CHEMICAL HAZARD CLASSIFICATION / COMMUNICATION CHEMICAL HAZARD CLASSIFICATION / COMMUNICATION AND THE STATUS OF THE GHS IN SIERRA LEONEAND THE STATUS OF THE GHS IN SIERRA LEONE

What does Chemical Hazard Classification / What does Chemical Hazard Classification / Communication mean?Communication mean?

Procedures used to identify the hazardous properties Procedures used to identify the hazardous properties of chemicals and how information about these hazards of chemicals and how information about these hazards is then passed to usersis then passed to users

It represents an important step in harmonizing It represents an important step in harmonizing National Chemical Hazard Communication systemNational Chemical Hazard Communication system

It’s a coherent and consistent approach to identifying It’s a coherent and consistent approach to identifying the hazards of chemicalsthe hazards of chemicals

It provides information about these hazards and some It provides information about these hazards and some protective measures.protective measures.

Why are Chemical Hazard Classification / Why are Chemical Hazard Classification / Communication important?Communication important?

To facilitate international trade in To facilitate international trade in chemicals whose hazards have been chemicals whose hazards have been properly assessed and identified on properly assessed and identified on an international basis.an international basis.To provide a comprehensive system To provide a comprehensive system of chemical hazard communicationof chemical hazard communicationTo provide a frame work for those To provide a frame work for those countries without an existing systemcountries without an existing systemTo protect the users of chemicalsTo protect the users of chemicalsTo protect the target populationTo protect the target populationTo protect the environmentTo protect the environment

Who are the target population?Who are the target population?

EmployersEmployers

Workers (this include those involved in Workers (this include those involved in transport, consumers, etctransport, consumers, etc

Emergency respondersEmergency responders

Service providers i.e. Doctors, Nurses, Service providers i.e. Doctors, Nurses, Safety Engineers and Occupational Safety Engineers and Occupational HygienistsHygienists

The Status of GHS in Sierra LeoneThe Status of GHS in Sierra Leone

We are just above the starting line We are just above the starting line e.g. just concluded the POPs NIP with e.g. just concluded the POPs NIP with UNIDOUNIDO

We need the support of all UN bodies We need the support of all UN bodies (organizations) present here esp. the (organizations) present here esp. the 4Us - UNITAR, UNEP, UNIDO & UNDP4Us - UNITAR, UNEP, UNIDO & UNDP

Including the friendly Including the friendly countries of Sierra countries of Sierra Leone: Nigeria, UK, Leone: Nigeria, UK, Canada, Switzerland, Canada, Switzerland, USA, etcUSA, etc

MAJOR BOTTLE-NECKSMAJOR BOTTLE-NECKSInternal funding difficult to come by as the Internal funding difficult to come by as the country depends heavily on donor support country depends heavily on donor support for its MTEF Budget implementationfor its MTEF Budget implementation

Unable to access the SAICM Quick Start Unable to access the SAICM Quick Start Fund because the National Chemical Fund because the National Chemical Profile, SAICM situation analysis, etc not Profile, SAICM situation analysis, etc not done to-datedone to-date

Very Peaceful but delayed Political changeVery Peaceful but delayed Political change

The Way ForwardThe Way Forward

Administration & Technical Team now Administration & Technical Team now working very hard to stir upworking very hard to stir up

The Political Will of the new governmentThe Political Will of the new government

International InterventionInternational Intervention