G hs is a system that defines and classifies the hazards of chemical products, and communicates health and safety information on labels and material safety data sheets called safety data sheets, or sdss, in ghs. The purpose of this document is to describe the united nations globally harmonized system of classification and labeling of chemicals ghs, why it was developed, and how it relates to the sound management of chemicals. Globally harmonized system of classification and labeling of chemicals ghs safety data sheets sds, labels and pictograms. These changes will ultimately impact over five million facilities and over. A single global system sounds ideal but in order to achieve it a little bit of work and change is required. Developed by the united nations, the premise of the ghs is that existing chemical classification and labelling systems such as oshas hazard communication standard hcs should be harmonized in order to develop a single. The globally harmonized system ghs was proposed by the united nations economic council for europe in 2010. A guide to the globally harmonized system of classification and. The entire ghs purple book is available online from the united nations as a series of pdf files, including all corridgendums, the foreword and table of contents, parts 14 and annexes 110. The ghs includes criteria for the classification of health, physical and environmental hazards, as well as specifying what information should be included on labels of hazardous chemicals as well as safety data sheets. The globally harmonized system of classification and labelling of chemicals ghs is the culmination of more than a decade of work.
To that end, the united nations introduced the globally harmonized system of classification and labeling of chemicals ghs, and osha has revised its hazard communication standard hcs to align with it. Organisation for economic cooperation and development oecd. The large number of varying chemical hazard identification, labeling, and. The new system, which was called globally harmonized system of classification and labelling of chemicals ghs, addresses classification of chemicals by types of hazard and proposes harmonized hazard communication elements, including labels and safety data sheets. United nations ilibrary globally harmonized system of. The ghs refers to the use of a common method of classifying and labelling of hazardous chemicals. The globally harmonized system of classification and labelling of chemicals or ghs is an. On february 11, 2015, the government of canada published in the canada gazette, part ii the hazardous products regulations hpr, which, in addition to the amendments made to the hazardous products act under the economic action plan 2014 act, no. The ghs is an acronym for the globally harmonized system of classification and labeling of chemicals. The globally harmonized system of classification and labelling of chemicals ghs has been developed through cooperation between the international labour office ilo, the organization for economic cooperation and development oecd and the united nations on the basis of a mandate given in agen.
The ghs purple book includes a comprehensibilitytesting instrument in annex 6. Ghs document or purple book for more complete information. It has been developed through the united nations, and applies to products used in many countries and industries. Developed by the united nations, the premise of the ghs is that existing chemical classification and labelling systems such as oshas hazard communication standard hcs should be harmonized in order to develop a single, globally harmonized system to address classification of chemicals, labels and safety data sheets. Ghs stands for the globally harmonized system of classification and labeling of chemicals. To that end, the united nations introduced the globally harmonized system of classification and labeling of chemicals ghs, and osha has revised its. Release date means the date from which the supplier guarantees a shelflife of at. The ghs includes criteria for the classification of health, physical and environmental hazards, as well as specifying what information should be included. The new system, which was called globally harmonized system of.
After the idea first appeared in 1992 at a united nations conference on environment and development, the globally harmonized system of classification and labelling of chemicals ghs has finally become a reality. The purpose of this document is to describe the united nations globally harmonized system of classification and labelling of chemicals ghs, why it was developed, and how it relates to the sound management of chemicals. A globally harmonized hazard classification and compatible labelling system. The globally harmonized system ghs includes a number of additional pictograms. The globally harmonized system is a set of standards that has been adopted by companies, governments, universities and other institutions around the world. Chemical manufacturers are supplying products all over the world, so we all need to speak the same language. It was designed to replace the different classification and labeling standards used in different countries by introducing consistent criteria on a global level. When the new regulations are fully operational the look of labels and safety data sheets sds formerly known as material safety data sheets will change. Australia adopted the globally harmonised system of classification and labelling of chemicals ghs under work health and safety laws on 1 january 2012. About the product the globally harmonized system of classification and labelling of chemicals ghs addresses classification and labelling of chemicals by types of hazards and provides the basis for worldwide harmonization of rules and regulations used, to this end, in various sectors transport, agriculture, workplace safety, consumer protection and environment protection.
This course covers the key elements brought about by the ghs and discusses how those elements have been incorporated into u. Please note that states with oshaapproved state plans may have additional requirements for chemical safety data sheets, outside of those outlined in this manual. Globally harmonized system of classification and labelling of chemicals uncetdgghs. It is a system that provides the basis for individual countries to. Orange book and classification and labelling of chemicals purple book. Globally harmonized system of classification and labelling of chemicals ghs chemicals, through the different steps from their production to their handling, transport and use, are a real danger for human health and the environment. The full official text of the system is available on the web at. Solved the united nations globally harmonized system of. There were many individuals involved, from a multitude of countries, international organizations, and stakeholder organizations. The system is focused on creating one set of standards for hazard communication which will also ensure that those who use this system agree on things like the criteria for the classification of different chemical hazards. The purple book is revised on a regular basis to incorporate agreed changes and updates to the ghs. Globally harmonized system of classification and labeling of chemicals ghs united nations on. A guide to the globally harmonized system of classification.
At the international level, the harmonized system hs for classifying goods is a sixdigit code. When must manufacturers have all products labeled to be aligned with the united nations globally harmonized system of classification and labeling of chemicals ghs 2015 an osha inspector finds that a hospital lab is operating under unsafe conditions that could endanger the lives of employees. United nations institute for training and research unitar. United nations committee of experts on the transport of dangerous goods and on the globally harmonized system of classification and labelling of. Ghs hazard communication is developed by the united nations. Globally harmonised system of classification and labelling of. In 2002, it was agreed under the united nations that all countries should be. Born out of the united nations earth summit of 1992, ghs is an. Globally harmonized system overview atlas knowledge. The transmittal of information is to be accomplished by means of comprehensive hazard communication programs, which are to include container labeling and other forms of warning, safety. Globally harmonized system of classification and labelling.
The revised standard, which osha is calling hazcom 2012, is expected to affect every u. It is used to communicate hazards on product labels and safety data sheets sds, formerly known in some countriesregions as the material safety data sheet msds. The most current information on ghs classification, labels and sds as well as other criteria is available in the 5th revised edition of the globally harmonized system of classification and labelling of chemicals ghsfrom the united nations economic commission for europe unece. Most of the toxicity information will not change, but. Globally harmonized system of classification and labeling of. The globally harmonized system of classification and labelling of chemicals ghs is an internationally agreedupon standard managed by the united nations that was set up to replace the assortment of hazardous material classification and labelling schemes previously used around the world. Harmonized commodity description and coding systems hs the harmonized system is an international nomenclature for the classification of products.
United nations published what is now called the purple book that describes the globally harmonized system ghs of classification and labeling of chemicals figure 1. In 2005 the united nations published the first version of the globally harmonized system. The globally harmonized system ghs of classification and labelling of chemicals, including safety data sheets sdss, was adopted by the united nations in december 2002. The definitive guide to globally harmonized system ghs labeling. Osha and the united nations economic commission for europe unece cited in this bibliography, and the courts for. This is an agreed upon management approach, but regulatory authorities in countries adopting the ghs will implement the system according to their own regulatory processes. Hazcom with the united nations globally harmonized system of classification and labeling of chemicals ghs has come and gone. Ghs gives the whole world criteria for the classification of hazards to human health and the environment. Ghs means changes for manufacturers, transporters and users of hazardous chemicals in the united states.
Ghs was actually created from an international mandate adopted at the 1992 earth summit, the united nations conference on. Understanding chemical safety following the final ghs deadline. Ghs, an international approach to hazard communication, is intended to address classification of chemicals by types of hazard and provide a harmonized approach to documents such as labels and safety data sheets sdss. Globally harmonized system ghs externe bronnen arboportaal. The secretariat services are provided by the transport division of the united nations economic commission for europe unece. The globally harmonized system of classification and labeling of chemicals ghs is an international consensus system developed by the united nations for classifying and labeling hazardous chemicals. United nations globally harmonized system of classification and labeling of chemicals ghsthe purple book find even more information you can use to help make informed decisions about the regulatory issues you face in your workplace every day.
Soon thereafter, the unece published a guidance to assist users in the transition from various existing systems worldwide to the new standardized ghs system. Ghs is the acronym for the globally harmonized system of classification and labeling of chemicals. It was developed by the united nations as a way to collaborate agreement on chemical regulations and standards with participating countries. Globally harmonized system of classification and labeling. It is hoped that ghs will make international sale and transportation of hazardous chemicals easier and make workplace. Ghs globally harmonized system harmonized or not harmonized, that is the question. It allows participating countries to classify traded goods on a common basis for customs purposes. The definitive guide to globally harmonized system ghs. Globally harmonized system of classification and labeling of chemicals ghs.
Globally harmonized system ghs revised hazcom standard. Harmonized commodity description and coding systems hs. As a general disclaimer, i want to say up front that the main purpose of our discussion today is to share perspectives. Safety data sheets, labels and chemical classification will be revamped.
The united nations has published the 7th revised edition of the globally harmonized system of classification and labeling of chemicals ghs, widely known as the purple book. The reason for ghs is to standardize the classification and labeling of chemicals on a worldwide basis. It is an international system created by united nations committee of experts on ghs, international labor organization ilo and the organization for economic cooperation and development oecd to address the classification of chemicals. The ghs is a system for standardizing and harmonizing the classification and. Jul 30, 2015 after the idea first appeared in 1992 at a united nations conference on environment and development, the globally harmonized system of classification and labelling of chemicals ghs has finally become a reality. The globally harmonized system of classification and labelling of. Globally harmonized system of classification and labelling of. The globally harmonized system for hazard communication background.
Hazard communication occupational safety and health. The committee and its subcommittees work on a biennium basis. Understanding chemical safety following the final ghs. Ghs stands for the globally harmonized system of classification and labelling of chemicals. Hazard communication explains the transition period from hazcom 1994 to hazcom 2012.
May 26, 2012 ghs stands for the globally harmonized system of classification and labeling of chemicals. Globally harmonized system of classification and labelling of chemicals for workplace chemicals the globally harmonized system of classification and labelling of chemicals ghs is an internationally consistent approach to classifying chemicals and communicating hazard information through labels and safety data sheets. The need to have an internationally harmonized system for classification of chemicals. Osha and the united nations economic commission for europe unece cited in this bibliography, and the courts for additional guidance on osha compliance requirements.
Ghs is a new global classification system for chemicals. The globally harmonized system of classification and labelling of chemicals ghs is an. Whmis workplace hazardous materials information system. The globally harmonized system of classification and labelling of chemicals ghs is an internationally consistent approach to classifying chemicals and communicating hazard information through labels and safety data sheets. Codification of hazard statements, codification and use of precautionary statements, codification of hazard pictograms and examples of precautionary pictograms. The globally harmonized system for the classification and labelling of chemicals ghs was developed by the united nations in an effort to better align regulations and standards governing the handling and transport of hazardous materials across different countries. Globally harmonized system of classification and labelling of chemicals ghs links. The intention was the global unification of evaluation and labeling of hazardous substances and mixtures. Whmis workplace hazardous materials information system 2015. Generally in most countries, consumer packages purchased off the retail shelf in. The globally harmonized system ghs is an internationally agreedupon system for the classification and labeling of chemicals that was created by the united nations beginning in 1992. Organization of the united nations fao or of the world health organization who. Agenda item no food and agriculture organization of the united. The globally harmonized system of classification and labelling of chemicals ghs is a system developed by the united nations for standardizing and harmonizing the classification and labelling of chemicals globally.
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