This presentation aims to give you an overview of the GHS HAZCOM components. Find out more about 360training.com Enterprise Solutions here: http://www.360training.com/enterprise/ http://www.360training.com.ph

1. What You Need to Know
about OSHA HAZCOM
Standard

2. OSHA has aligned its Hazard
Communication standard last
March 2012 with the United
Nation and International Labor
Organization’s Globally
Harmonized System of
Labeling Chemicals.
This presentation aims to give
you an overview of the GHS
HAZCOM components.

3. What is the Globally Harmonized System
(GHS)?
GHS stands for Globally Harmonized
System of Classification and Labeling of
Chemicals. It applies to a wide variety of
industries and focuses on the
manufacture, labeling, identification of
hazards from manufacturers
and distributors all over the
world.

4. What’s the need for alignment?
OSHA’s previous Hazard
Communication standard is being
aligned with the GHS to promote
safe chemical handling, labeling
and transportation of hazardous
chemicals across the United
States. If the previous Hazard
Communication standard
established in 1983 gave workers
the “right to know,” the new GHS
grants workers the “right to
understand.”

5. Who will be affected?
Over 5 million workplaces and 43 million
workers from the construction and general
industries will be impacted by the GHS
HAZCOM update. These workers include,
but are not limited to, construction workers,
lab technicians,
pathologists, clean-up
and maintenance
personnel.

6. Key Dates:
June 1, 2015 – The full implementation of
GHS will take effect on this date, which
requires manufacturers, importers,
distributors and employers to be strictly
compliant of the modified standard. However,
distributors can still ship chemicals labeled by
manufacturers utilizing the old system until
December 1, 2015.

7. Key Dates:
June 1, 2016 – This is the deadline of
employee training for newly identified
hazards. Employers meanwhile should also
update the hazard communication program
following the identification of new hazards.

8. Key Vocabularies:
Signal Word – Signal words are utilized to
communicate the hazard level of the chemical in
question, both on the label and the safety data
sheets.
Pictogram – Pictograms are symbols framed by a
red border and communicate a hazard. They
appear on both the label and the SDS.

9. Key Vocabularies:
SDS – “SDS” will now be used in replacement
of “MSDS” – the acronym for material safety
data sheet. The SDS comes in a 16-section
format and provides workers comprehensive
information on the safe handling of chemicals
as well as instructions for mitigation
response.
Hazard Groups – Categories of hazards; are
divided into three types: health, physical and
environmental hazards.

10. Key Vocabularies:
Class – The term used to identify different
hazard types under a hazard group.
Category – The term used to identify subsections of classes. Categories are
represented by letters of numbers.
Hazard Statement - The hazard statement is a
standardized statement that details a hazard.
It appears both on the SDS and the label.

11. Elements of the GHS HAZCOM
standard:
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Product Identifiers
Signal Words
Pictograms
Precautionary Statements
Safety Data Sheets
Supplier Identification

12. 1. Product Identifiers
Product identifiers are printed on
the chemical label and Section 1
of the new Safety Data Sheets
(SDS). It includes the chemical
name, and code or batch number
of the chemical. Manufacturers,
importers and distributors are the
entities that assign product
identifiers to chemical
substances.

13. 2. Signal Words
Signal words indicate the hazard level of the
chemical being handled. Two signal words
will now be used in the industry: “warning”
which is used for less severe hazards and
“danger” for more
severe ones. Only
one signal word will
be used on the
label.

14. 3. Pictograms
Pictograms are used to indicate the hazard
class and categories of the chemical,
especially if it features multiple hazards. One
pictogram is used for each hazard.

15. 4. Warning Statements
Warning statements or
precautionary statements provide
protective information about the
hazards. They are found on the
left-hand side of the label, just
below the supplier identification.
Precautionary statements are
composed of one-liners or quick
phrases that provide workers
instructions on how to limit their
exposure to chemicals and
execute emergency response
procedures against accidents.

16. 5. Safety Data Sheets
The use of a new safety data sheet format
will be implemented beginning on June 1,
2015. Now containing 16 sections, the new
SDS will include section numbers, headings,
and related information, which aim to explain
the hazard recognition elements found on the
label.

17. 6. Supplier Identification
The supplier identification provides
information on the manufacturer, distributor or
importer of the chemical and includes the
name, address and telephone number. It is
found just below the product identifier on the
label.

18. 9 Pictograms Used in GHS
Flame over Circle
Oxidizers
Flame
Flammables;
pyrophorics;
self-heating; emits
Flammable gas’ self
reactives;
organic peroxide
Exploding Bomb
Skull and Crossbones
acute toxicity (
severe)
Explosives;
self reactives;
organic
Peroxides

19. 9 Pictograms Used in GHS
Corrosion
- Corrosives
Gas Cylinder
- Gases under
pressure
Health Hazard
Carcinogen; mutagenicity; reproductive toxicity;
respiratory sensitizer; target organ toxicity;
aspiration toxicity

20. 9 Pictograms Used in GHS
Environment
Aquatic toxicity
Exclamation
Irritant; skin sensitizer; acute toxicity
(harmful); narcotic effects; respiratory
tract irritation; hazardous to ozone
layer

21. 16 Components of the New
Safety Data Sheets
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Supplier Identification;
Hazard Identification;
Information on ingredients/substances;
First-aid measures;
Accidental release measures;
First-fighting measures;
Handling and storage of chemicals;
Exposure controls and personal protection;

22. 16 Components of the New
Safety Data Sheets
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Physical and chemical properties;
Stability and Reactivity;
Toxicological information;
Ecological information;
Disposal considerations;
Transportation information;
Regulatory information;
Information on the date of chemical release and
last revision of the SDS

23. What to Expect During Training?
• The training about the GHS HAZCOM update
should be in a manner and language that
workers understand. Needless to say, the trainer
should exert all effort and must elaborate on all
the details of each of the elements when
workers don’t understand them before moving
on to the next topic.
• The training should also effectively explain the
link between the labels and the SDS. Each
section on the SDS sheet must also be
explained.

24. What are the benefits of GHS?
OSHA maintains that the new standard will
help prevent over 500 workplace injuries and
illnesses as well as 43 fatalities every year.
Other benefits of the GHS implementation
include:
• Enhanced worker understanding on hazard
recognition, even among workers who had
limited schooling or literacy level; reduced
confusion on the part of workers when
handling and using chemicals

25. What are the benefits of GHS?
• Make information on SDS more accessible
• Save businesses up to $474 million because
of increased productivity, fewer SDS and
label updates and simplified HazCom training
• Reduce trade barriers by unifying chemical
handling and distribution globally

26. Sources:
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F. Marie Athey. (2013). GHS and Hazardous Communication: Are You Ready? Retrieved
November 29, 2013 from http://www.oshacampus.com/blog/ghs-hazardous-communication/
F. Marie Athey. (2013). A Few Things to Note about the GHS HAZCOM Update. Retrieved
November 29, 2013 from http://www.oshacampus.com/blog/a-few-things-to-note-about-theghs-hazcom-update/
F. Marie Athey. (2013). GHS HAZCOM Training –Your Right to Know. Retrieved November
29, 2013 from http://www.oshacampus.com/blog/ghs-hazcom-training-your-right-to-know/
F. Marie Athey. (2013). Barely a Month Left to Meet GHS HAZCOM Requirements – Are
You Ready? Retrieved November 29, 2013 from http://www.oshacampus.com/blog/barelya-month-left-to-meet-ghs-hazcom-requirements-are-you-ready/
F. Marie Athey. (2013). Some Frequently Asked Questions about GHS HAZCOM.
Retrieved November 29, 2013 from http://www.oshacampus.com/blog/some-frequentlyasked-questions-about-ghs-hazcom/
F. Marie Athey. (2013). New GHS Label Elements that You Should Know About. Retrieved
November 29, 2013 from http://www.oshacampus.com/blog/what-are-the-new-ghs-labelelements-that-you-should-know-about/
OSHA. (2013). A Guide to The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling
of Chemicals. (GHS) Retrieved November 29, 2013 from
https://www.osha.gov/dsg/hazcom/ghs.html