The GHS:

Overview Presentation

George Thomas

Thai National GHS Workshop15-17 May 2006

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Content

• History, scope and application of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS)

• Key elements of the GHS

• Chemical regulation and GHS implementation in Australia

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International mandate

• 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) Agreement, endorsed by the UN General Assembly:• A globally-harmonised hazard classification and

compatible labelling system, including material safety data sheets and easily understandable symbols, should be available, if feasible, by the year 2000.

• Programme Area B, Chapter 19, Agenda 21

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Structure for Harmonization

United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED)

Interorganization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals (IOMC) Coordinating

Group for the Harmonization of Chemical Classification Systems (CG/HCCS)

Physical hazards: Health and HazardUNTDG + ILO environmental

communication:hazards: OECD ILO

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Implementation and MaintenanceUnited Nations Economic and Social Council's Committee

of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (UNSCETDG)

Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods and on the GHS (UNCETDG/GHS)

Sub-Committee on TDG(UNSCETDG)

Sub-Committee on GHS(UNSCEGHS)

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Scope of the GHS

• The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals:• Is a comprehensive tool that harmonises

chemical classification and hazard communication

• Covers all hazardous chemicals• Classification based on the intrinsic

properties of the chemical

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The Principles of Harmonization

• The level of protection should not be reduced as a result of harmonisation.

• The scope includes both hazard classification criteria and hazard communication tools (labels, SDS).

• Changes in all existing systems will be required.

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The Principles of Harmonization

• The GHS does not specify test methods for health and environmental hazards.

• Target audiences include consumers, workers, transport workers and emergency responders.

• In relation to chemical hazard communication, Confidential Business Information (CBI) should be protected.

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The Benefits of Harmonisation

• Countries, international organisations, chemical producers and users of chemicals all benefit• Enhanced protection of humans and

environment• Facilitate international trade in chemicals• Reduce need for testing and evaluation• Assist countries and international

organisations in the sound management of chemicals

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Key Elements of the GHS

• The GHS Elements include:• Classification Criteria

• Physicochemical• Health (acute and chronic)• Environmental

• Hazard communication• Labels • Safety Data Sheets

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Timeline for Implementation

• International target 2008

• First Revised Edition published in August 2005. Changes include:• SDS guidance (new annex)• Precautionary statements (new annex)• Editorial amendments

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GHS Classification Criteria – Physical Hazards

• Explosives• Flammability – gases, aerosols, liquids, solids• Oxidisers – liquid, solid, gases• Self-Reactive • Pyrophoric – liquids, solids• Self-Heating• Organic Peroxides• Corrosive to Metals• Gases Under Pressure• Water activated flammable gases

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GHS Classification Criteria – Health & Environmental Hazards

• Acute Toxicity• Skin Corrosion/Irritation• Serious Eye Damage/Eye Irritation• Respiratory or Skin Sensitization• Germ Cell Mutagenicity• Carcinogenicity• Reproductive Toxicity• Target Organ Systemic Toxicity – Single and

Repeated Dose• Aspiration Hazards• Hazardous to the Aquatic Environment

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Hazard Categories

• Each hazard class has one or more categories of hazard, based on severity,

eg. Acute Toxicity: Oral

LD50 (mg/kg

body weight):

≤ 5 5 < LD50 ≤ 50 50 < LD50 ≤

300

300 < LD50 ≤

2000

2000 < LD50 ≤

5000

GHS Hazard Category:

Category 1 Category 2 Category 3 Category 4 Category 5

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Hazard Communication – Label Elements

• Hazard pictograms• Signal words• Hazard statements • Precautionary statements• Product identifier - include chemical

identity• Supplier identification

Standardised

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Hazard communication – Label elements: GHS pictograms

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Hazard communication – Label elements: Transport pictograms

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Hazard communication – Label elements

• Signal words- indicates relative level of severity of hazard

• Danger or Warning

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Hazard communication – Label elements

• Hazard statements- Provide information about nature of the hazard

• For example:• Extremely flammable liquid and vapour • Fatal if inhaled• Harmful if swallowed

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Standardised Elements for Acute Toxicity - Oral

LD50 (mg/kg

body weight):

≤ 5 5 < LD50 ≤ 50 50 < LD50

≤ 300

300 < LD50 ≤ 2000 2000 < LD50 ≤

5000

GHS Hazard Category:

Category 1 Category 2 Category 3 Category 4 Category 5

GHSLabel

DangerFatal if swallowed

DangerFatal if

swallowed

DangerToxic if

swallowed

WarningHarmful if swallowed

No symbol

WarningMay be harmful

if swallowed

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Hazard communication – Label elements

• Precautionary statements- recommended measures that should be taken to minimise or prevent adverse effects

• Statements relate to:• Prevention• Response• Storage• Disposal

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Example of standardised label elements

Product is classified as:

• Acute toxicity oral, category 3

• Skin corrosion/irritation, category 2

• Flammable liquid, category 3

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Example of standardised label elements

Acute tox oral, cat 3 Skin irritation, cat 2 Flamm. liquid, cat 3

Danger Warning Warning

Fatal if swallowed Causes skin irritation Flammable liquid

and vapour

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Example of standardised label elements

Danger

Fatal if swallowed Causes skin irritation

Flammable liquid and vapour

Selected elements after applying precedence rules

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Hazard communication - Safety data sheets

• 16 header format

• Address physical, health and environmental hazards

• Detailed guidance now in Annex 4

• Still flexibility to include national information

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Implementation Issues -International

• Alignment of national hazard classification systems with the GHS

• Alignment of TDG and GHS systems internationally (underway)

• Labelling • Consistent approach• Need for guidance at international level

• Building block approach – need for common understanding

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Future Directions

• Additional environmental hazard classes

• Codification of hazard and precautionary statements

• Further guidance on labelling?

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Chemical regulation in Australia

• Generally, policy is developed at the national level and enforced by State and Territory jurisdictions

• Currently a complex arrangement, several sectors

• A single chemical may be covered by a number of sectors and therefore subject to numerous pieces of regulation

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Chemical regulation in Australia

Assessment of specific chemical types (national level):

• Pesticides and veterinary medicines• Industrial chemicals• Domestic poisons• Pharmaceuticals

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Chemical regulation in Australia

Regulations covering use (mainly at state/territory level)

• Workplace (OHS) regulations• Transport regulations• Environmental regulations• Health regulations• Agriculture regulations

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Australian GHS Implementation –General

• Implementation of the GHS important for mutual recognition of chemicals with New Zealand

• Alignment and timing with key chemical trading partners is critical

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Australian GHS Implementation – Workplace sector

• Workplace sector - working to be in a position to implement by 2008

• Development of a single regulatory framework for the control of workplace hazardous chemicals:

• Amalgamate current workplace frameworks• Implement the GHS - new SDS and labelling

codes of practice• National consistency through adoption in

jurisdictional OHS regs

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Australian GHS Implementation –Workplace sector (NICNAS analysis)

• Since 2003 NICNAS has classified over 400 assessed chemicals using the GHS

• NICNAS has compared this with the current classification system used for industrial chemicals

Analysis of 50+ industrial chemicals showed:

• 34% classified as hazardous by existing criteria compared to 36% classified as hazardous by GHS

• 91% alignment of classifiable endpoints between existing and GHS systems

• 3 endpoints where alignment in classification did not always occur (relatively minor in nature)

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Australian GHS Implementation –Workplace sector (NICNAS analysis)

Three endpoints where alignment of classification did not always occur:

• Acute toxicity (oral, dermal)• Skin irritation• Eye irritation - differences in irritation score criteria

leads to differences in irritancy classification

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Australian GHS Implementation – Agricultural sector

• The Primary Industries Ministerial Council's Product Safety and Integrity Committee is currently working with government and industry stakeholders to consider how the GHS might be translated into Australia's risk-based labelling system for agricultural and veterinary chemicals.

• A GHS Reference Group has been established.

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Australian GHS Implementation - Consumer sector

• Department of Health supports adoption of GHS in respect to health effects elements.

• GHS has implications for scheduling and therefore State/Territory legislative responsibilities for poisons scheduling and labelling

• Working Group established and will report in October 2006

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Australian GHS Implementation –Issues

• Complex sectoral arrangements• Multiple layers of government regulation• Risk-based versus hazard-based systems• Need for list of agreed classifications

(workplace sector)• Need for transition periods

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Thank you

Questions and discussion

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