Introduction of GHS
What is GHS
1. Globally Harmonized System for Classification and Labeling of Chemicals, in short GHS. It is mainly aimed at chemical classification, labeling and content of material safety data sheet to enact globally harmonized standards. It is the important foundation of global chemical safety using.
2. Building Block Approach
3. GHS sets up the hazard classification criteria for substances and mixtures in the aspects of health, environment, and physical hazards,
4. GHS supplies the regulations of the important hazard communication element of the conciliation.
1）Labeling
2）Material Safety Data Sheet, MSDS or SDS
5. Classification Categories
6. Parameter of GHS
GHS covers all hazardous chemicals. Because of products group and life cycle, the use of hazard communication element in GHS will be different, such as labeling and MSDS or SDS.
The development of GHS is exclusive of building a single test method or lining out the effect of health hazard by popularizing test.
Except animal experiment and clear in vitro test, human experience, epidemiology and clinical test are all applied to GHS system.
7. The Chinese guide of GHS
The Chinese guide of GHS is translated according to Purple Book, published in 2005 by the United Nations, ST/SG/AC.10/30/Rev. 1, ISBN 92-1-116927-5.
Classification of GHS
1. Harmonized hazard communication elements, including labels and MSDS/SDS
2. Unified classification standards of material and mixture, according to Health, Environment, and Physical Hazards.
a. Physical Hazards（16 classes）
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Explosive-not classified
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Gases under pressure-liquefied gas
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Pyrophoric liquids-not classified
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Oxidizing liquids-not classified
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Flammable liquids-not classified
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Flammable gases-not classified
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Pyrophoric solids-not classified
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Oxidizing solids-not classified
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Flammable solids-not classified
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Gases-not classified
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Self-heating substances and mixtures-not classified
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Organic peroxides-not classified
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Flammable aerosols-1
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Self-reactive substances and mixtures-not classified
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Substances and mixtures, which in contact with water, emit flammable
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Corrosive to metals-not classified
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b. Health Hazards（10 classes）
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Acute toxicity-not classified
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Respiratory or skin sensitizer-not classified
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Toxic to reproduction-Category 1B
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Aspiration hazard-2
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Skin corrosion / irritation-Category 2
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Germ cell mutagenicity-Category 1B
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Specific target organ toxicity - single exposure-Category 3(respiratory tract irritation, narcotic effects)
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Serious eye damage / eye irritation-Category 2A
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Carcinogenicity-Category 1B
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Specific target organ toxicity - repeated exposure-Category 2(Blood, respiratory organs, nervous system)
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c. Environmental Hazards（1class）
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Acute hazards to the aquatic environment-not classified
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Chronic hazard to the aquatic environment-not classified
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Hazard to the ozone layer-not classified
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Who does GHS apply to?
1. Consumers
2. Workers
3. Transport Workers
4. Emergency Responders
Why do we use GHS
1. To supply a global and easy understanding of hazard communication element, improving the protection of human health and environment.
2. To supply an accredited framework to countries which do not have any related system.
3. To reduce the requirements of chemicals test and assessment
4. To promote international trades between countries that has related chemical assessment.
5. To establish the basis of laboratory chemical management, and to promote the understanding of chemical hazard.
6. School strengthens laboratory safety and health management to protect people’s safety and health.
How to perform GHS?
1. The classification of hazard materials and mixture, physical hazards, health and environment hazards.
2. Labeling of hazard materials, such as schematism, warnings and hazard warning
3. MSDS/SDS of hazard materials, including 16 contents
4. Health and safety education and training to prevent chemical hazard
5. GHS application model
On transport, the use of GHS is similar to transport requirement. It does not use warning and hazard captions which are required by GHS.
On workplace, except environment hazard, all GHS elements should be accepted.
6. Marks of transport and workplace (laboratory)
Outer packing: flammable liquid transport logo attaches on the box;
Inner packing: GHS hazard warning mark attaches on the plastic bottles.