Jackii Shepherd - Assistant Director, Occupational Hygiene Policy, SafeWork Australia Frances Hamblin - Senior Dangerous Goods Advisor, WorkSafe Victoria

Introducing the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) to Victorian Workplaces

Overview The Globally Harmonized System (GHS) of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals: What is it? When is it coming? What does it replace? Why?

How the GHS works – classification criteria and hazard communication Who has duties that relate to the GHS? How will the GHS affect you? Resources

What is the GHS? • A comprehensive tool that aims to harmonise chemical classification and hazard

communication for hazardous chemicals across the world • Outlines criteria to classify chemicals based on their intrinsic hazards • Covers single substances, solutions and mixtures Communication of hazard information through two major elements of GHS: • labelling • safety data sheets

When is the GHS coming? The Australian adoption of the GHS was announced by government in 2002 by the then Trade Minister Mark Vaile, MP. In Australia, the national model WHS Regulations implement the GHS for workplace chemicals. In Victoria the GHS will be implemented through: • the OHS Regulations and • the Dangerous Goods (Storage and Handling) Regulations There will be no transition period. The 6th revised ed. of the GHS will become effective on 1 Jan 2018.

What does the GHS replace? The GHS replaces existing workplace hazardous chemical classification and labelling systems For physical hazards – the current system uses Australian Dangerous Goods Code (ADG) criteria and hazard communication elements.

For health hazards – the current system uses the ‘Approved Criteria for classifying hazardous substances’ and the NOHSC National Codes of Practice for labelling and preparation of MSDS.

The GHS does not replace the ADG Code for Dangerous Goods during transport.

Why the GHS? • Improve understanding of physical, health and environmental hazards • Allow participating countries to facilitate trade by removing regulatory barriers - Australia’s

biggest trade partners, including China and US, have adopted the GHS. • To reduce the time and costs involved in meeting multiple requirements for labels. • Reduce the need for duplicate testing (in different countries).

Different countries, different symbols

Non GHS labels

Does the GHS apply to all chemicals? The GHS will not apply to: consumer chemicals labelling of therapeutic goods labelling of cosmetics and toiletries labelling of dangerous goods packed for transport and in-transit

Partial exemptions will exist for: explosives labelled under the AEC agricultural and veterinary chemicals

How the GHS works Harmonised classification criteria are applied to chemical properties and outcomes of tests to establish a hazard profile for the chemical. Hazard communication is prescribed through: • Signal words - Indicates the relative severity of the intrinsic hazards. • Pictograms - Nine symbols signifying hazards of a chemical. • Hazard statements - Phrase describing the nature of the hazards of a chemical including the degree of hazard. • Precautionary statements - A phrase describing measures to be taken to minimise adverse effects of exposure to, or improper handling of, a hazardous chemical.

GHS Classification Criteria A chemical is classified against the criteria of each hazard group (GHS Hazard Grouping):

Physical hazards Health hazards Environmental hazards

Classification involves:

Collecting and evaluating information Applying the criteria and decision logic Making a decision

or Translating current classification into the equivalent GHS hazard class and category

GHS Signal Words Signal words are prominently displayed words on labels to: • alert the label reader to a potential hazard, and • indicate the relative severity of the hazard There are two signal words used on label in the GHS:

Danger indicates a higher severity of hazard compared to warning.

GHS Pictograms

GHS Hazard Statements Describe the nature of the hazards covered by the GHS and the degree of severity. For example:

Category Category 1 Category 2 Category 3 Category 4 Symbol Flame Flame Flame No symbol Signal word DANGER DANGER WARNING WARNING

Hazard statement Extremely

flammable liquid and vapour

Highly flammable liquid and vapour

Flammable liquid and vapour Combustible liquid

GHS Precautionary Statements Describe measures recommended to prevent or minimise: • the adverse effects of exposure to a hazardous chemical, or • improper handling of a hazardous chemical.

Each hazard class / category has several associated precautionary phrases. For example, for a flammable liquid, the following statements may apply: • Keep away from sparks and open flames. No smoking. Prevention • In case of fire: Use powder for extinction Response • Store in a well-ventilated place. Keep cool. Storage • Dispose of contents/container in accordance with local regulations. Disposal

GHS compliant label

GHS Safety Data Sheets The GHS provides a minimum standard for the formatting and content for communicating a chemical’s hazard(s) through a Safety Data Sheet (SDS).

SDS are the same as MSDS - without the M and in a standard format

Who has duties under the legislation?

For GHS requirements duty holders include:

How will the GHS affect you? How the GHS will affect business depends on where in the supply chain you are:

Some things won’t change: • Dangerous Goods transport requirements • requirements for registers and manifests in workplaces • placards on workplace perimeters, buildings, tanks, and stores

manufacturer importer supplier employer worker

Manufacturers and Importers • Must classify workplace chemicals according to the GHS. • Reclassification is necessary for non GHS classified chemicals. • Tools are available to help translate the existing classification to a GHS classification. • The best approach is to classify based on data available. • Must label workplace chemicals in accordance with the GHS - new labels will be required • Must prepare SDS according to the GHS for workplace chemicals - new SDS will be required with appropriate Australian contact details

Suppliers Should only supply workplace hazardous chemicals that are compliant with GHS • From 1 July 2017

In Victoria suppliers are encouraged to use up stock without GHS compliant labels first • relabelling of current stock will not be enforced • only accept GHS compliant chemicals from 1 July 2017

GHS SDS • should be requested from the manufacturer or importer, and • supplied to the customer

Employers and workers From 1 July 2017: • Only accept GHS labelled chemicals • Approach your supplier now to ensure future supplies will be compliant • Ask for GHS SDS with next order • You do not need to relabel existing stock • Consider stocktake and dispose of chemical no longer used

• Update your SDS database, register or manifest

• Start training your workers now to recognise GHS labels and SDS

Resources The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals • 3rd, 4th, 5th revised edition

WorkSafe Victoria GHS guidance document.

Safe Work Australia documents • Model Code of Practice - Labelling of Workplace Hazardous Chemicals • Model Code of Practice - Preparation of Safety Data Sheets for Hazardous Chemicals • Guidance on the Classification of Hazardous Chemicals under the WHS Regulations • Hazardous Chemical Information System (HCIS)

Contacts

www.swa.gov.au workhealth@swa.gov.au

WorkSafe Victoria

www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/ info@worksafe.vic.gov.au

Questions.

Thank you.