HazCom 2012 Changes Introduced by the GHS: Upcoming Changes and Your Responsibilities
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GHS Changes to Hazard Communication: Upcoming Changes and Your Responsibilities
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Transcript of HazCom 2012 Changes Introduced by the GHS: Upcoming Changes and Your Responsibilities
GHS Changes to Hazard Communication:
Upcoming Changes
and Your
Responsibilities
Changes Will We Cover Differences between MSDS & GHS SDS
New Label Format
Additional Hazardous Chemicals Categories
Potential Points of Confusion
The GHS replaces MSDS with new Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
GHS Safety Data Sheet Hazard Communication Standard of SDS had 9 sections
New GHS has 16 specific sections
Consistent with ANSI format, familiar to many employees
Section 2 delivers information up-front
Some Sections are not enforced by OSHA because they are enforced by other regulatory bodies
The 16 SDS SectionsSection 1. Chemical Product & Company InformationSection 2. Hazards IdentificationSection 3. Composition/Information on IngredientsSection 4. First Aid MeasuresSection 5. Fire Fighting MeasuresSection 6. Accidental Release MeasuresSection 7. Handling and StorageSection 8. Exposure Controls/Personal ProtectionSection 9. Physical and Chemical PropertiesSection 10. Stability and ReactivitySection 11. Toxicological InformationSection 12. Ecological Information*Section 13. Disposal Considerations* * Not Enforced by OSHASection 14. Transport Information*Section 15. Regulatory Information*Section 16. Other Information
The GHS also updates labels
Label Elements
1) Product Identifier
2) Precautionary Statements
3) Hazard Statements
4) Signal Word
5) Hazard Pictogram Red borders, black symbol
6) Supplementary info
Let’s take a closer look at that label…
The GHS adds new chemical categories
Additional Hazardous Chemical Categories
1. Pyrophoric gases
2. Simple Asphyxiants
3. Combustible Dusts
Now Required on your SDS
Potential Points of Confusion during the GHS Transition
Points of Confusion: Who is Responsible for Updating your MSDS?
NFPA Codes on HazCom Labels…
?
?
Updating MSDS: Whose Responsibility is it?
Updating MSDSs If you are a manufacturer, distributor or importer you
must re-author your SDSs
It is the responsibility of your supplier to supply you with the most up-to-date MSDSs or SDSs they have authored
Two exceptions:
1. If you have not recently purchased an item from your supplier…
It is your responsibility to check in with them for the most updated version.
2. If you are shipping a finished product internationally…
It is your responsibility, not your domestic supplier’s, to author the country-specific GHS compliant SDS
GHS Implementation Your Responsibilities
1. Re-Classify your Chemicals
2. Re-author your SDSs
3. Generate GHS-compliant Labels
4. Train your Employees
Hazards Classification GHS Uses 3 Hazard Groups
Health Hazards- Dangers to human health
-10 Health Hazards
Physical Hazards- Damage to the body
- 16 Physical Hazards
Environmental Hazards
- Not under OSHA jurisdiction
- Danger to environment
- 3 Environmental Hazards
Hazard Group
Different types of hazards e.g. ‘Gases under pressure’ = class in Physical Hazards
Class
Category
Health, Physical or Environmental
Hazard Statement
Subsections of classesAssigned numbers/lettersCategory 1 = most hazardous
Standardized statementDescribes hazard category
The Importance of Classification Reliability
Best to use the two-tiered approach: 1) Have the most accurate raw chemical
data about your materials
2) Reference and compare multiple regulatory resources before making any final determinations
Classification: Reliability The key here is balance - not so many as SDS
takes too long to author, but enough to classify with confidence
Consult 3 to 5 trustworthy sources Use those same sources each time Recommended: CLP, ECOTOX, RTECS, Sigma
MSDS, HSNO CCID
Vendor Communication
Vendor Communication The GHS Implementation makes communicating
with your vendors essential and urgent
But obtaining chemical info from vendors can be challenging
Goal is to avoid unrealistic conservative classifications
Risk Management
Risk Management Technique 1:
Ensure SDS Accessibility Centralize documents – single digital
database
Tags and other metadata to make queries/searches easier
Accessibility from mobile devices/tablets/laptops
Risk Management Technique 2:
Ensure Fastest Possible SDS Retrieval
Ease of user interface and searching
Respond to emergencies
Mobile App for fast retrieval
PS: ERA has a mobile
app specifically for
finding and retrieving
your SDSs.
Most businesses are turning to SDS Authoring Software to get them through the GHS transition without the stress of deadlines, loss of productivity, and interruptions to other EH&S reporting obligations.
SDS Authoring Software from ERAEnvironmental Management Solutionsis the most accurate,cost effective, and fast solution available.
Twenty years providing solutions for chemical compliance.
Award-winning team and award-winning software.
Exclusive partnerships with major chemical & coating manufacturers to get superior data (AkzoNobel, Sherwin Williams, Du Pont, and many more).
Want to learn more about the risks the GHS presents to your business?
Download your Free Guide:
Business Risks and Opportunities Associated with the GHS Transition
Learn more:
www.era-environmental.com
Email us: [email protected] us: 1-866-493-6409
Connect with us:@ERAenvironment
