Transcript Document

The GHS:
Overview Presentation
George Thomas
Thai National GHS Workshop
15-17 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:
UNTDG + ILO
Health and
environmental
hazards: OECD
Hazard
communication:
ILO
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Implementation and Maintenance
United 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
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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
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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
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Hazard pictograms
Signal words
Standardised
Hazard statements
Precautionary statements
Product identifier - include chemical
identity
• Supplier identification
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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
GHS
Label
No symbol
Danger
Fatal if swallowed
Danger
Fatal if
swallowed
Danger
Toxic if
swallowed
Warning
Harmful if
swallowed
Warning
May 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:
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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
Danger
Fatal if swallowed
Skin irritation, cat 2
Flamm. liquid, cat 3
Warning
Warning
Causes skin irritation
Flammable liquid
and vapour
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Example of standardised label
elements
Selected elements after applying precedence rules
Danger
Fatal if swallowed
Causes skin irritation
Flammable liquid and vapour
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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 riskbased 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
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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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