Working Group: Comprehensibility Testing in the

Context of National GHS Implementation Strategies

Lessons Learnt – Country Report Backs

• Countries reporting CT Findings:

Nigeria, Zambia, Senegal, Thailand

• Zambia and Nigeria completed testing

• Senegal to start

• Thailand half completed

Different Approaches Employed by Pilot Countries to CT

• Nigeria Train-the-trainer approach for implementing CT; rapid CT module

• Zambia Comprehensive CT not rapid CT module; questionnaire not based on GHS purple book – symbols not decided by GHS at that time

• Senegal workshop approach to train-the trainers; different interpretation of CT

• Thailand two-tiered approach in testing all sectors => managers and workers (industry); teachers and grassroots => (consumers)

Common Issues Resulting from Pilot Countries CT

• Misunderstanding of pictograms across all sectors

– higher educated, work experience, higher perception of risk and higher visual profile of pictogram (e.g., flame and skull/cross bones) resulted in “correct” understanding of GHS symbols

- cultural interpretations of symbols (e.g., Thailand – chronic symbol – spiritually uplifting; Nigeria – chronic symbol – blood tonic)

- Linkage between pictogram and hazard low

Common Issues Resulting from Pilot Countries CT

• Language barrier – translation of CT into French and Thailand

• SDS’s not available to end-users – needs to be carried down value chain

• Colour of GHS pictograms not always correctly interpreted– red color best

• Size – pictograms need to be large sized on labels.

Future Role of CT

• Testing of additional pictograms developed by particular countries (context specific)

• Using a pre and post pilot testing approach pre would collect data prior to training and post would evaluate training

Future Role of CT

• CT should be used as a monitoring tool throughout the implementation process measure and monitor in terms of comprehension

• To incorporate CT in existing Safety, Health and Environment programs as a continuous training mechanism (e.g., workers must complete CT ever 2 years)

Future Role of CT

• Simple tool for awareness that should not only be used for target populations in the 4 sectors, but also for GHS stakeholders

• Developed countries need to conduct CT to test the implementation process and be an example to developing countries

Future Role of CT

• Introduce CT into schools

• In developed countries test migrant workers, varying ethnic groups, refugees

• CT should incorporate transportation pictograms

• CT should test comprehension of color (e.g., as used in transport symbols)

Other Issues Raised

• Disposal of chemicals and containers needs to be on labels

• Use media groups to train (e.g., TV)

• Use billboards for awareness raising

• How to deal with the issue of consumer responses to hazard information (e.g., too many hazard symbols – compliancy)