GHS: For Chemical Substances Article - Study Science Articles

	1888 Articles Home \| Study Articles \| Science Articles	Science RSS
GHS: For Chemical Substances

Many countries have their own systems for controlling chemical use. Currently, most systems are not globally compatible with one another resulting in multiple Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for the same chemical.

Author: Editor123

Article Tools:

As a result, companies participating in international trade are required to comply with multiple regulations regarding the classification and labeling of hazardous chemical substances. Thus, the current system is expensive and time-consuming.

The solution is to adopt the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). The new system incorporates hazardous chemical labeling & classification criteria which will be globally applicable. The GHS will use hazard pictograms instead of the traditional hazard symbols. The GHS will also introduce new labeling phrases as well as new classification criteria.

The GHS system applies to all hazardous chemicals. No chemical is exempt from the GHS. Under GHS the word “chemical” applies to all substances, preparations, mixtures, product and all other terms used to describe hazardous chemical substances in existing regulations. The GHS objective it to identify inherent hazards of chemical substances and/or mixtures and to communicate the corresponding hazard information.

GHS classification involves the identification of a chemical and/or mixture hazard by assigning hazard/hanger category to the chemical using distinct criteria. The GHS was designed to be consistent and transparent limiting misinterpretation.

The information to classify a chemical substance can be obtained from many different sources which include but are not limited to: tests, practical experience and literature.

There are 16 physical hazard categories for chemical substances as defined by GHS: explosives, flammable gases, flammable aerosols, oxidizing gases, gasses under pressure, flammable liquids, flammable solids, self-reactivesubstances, pyrophoric liquids, pyrophoric solids, self-heating substances, substances - in contact with water emit flammable gases, oxidizing liquids, oxidizing solids, organic peroxides, corrosive metals.

After a chemical substance has been classified, hazards are to be communicated to the “target” audience. Currently, the Material Safety Data sheets (MSDS) and labels communicate the chemical hazards. Under GHS the hazards are communicated using Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and labels using hazard statements, signal words and pictograms based on the classification of the chemical substance.

About Author

For further information on GHS and MSDS please visit http://www.nexreg.com/

Article Source: http://www.1888articles.com/author-editor123-12401.html