TheGlobally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling

of Chemicals (GHS), Safety Data Sheets, Labels, OSHA,

and You

Janet L. Keyes, CIH

11 April 2013

What’s GHS? Why?

Lots of chemicals out there

Lots of international trade

Can’t we just agree?

1992, Rio, UN Conference on Environment & Development

2002: first version approved

2012: OSHA adopted

What GHS tries to doClassify chemicals according to

hazard

Standardize the language, warnings

Make it easier for:

Suppliers/manufacturers

Users

And not conflict with transport

GHS in the US

OSHA: adopted

Revision to HazComm standard and others

EPA: pondering

Pesticides

DOT: adopted in hazmat (49CFR) regs

CPSC: began considering

Federal Hazardous Substances Act

What does OSHA’s adoption of GHS mean?

2013, December 1: Employees trained on labels, SDS

2015, June 1: MSDSs replaced by SDSs

Your SDSs updated

2015, December 1: No old labels shipped

2016, June 1: in-house labels updated

Other standards change

All substance-specific hazards (e.g., lead), Welding standard

Change warning sign language

Laboratory, PSM, Hazwoper

Flammable Liquids (use, spray, dip)

Change definitions

Combustibles (IIIB) goes away

What’s changed in HazComm?

• Classification of hazards– Based on specific criteria

– Physical hazards – 16 classes

– Health hazards – 10 classes

– Environmental hazards – 2 classes

• Standardization of language– For hazard statements and for

precautionary statements

Physical hazard classes

1 Explosives2 Flammable Gases3 Flammable Aerosols4 Oxidizing Gases5 Gases Under Pressure6 Flammable Liquids7 Flammable Solids8 Self-Reactive Substances9 Pyrophoric Liquids10 Pyrophoric solids

11 Self-Heating Substances

12 Substances Which in Contact with Water Emit Flammable Gases

13 Oxidizing Liquids14 Oxidizing Solids15 Organic Peroxides16 Substances Corrosive

to Metal

Health hazard classes

1 Acute Toxicity

2 Skin Corrosion

3 Skin Irritation

4 Eye Effects

5 Sensitization

6 Germ Cell Mutagenicity

7 Carcinogenicity8 Reproductive

Toxicity9 Target Organ

Systemic Toxicity: Single Exposure & Repeated Exposure

10 Aspiration Toxicity

Environmental Hazard ClassesNot mandated by OSHANot yet required by EPA

Acute aquatic toxicity

Chronic aquatic toxicity

based on fish, crustaceans, algae

Hazardous to the ozone layer

Other ClassesSpecific to OSHA

Not part of UN GHS

Simple asphyxiant

such as helium, nitrogen

Combustible dust

flour dust, grain dust

Pyrophoric gases Washburn A Mill, 1878

Material safety data

sheet: Really old

version

Not that you can read this small type...

Material Safety Data

Sheet ANSI 16-part

Not that you can read this small type...

Safety Data Sheet: GHS

version

Safety Data Sheets will still have:

1. What is it, what’s in it – Section 1 & 32. What’s the hazard – Section 23. Emergency info – first aid, fire, spills4. Safe use, handling and storage

– Recommended PPE

5. How it behaves6. Toxicology7. Not mandatory: ecotoxicity, disposal,

transport, regulatory

Order will be consistent

1. Identification2. Hazard(s) identification3. Composition/information on

ingredients4. First-aid measures5. Fire-fighting measures6. Accidental release measures7. Handling and storage8. Exposure controls/personal

protection9. Physical and chemical

properties10. Stability and reactivity

11. Toxicological information

optional12. Ecological information13. Disposal considerations14. Transport information

and15. Regulatory information.required16. Other information,

including date of preparation or last revision.

SDS Section 2 - acetone

Similar to label

Old labels

Labels are changing

1. Pictograms

2. Danger or Warning signal words

3. Hazard statement & Precautionary statement

DOT placard can be used of pictograms on original shipping container

Hazard Statement for a paint thinner

Danger: Highly flammable liquid and vapor.

May be fatal if swallowed and enters airways.

Causes damage to liver or nervous system through prolonged or repeated exposure if inhaled.

Causes skin irritation and serious eye irritation.

May cause drowsiness or dizziness.

Precautionary Statements for a Thinner (in part)PreventionKeep away from ignition sources such as heat/sparks/open flameGround/Bond container and receiving equipment.Use only outdoors or in a well-ventilated area. Do not breathe vapors

or spray.Wear protective gloves and eye/face protection as specified…ResponseIn case of fire, use a fire extinguisher rated for Class B fires. Do not

use water.IF IN EYES: Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes. If eye

irritation persists, get medical advice/attention. Wash hands after handling

IF ON SKIN: Wash with plenty of soap and water. Take off contaminated clothing and wash before reuse. If skin irritation occurs, seek medical attention.

StorageStore container tightly closed in cool, well ventilated place. Store

locked up.DisposalDispose of contents in accordance with local, state, and federal

regulations.

PictogramsMeant to quickly convey hazard

Always: Diamond

black & white, red border

Similar to DOT placards

Nine types

Know what they mean? You probably

do

This symbol is used for:

1. Flammables2. Gases under

pressure3. Things that can

hit you4. Paddles

Which products would get this symbol?

1. Muriatic acid

2. Oxygen

3. LP gas

4. Isopropyl alcohol

Only application: gases under pressure

Gases under pressure symbol includes:

Compressed gases

≥29 psi

Liquefied gas

Refrigerated liquefied gas

Dissolved gas (acetylene)

This symbol is used for:

1. Fireplaces

2. Oxidizers

3. Flammables

4. Things that you can smoke

Which products would get this symbol?

1. Acetone

2. Isopropyl alcohol

3. Latex paints

4. Battery acid

Flame symbol is for:

Flammable liquidsFlammable gases

Flammable solids

Pyrophorics

Self-heating

Self-reactive

Emit flammable gas

Organic peroxidesFlammable aerosols, too

Fire Hazard Examples

Flammable solids: aluminum powder, magnesium ribbons

Pyrophorics: organometallics, silane

Self-heating: linseed oil rags

Flammable gases: acetylene, hydrogen

Self-reactive: acetylene, azides

Emit flammable gas: lithium, calcium carbide

Organic peroxides: MEK peroxide

Flammable Liquids are divided into categories

Category 1 = higher hazard

Category Flash point Boiling point

1 <23ºC (73 ºF) <35ºC(95 ºF)

2 <23ºC (73 ºF) >35ºC (95 ºF)

3 Between 23ºC & 60ºC

(73 - 140 ºF)

4 Between 60ºC & 93ºC

(140 - 200 ºF)

This symbol means the chemical:

1. Is surprised

2. Is highly reactive

3. Will contribute oxygen and promote fires

4. Is highly flammable

Oxidizer

Which products would get this symbol?

1. Nitric acid

2. Silica

3. LP gas

4. Oxygen

Only application: oxidizers

?

This symbol means the chemical:

1. Can explode

2. Decomposes

3. Will blow up easily

4. Catches fire easily

Which would get this symbol?

1. Ammunition

2. Aerosol cans

3. Fireworks

4. Acids

5. Oxygen

?

Exploding Bomb symbol is for

Explosives

Self-reactives

Organic peroxides

Unstable – by themselves, cause violent chemical

reaction

This symbol means

1. The fishing’s bad

2. The chemical is an environmental pollutant

3. Trees kill fish

4. You’re a bad fisherman

?

This symbol means the chemical:

1. Will cause burns or strong irritation

2. Will damage pirates who drink it

3. Is acutely toxic

4. Will try to take over the world

Skull and Crossbones criteria are different than for consumer

products

For chemicals that can kill at pretty low doses

Won’t apply to many chemicals in commercial use

Acutely Toxic is divided into categories

Category 1 = higher hazardCategory Amount to kill 50% of

test animals (LD50)Example

1 5 mg/kg Cyanide, nicotine

2 50 mg/kg Hydrogen sulfide

3 300 mg/kg Carbon monoxide

4 2000 mg/kg 2,4-D

5 5000 mg/kg Sulfuric acid

This symbol means the chemical:

1. Can cause acute toxicity

2. Dissolves metals

3. Has a pH of 7 or more

4. Causes skin burns or severe eye irritation

?

Which products would get this symbol?

1. Battery acid

2. Isopropyl alcohol

3. Nitric acid

4. Carbon monoxide

5. Amorphous silica

?

Corrosion symbol is for:

Skin corrosion/burns

Severe (permanent) eye damage

Corrosive to metals

pH ≤2, ≥11.5

Not as corrosive irritant

This symbol means the chemical can:

1. Makes your chest explode

2. Cause long term health harm

3. Cause cancers

4. Cause allergic lung reactions (asthma)

?

more than one correct answer

This symbol means the chemical is:

1. An alien that sucks out your lifeblood

2. A skin penetrant

3. A specific target organ toxicant

4. Blow up in your face

?

The exploding torso is used for:

Respiratory sensitizers

Mutagens

Carcinogens

Reproductive toxicants

Specific target organ toxicity (single or repeated exposure)

Aspiration hazard

Serious health hazards, short of death

This symbol means the chemical:

1. Could cause irritation or allergic skin reactions

2. Can burn intensely

3. Can cause asthma

4. Should be listened to

?

This symbol means the chemical could:

1. Make you a more sensitive, caring person

2. Rapidly decompose

3. Give you pimples

4. Make you dizzy and lightheaded

?

Exclamation point symbol will be for:

Health hazards, but not that severeirritant to eye, skin, breathing

skin sensitizers

narcotic effects

And hazard to ozone layer

How to tell how nasty something is

Signal word present?Danger > Warning > None

Pictogram present?

Hazard statementExtremely > highly

Fatal > toxic > harmful

> > none

Hazard Categories

How do these fit in?1

30

Not requiredIf you use in-house, trainWatch for conflict with GHS

(e.g., flammability) Potential confusion:

1=bad (GHS); not bad (these)

32

Your Next Steps

1. Learn the pictograms

2. Train your workers– Emphasize labels

3. Start updating data sheets

4. Take a look at in-house labeling

Questions?

Resources:

OSHA quick cards on SDS, labels, pictograms

http://www.osha.gov/dsg/hazcom/ghsquickcards.html

Me: Jkeyes@chess-safety.com