SSSG 2007 Global Harmonization System

What is GHS ? GHS is an international system designed to standardize the communication of hazardous substances according to their health, environmental and physical hazards. In developing GHS, the UN reviewed existing national and multinational systems and formed a nucleus of a new system around their features. GHS is largely based on: GHS is an international system designed to standardize the communication of hazardous substances according to their health, environmental and physical hazards. In developing GHS, the UN reviewed existing national and multinational systems and formed a nucleus of a new system around their features. GHS is largely based on: HAZCOM and WHMIS (especially requirements on the use of labels and MSDSs to notify workers and consumers of hazardous properties of substances); HAZCOM and WHMIS (especially requirements on the use of labels and MSDSs to notify workers and consumers of hazardous properties of substances); The EU (European Union) system for preparation, classification and labeling of substances; and The EU (European Union) system for preparation, classification and labeling of substances; and The UN Transportation of Dangerous Goods system for communicating hazards The UN Transportation of Dangerous Goods system for communicating hazards

Where Did it originate ? Most of the worlds industrial nations have established some type of system to deal with chemical hazards and a means to communicate information around the use of and or hazards attributed to them, re; WHMIS, HAZCOM etc. Most of the worlds industrial nations have established some type of system to deal with chemical hazards and a means to communicate information around the use of and or hazards attributed to them, re; WHMIS, HAZCOM etc. In the mid-1980s, the International Labor Organization called for a development of a uniform standard that could be followed globally In the mid-1980s, the International Labor Organization called for a development of a uniform standard that could be followed globally

Where did it originate ? The United Nations responded in 1992 by proposing GHS--the Global Harmonization System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals. The United Nations responded in 1992 by proposing GHS--the Global Harmonization System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals.

Benefits ? Countries, international organizations, chemical producers and users of chemicals all benefit; Countries, international organizations, chemical producers and users of chemicals all benefit;  Improve the protection of humans and environment through the sound management of chemicals  Reduce trade barriers in the international trade of chemicals  Reduce the need for testing/evaluation (??)

System Impacts UN Transport Recommendations – basis for Can TDG, US DOT UN Transport Recommendations – basis for Can TDG, US DOT Canadian requirements for WHMIS, consumers and pesticides Canadian requirements for WHMIS, consumers and pesticides European Union Directives on Substances and Preparations European Union Directives on Substances and Preparations US requirements for workplace, consumers and pesticides. US requirements for workplace, consumers and pesticides.

Impacts Include all types of chemicals Include all types of chemicals Hazard based system Hazard based system All systems will have to be changed All systems will have to be changed Protection will not be reduced Protection will not be reduced

Scope and targets Covers all hazardous chemical substances and mixtures including Covers all hazardous chemical substances and mixtures including – pharmaceuticals, pesticides, food additives in the workplace/transport but not at the point of intentional intake. Transport workers Transport workers Emergency responders Emergency responders Consumers Consumers Workers Workers

Projected Elements 1. Hazard Classification 1. Hazard Classification –Health Hazards –Environmental Hazards –Physical Hazards –Mixtures 2. Hazard Communication 2. Hazard Communication –Labels –Safety Data Sheets

Overview Classifications Health hazard classes Health hazard classes Environmental hazard classes Environmental hazard classes Physical hazard classes Physical hazard classes

Health Hazards Class 1 1. Acute toxicity 1. Acute toxicity 2. Skin corrosion/irritation 2. Skin corrosion/irritation 3. Serious Eye Damage/eye irritation 3. Serious Eye Damage/eye irritation 4. Respiratory or Skin Sensitization 4. Respiratory or Skin Sensitization 5. Germ cell mutagenicity 5. Germ cell mutagenicity

Class 2 6. Carcinogenicity 6. Carcinogenicity 7. Reproductive Toxicity 7. Reproductive Toxicity 8. Target Organ Systemic Toxicity 8. Target Organ Systemic Toxicity 9. Aspiration hazard 9. Aspiration hazard

Environmental Class 1. Hazardous to Aquatic Environment 1. Hazardous to Aquatic Environment 2. Hazardous to the Terrestrial Environment (in progress 2. Hazardous to the Terrestrial Environment (in progress

Physical Hazard Class 1 1. Explosives 1. Explosives 2. Flammability – gases, aerosols, liquids, solids 2. Flammability – gases, aerosols, liquids, solids 3. Water-activated Flammable Gases 3. Water-activated Flammable Gases 4. Oxidizers – liquid, solid, gases 4. Oxidizers – liquid, solid, gases 5. Self-reactive 5. Self-reactive

Physical Hazard Class 2 6. Flammable – liquids, solids 6. Flammable – liquids, solids 7. Self-Heating 7. Self-Heating 8. Organic Peroxides 8. Organic Peroxides 9. Corrosive to Metals 9. Corrosive to Metals 10. Gases under pressure 10. Gases under pressure

Harmonization or Communication Hazard Communication Hazard Communication –Labels –Safety Data Sheets Consistency Consistency –content –order of the content Better information, less confusion ?.

Label Elements Product identifier Product identifier Supplier identifier Supplier identifier Chemical identity Chemical identity Standardized Hazard pictograms/symbols Standardized Hazard pictograms/symbols Standardized Signal words Standardized Signal words Standardized Hazard statements Standardized Hazard statements Precautionary statements Precautionary statements Supplemental information (optional) Supplemental information (optional)

Proposed example

GHS vs. WHMIS With GHS With GHS List hazardous ingredients List hazardous ingredients List hazard statements and signal words List hazard statements and signal words No hatched border No hatched border

MSDS vs. Data Sheet Used primarily in workplace but also for community right-to-know Used primarily in workplace but also for community right-to-know GHS provisions are based on the 16- section format (ANSI, ISO standards) GHS provisions are based on the 16- section format (ANSI, ISO standards)

Proposed items on data sheet 1. Identification 1. Identification 2. Hazard's) identification 2. Hazard's) identification 3. Composition - ingredient info 3. Composition - ingredient info 4. First-aid measures 4. First-aid measures 5. Fire-fighting measures 5. Fire-fighting measures 6. Accidental release 6. Accidental release 7. Handling and storage 7. Handling and storage 8. Exposure control, PPE, exposure limits 8. Exposure control, PPE, exposure limits

Proposed 9. Chemical and physical properties 9. Chemical and physical properties 10. Stability and reactivity 10. Stability and reactivity 11. Toxicological information 11. Toxicological information 12. Ecological information 12. Ecological information 13. Disposal considerations 13. Disposal considerations 14. Transport information 14. Transport information 15. Regulatory information 15. Regulatory information 16. Other 16. Other

MSDS vs. GHS Data sheet 9 or 16 section versus 16 in GHS 9 or 16 section versus 16 in GHS Section 2 and 3 are reversed Section 2 and 3 are reversed GHS requires GHS classification and symbols GHS requires GHS classification and symbols Fire properties included in physical /chemical properties in GHS SDS Fire properties included in physical /chemical properties in GHS SDS Environmental effects required Environmental effects required Keep up-to-date Keep up-to-date

GHS & Canada Guiding Principles Guiding Principles –Consistency to the greatest extent possible between sectors. –Consistency to the greatest extent possible between NAFTA countries and other trading partners.

GHS in Canada GHS in Canada GHS in Canada –Provincial legislation and regulatory framework. –Harmonize Federal government departments:  Health Canada  Transport Canada  Environment Canada

Canadian Issues WHMIS exemptions WHMIS exemptions Ingredient Disclosure List Ingredient Disclosure List 3 year updating requirement 3 year updating requirement WHMIS D3 - Biohazards WHMIS D3 - Biohazards

USA Issues United States United States –NAFTA harmonization –Implementation coordination by State Dept –EPA – committed in terms of pesticides –OSHA – situational analysis completed

EU Issues European Union European Union –No GHS list like EU Directives –Timeline – proposal 2006 –Go through with REACH regulations– Target date (!)

Conclusions Huge undertaking! Huge undertaking! Benefits of protection and trade. Benefits of protection and trade. Uniformed and world wide level. Uniformed and world wide level. Cost effective for future. Cost effective for future. Global market Global market One system, simplify process. One system, simplify process. When 2008 ?, what time lines ?. When 2008 ?, what time lines ?.

Information United Nations United Nations Health Canada sgh/com/gencom/doc/ghs-international_06-sgh_e.html Health Canada sgh/com/gencom/doc/ghs-international_06-sgh_e.html US OSHA US OSHA (Go to Hazard Communication button) (Go to Hazard Communication button)