that is classified as posing one of the following hazardous effects:

14. GHS Hazard Classification • Explosive • Flammable (gases, aerosols, liquids, or solids) • Oxidizer (liquid, solid, or gas) • Self-Reactive • Pyrophoric (liquid or solid) • Self-Heating • Organic Peroxide • Corrosive To Metal • Gas Under Pressure • Contact With Water Emits Flammable Gas

15. GHS Hazard Classification • The HCS does not address environmental hazards and OSHA does not have jurisdiction over that. There are environmental hazard classifications: • Hazardous to the Aquatic Environment • Acute Aquatic Toxicity • Chronic Aquatic Toxicity • Bioaccumulation Potential • Rapid Degradability

16. OSHA Hazard Classification • In OSHA’s proposed rule there was a hazard category called ‘Unclassified’ which is not in the UN GHS system • … a chemical for which there is scientific evidence identified during the classification process that may pose an adverse physical or health effect when present in a workplace under normal conditions of use or in a foreseeable emergency, but the evidence does not currently meet specified criteria for physical or health hazard classification in this section. This does not include adverse physical or health effects for which there is a hazard class addressed in this section • Example: Combustible Dust

17. Hazards Not otherwise Classified • OSHA changed “unclassified hazards” to “hazards not otherwise classified” (HNOC) • For issues that have not gone through a rulemaking • Combustible dust is considered “hazardous chemical”

18. Hazardous Chemical • OSHA classified as Hazardous Chemicals: • Pyrophoric gases, signal word “danger”, “catches fire spontaneously if exposed to air”* • Simple asphyxiants, signal word “warning”, “may displace oxygen and cause rapid suffocation”* • Combustible dust, signal word “warning”, “May form combustible dust concentrations in the air”* *Hazard Statements

19. National Chamber of Commerce Concerns Marc Freedman, executive director of labor law for NCOC: • “OSHA went too far by requiring labels to include hazard information about combustible dust” • “It’s going to create a lot confusion and uncertainty, which will undermine whatever other value this regulation provides to these companies.” Source: Associated Press, March 20, 2012

20. Combustible Dust • “The fact is that combustible dust has been destroying workplaces and killing or injuring workers for many years. By including combustible dust in Safety Data Sheets employers will save money by not having to have the dust analyzed at their expense and preventing fires and explosions in their workplaces.” • Source: EHS Today, March 21, 2012

21. GHS Labels • Three standardized GHS label elements: • Symbols (Hazard Pictograms) that convey health, physical, and environmental hazard information assigned to a GHS hazard class and category • Signal Words “Danger” or “Warning” used to emphasize hazards and relative level of severity of the hazard and assigned to a GHS hazard class and category • Hazard Statements which are standard phrases assigned to a hazard class and category that describe the nature of the hazard

22. GHS Labels • Key Elements • Product Identifier • Supplier Identifier • Chemical Identity • Hazard Pictograms* • Signal Words* • Hazard Statements* • Precautionary Information * Standardized

23. GHS Labels Red border GHS ------ Black border Transport

24. GHS Labels Hazard Classes may have ‘Categories’

25. GHS Labels

26. GHS Labels Example of a Transportation and GHS label combined

27. Safety Data Sheets (SDS) • The OSHA ‘Material Safety Data Sheet’ (MSDS) will be called a ‘Safety Data Sheet’ (SDS) • The MSDS has 8 non-mandatory sections • The SDS would have 12 mandatory and 4 non-mandatory sections and is essentially the ANSI Z400.1-2004 format • Sections 12-15 are not mandatory and cover Ecological, Disposal, Transport, and Regulatory information

28. Safety Data Sheets (SDS)

29. HCS Appendices • Appendix A: Health Hazard Criteria • Appendix B: Physical Hazard Criteria • Appendix C: Allocation of Label Elements • Appendix D: Safety Data Sheets • Appendix E: Definition of ‘Trade Secret’ • Appendix F: Guidance for Hazard Classification Regarding Carcinogenicity

30. GHS Changes in the Future • The GHS is updated as needed to reflect new technology and scientific developments, or provide explanatory text. Changes to the HCS is anticipated through: • Technical Updates for minor terminology changes • Direct Final Rules for text clarification • Notice and Comment Rulemaking for more substantive or controversial updates such as additional or changes in health or safety hazard classes or categories

31. Resources • On the OSHA website under ‘Safety and Health Topics’ there is a Hazard Communication webpage with many resources and documents including a link to a GHS page

32. Resources • The GHS webpage has lots of documents including side by side comparisons of the HCS and the new proposed HCS

33. Resources • OSHA published ‘A Guide to The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) • It can be downloaded from the OSHA website

34. Disclaimer • This information has been developed by an OSHA Compliance Assistance Specialist and is intended to assist employers, workers, and others as they strive to improve workplace health and safety. While we attempt to thoroughly address specific topics [or hazards], it is not possible to include discussion of everything necessary to ensure a healthy and safe working environment in a presentation of this nature. Thus, this information must be understood as a tool for addressing workplace hazards, rather than an exhaustive statement of an employer’s legal obligations, which are defined by statute, regulations, and standards. Likewise, to the extent that this information references practices or procedures that may enhance health or safety, but which are not required by a statute, regulation, or standard, it cannot, and does not, create additional legal obligations. Finally, over time, OSHA may modify rules and interpretations in light of new technology, information, or circumstances; to keep apprised of such developments, or to review information on a wide range of occupational safety and health topics, you can visit OSHA’s website at www.osha.gov.