Working Group: Comprehensibility Testing in the Context of National GHS Implementation Strategies

Lessons Learnt – Country Report Backs Countries reporting CT Findings: Nigeria, Zambia, Senegal, Thailand Zambia and Nigeria completed testing Senegal to start Thailand half completed

Different Approaches Employed by Pilot Countries to CT Nigeria  Train-the-trainer approach for implementing CT; rapid CT module Zambia  Comprehensive CT not rapid CT module; questionnaire not based on GHS purple book – symbols not decided by GHS at that time

Senegal  workshop approach to train- the trainers; different interpretation of CT Thailand  two-tiered approach in testing all sectors => managers and workers (industry); teachers and grassroots => (consumers)

Common Issues Resulting from Pilot Countries CT Misunderstanding of pictograms across all sectors – higher educated, work experience, higher perception of risk and higher visual profile of pictogram (e.g., flame and skull/cross bones) resulted in “correct” understanding of GHS symbols - cultural interpretations of symbols (e.g., Thailand – chronic symbol – spiritually uplifting; Nigeria – chronic symbol – blood tonic) - Linkage between pictogram and hazard low

Common Issues Resulting from Pilot Countries CT Language barrier – translation of CT into French and Thailand SDS’s not available to end-users – needs to be carried down value chain Colour of GHS pictograms not always correctly interpreted– red color best Size – pictograms need to be large sized on labels.

Future Role of CT Testing of additional pictograms developed by particular countries (context specific) Using a pre and post pilot testing approach  pre would collect data prior to training and post would evaluate training

Future Role of CT CT should be used as a monitoring tool throughout the implementation process  measure and monitor in terms of comprehension To incorporate CT in existing Safety, Health and Environment programs as a continuous training mechanism (e.g., workers must complete CT ever 2 years)

Future Role of CT Simple tool for awareness that should not only be used for target populations in the 4 sectors, but also for GHS stakeholders Developed countries need to conduct CT to test the implementation process and be an example to developing countries

Future Role of CT Introduce CT into schools In developed countries test migrant workers, varying ethnic groups, refugees CT should incorporate transportation pictograms CT should test comprehension of color (e.g., as used in transport symbols)

Other Issues Raised Disposal of chemicals and containers needs to be on labels Use media groups to train (e.g., TV) Use billboards for awareness raising How to deal with the issue of consumer responses to hazard information (e.g., too many hazard symbols – compliancy)