The United Nations in the year 2003 initiated a system called GHS also known as Globally Harmonized System for classification and labeling of all hazardous chemicals. The one and only intention for launching the GHS program, was to lay a common format for labeling of all the chemicals, which act as a catalyst or are toxic and explosive in nature.

Globally Harmonized System was implemented to cut or reduce the wide disparity among the laws of various nations with respect to the use of various chemicals, their handling and transportation. Earlier every country had its own symbols and classification of hazardous chemicals and there was confusion incase of trading of these chemicals. Hence, the endorsement of GHS system intends to bring in a common datum to be observed by all the nations, there by proving safe for the environment and its habitats. It also helps to encourage trade between two countries.

The GHS includes the classification of the chemicals in addition to their labeling and recording on the Material Safety Data Sheets. Every organization dealing with chemical substances will need a consultant to give correct interpretation of GHS over and above the professional guidance towards the total compliance as per the new system.

The Globally Harmonized System of classification is a contract which is not legally obligatory on the countries associated for trading of hazardous chemicals. The countries are free to decide if a label is to be introduced or not. It is advisable to accept GHS system and implement the same for the following reasons:

1. There will be less chemical mishaps or accidents, which means a safer work environment for the employees;
2. Lower health care costs;
3. Improved protection of workers and public from hazardous chemicals; and
4. Help in raising the productivity, affects the economic viability and helps the industry become progressive.

The application of GHS system creates least confusion and is more cost effective. Organizations no more require meeting a number of requirements to trade their products (basically export). All that is required is the need to conform to one set of regulations, which are universally accepted.

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All products used in the workplace must have an MSDS accessible for employees to understand the proper use and safety measures needed when using a product or in case of an accident. It is the responsibility for the employer to ensure that there is an MSDS sheet for every product being used in their facility, but these MSDSs are typically provided by the supplier of the product.

An MSDS sheet is a go-to document for all persons who may come into contact with a particular chemical or mixture. It explains the relevant physical properties, hazardous information and safety procedures. Every country/jurisdiction has its own regulations that must be followed when preparing an MSDS for a product, specifying what information must be disclosed on the document.

Nexreg Compliance Inc. is a regulatory company that specializes in MSDS preparation. Nexreg offers MSDS authoring for the E.U. (SDS), NAFTA (U.S., Canada and Mexico), OSHA/WHMIS (U.S. and Canada), OSHA (U.S.) and WHMIS (Canada). The type of MSDS you require will depend on where your product will be used. Because of the many different legislations regulating MSDS preparation, choosing a professional service like Nexreg Compliance is a safe way to ensure that your MSDS will be compliant with all necessary documents.

Nexreg offers services for MSDS preparation from 2 weeks standard time to a 24-hour rush depending on your companys needs. Nexreg will determine the hazardous properties and classifications for your product from the formulation and prepare the appropriate MSDS accordingly. We also offer translations if you require your MSDS in another language besides English. Our team also offers services to update or reformat existing MSDSs your company may have that are expired or need to be used in a different jurisdiction.
If you have any questions or are interested in finding out more about Nexreg Compliance Inc.s services, feel free to contact us:

Nexreg Compliance, Inc.
Toll Free: (866) 361-3032
Phone: (519) 488-5126
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The Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) requires labels on controlled materials from the supplier and at the workplace. Health and safety officers may check the containers of controlled products in your workplace to ensure they have supplier labels with the special hatched border (illustrated in Appendix II). These labels must have the following information enclosed in the border:

a product identifier

a hazard symbol or symbols to correspond to risk phrases (standard pictograms for WHMIS)

risk phrases describing the nature of the hazard and possible consequences of product misuses (e.g. eye irritant

precautionary measures to be taken to ensure the safe use of the product (e.g. keep away from acids)

first aid measures (e.g. in case of skin contact, flush immediately with plenty of water)

a supplier identifier

a reference to the Material Safety Data Sheet (e.g. see MSDS)

Any containers that have a quantity of 100 mL or less need to only display a product identifier, the hazard symbol(s), the supplier identifier and some reference to the MSDS. All supplier labels must be in English and French.

Workplace labels must contain the following information:

clearly identify the product

identify essential information for safe use and handling of the product

indicate whether a MSDS is available (ex. if a consumer product is being used, a MSDS may not be available)

Contrary to the supplier label, the workplace label is performance oriented and therefore, its appearance, wording and arrangement are not restricted. Regardless, the workplace label must provide enough information to depict the precautions that must be taken to prevent injuries or accidents. Word, symbols, or other modes of communication can be used to convey the possible health and environmental hazards, but it must be combined with worker education to make certain that the worker has all the necessary information for safe handling and storage of the chemical.

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A material safety data sheet (MSDS) is a document designed to provide employees with the necessary information to safely use a chemical or mixture. Generally, many important statements are included in an MSDS, including: chemical product and company identification, the composition of the ingredients, hazards identified, first aid measures, firefighting measures, accidental release measures, handling and storage procedures, personal protective equipment needed, physical and chemical properties, reactivity and stability information, toxicological statements, ecological information, disposal considerations, transport information and regulatory statements. This data is typically presented in a 16-section format, but can vary from a one-page format to over 10 pages, depending on the creator of the MSDS. Every jurisdiction has specific requirements as to what must be included on the MSDS and it is best to consult a professional to ensure your MSDS is compliant with local regulations.

Every chemical or mixture that is available or used in an industrial or institutional setting must have an accompanied MSDS stating the hazards associated with the product. It is the responsibility of the employer to ensure that an MSDS is available for each chemical product being used in his/her company. The MSDS sheets can be available in paper form or in a database on the computer, as long as they are easily accessible by workers. The MSDS should also be available to emergency responders or medical personnel who may be able to react in a more appropriate manner if they know all the hazards a product poses.

There are many places you can get an MSDS if you require one. Typically, you could get the MSDS from the distributor or manufacturer who sold you the product. However, to ensure that your MSDS is compliant and up-to-date, it is best to refer to a professional organization to prepare your material safety data sheet. A professional would be knowledgeable about every regulation that may apply to the jurisdiction in which your company is located and be able to prepare a MSDS fit to those regulations.

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GHS stands for the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals. In similar fashion to WHMIS or OSHA, the GHS outlines specific environmental and health hazards for chemical classification. The GHS offers a universal system to classify substances and chemical mixtures.

Health hazards are divided into ten classes. These classes are; acute toxicity, skin corrosion, skin irritation, eye effects, sensitization, germ cell mutagenicity, carcinogenicity, reproductive toxicity, target organ system toxicity (single exposure and repeated exposure), and aspiration toxicity. Every class, with the exception of sensitization, is further divided into categories to demonstrate the severity of the hazard in question. As an example, in terms of classification for eye effects, a Category 1 would stand for serious eye damage and a Category 2 would apply to an eye irritant. Therefore, lower categories are less hazardous than the first one. The categories regarding skin corrosion, germ cell mutagenicity, carcinogenicity, and reproductive toxicity are further broken into subcategories to describe the degree of the hazard in more detail. Each class listed has specific criteria that a chemical must fulfill in order to be classified as such.

The environmental hazards outlined in the GHS are used to make evident the aquatic toxicity that a product may pose towards the environment. These hazards are divided into two sections: acute aquatic toxicity and chronic aquatic toxicity. Acute aquatic toxicity is assigned to a substance or mixture on the basis of the LC50 (fish), EC50 (crustacea) or ErC50 (for algae or other aquatic plants) values. Chronic aquatic toxicity is also determined by these values, as well as degradation and/or bioaccumulation.

Any chemical or mixture can be classified under more than one of these categories and may pose both a health and environmental hazard. In order to determine the current GHS classification, existing classification systems were analyzed, including the scientific basis for their systems and the criteria they use. This is why some classifications under the GHS may be similar to those in other regulations. However, because of the strict criteria used for classification, it is important that a professional classifies any products in question in order to ensure a proper result.

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Under the Consumer Chemicals and Containers Regulations (CCCR), five hazard classes are identified. These classes are toxic products, corrosive products, flammable products, quick skin-bonding adhesives, and pressurized containers.

Toxic products are divided into three categories: very toxic, toxic and harmful. If a product contains a substance of special concern, it will automatically be classified under the sub-category assigned to that substance. The category can also be determined by the oral, dermal or inhalation exposure, as well as whether or not the product poses an aspiration hazard. Any product that is classified as very toxic is prohibited from sale, advertising or importation. For each of the other categories, the CCCR sets out specific statements that must be displayed on the product label.

Corrosive products are also divided into three categories: very corrosive, corrosive or irritant. Similarly to toxic products, if a mixture contains a substance of special concern, it will automatically have that classification. Classification is also determined by the pH of the product, human experience or the total concentration of substances causing necrosis or ulceration. Regardless of the classification, all corrosive products can be sold as long as their labels contain the appropriate statements.

Flammable products are four categories: very flammable, flammable, spontaneously combustible and combustible. Very Flammable products are prohibited for sale, unless they meet the specific conditions laid out in the CCCR, 2001. The flammability of a product is determined by its flashpoint, flame projection, flashback, or whether or not it heats/combusts spontaneously.

The final two classes, quick skin-bonding adhesives and pressurized containers, either do or do not apply to a product; there are no sub-categories. Similar to the other hazard classes, if this classification applies to the product, the CCCR sets out specific statements to display on the consumer label.

A product can have more than one hazard class apply to it, but only one category from each class. For example, a product cannot be an irritant and corrosive. In a case such as this, the class chosen is the one that is the most hazardous option; therefore, the product would be corrosive.

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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. 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.

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The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) is a system that is used to standardize the classification and labelling of chemicals. It describes health, environmental and physical hazards of various chemicals, as well as creating a process for classification that uses known information about chemicals for comparison with the hazardous criteria. In addition, it allows for communication of the hazardous information, including protective measures, placed on labels and Safety Data Sheets (SDS). The information provided by the GHS can be used when determining if a chemical is hazardous, as well as what’s needed to prepare a label and/or Safety Data sheet when necessary.

The application of the GHS will provide many benefits to governments and companies, as well as workers and the general public. These benefits include lowered health care costs, a safer work environment, an increase in efficiency, and a greater general knowledge of the hazardous materials that one may come into contact with.

The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) method of classifying chemical has become a universal tool in creating a standard approach to understanding of the properties of dangerous chemicals. The GHS provides guidelines on how to safely use, transport and dispose of chemicals, and describes the effects and precautions to be taken when dealing with chemicals.

The GHS method is currently used mostly by governments and their institutions and international organizations. With the implementation of safety data sheets for the workplace, knowledge of chemical dangers is becoming more accessible, as well as preventative and protective measures that can be taken to improve health and safety.

The GHS method has become essential in reducing the threats on human and environmental health by communicating the hazards of chemical materials that humans come in contact with daily.

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According to WHMIS classifications, Class D (Poisonous and Infectious Material) has 3 divisions. Two of these divisions also havesubdivisions.

Class D1 represents “Materials Causing Immediate and Serious Toxic Effects at greater than or equal to one percent”. This category is further broken up into Class D1A (Very Toxic Material at greater than or equal to one percent) and Class D1B (Toxic Material at greater than or equal to one percent). If a product fits the criteria for a certain TDG Class, Packing group, or falls into the assigned levels for oral, dermal or inhalation toxicity for one of these two classes, it would fall into that class.

Class D2 represents “Materials Causing Other Toxic Effects”. Class D2A (Very Toxic Material at greater than or equal to 0.1 percent) applies to any substance that contains an ingredient which has demonstrated aspects of carcinogenicity, reproductive toxicity, teratogenicity, embryotoxicity, mutagenicity or respiratory sensitization. Class D2A (Very Toxic Material at greater than or equal to one percent) would also include any substance which has been found to have chronic toxic effects in small doses which threatens life or causes serious impairment of cardiovascular or nervous systems, or bodily organs. Class D2B (Toxic Material at greater than or equal to one percent) would incorporate any chemical that has been found to have chronic toxic effects in larger doses (than D2A), mutagenicity, skin sensitization or skin and/or eye irritation.

Please note that for the classes which have a percentage assigned to them, the chemical in question must be present in the mixture in a concentration falling within the range given in order to be classified.

Finally, Class D3 represents “Biohazardous Infectious Material”. Any organism that has been shown to cause or is reasonably believed to cause disease in persons or animals would be classified under this division. Any organisms classified into Risk Group 2, 3, and 4 as determined by the Medical Research Council of Canada (MRCC) or the World Health Organization (WHO) would also be classified as a Class D3 substance.

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Many organizations provide services for revising or writing Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) ensuring compliance with all necessary regulatory requirements. MSDS authoring to meet the required regulatory standards varies from country to country. The Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) sets the standards for MSDSs in Canada. WHMIS is regulated by Health Canada through the Controlled Products Regulations (CPR), the Hazardous Products Act (HPA) & Part II. Typically in Canada, a MSDS requires to be reviewed every three years.

A MSDS is a document that contains information about a chemical product. The CPR sets the standard for information that is required on a WHMIS MSDS form. Section 12 of the CPR specifies the categories of information that are required to be disclosed within the MSDS. There are nine categories of information captured on the MSDS form, including: product information, hazardous ingredients, physical data, fire & explosive data, reactivity data, toxicological properties, preventative measures, and first aid measures & preparation information.

Currently, the global requirement is that a MSDS must be completed for all hazardous chemicals. The MSDS should be distributed and available during the production, use, storage, testing, transportation, anddestruction of these chemicals. Currently, there are not many education programs in place to train employees on MSDS authoring unless companies offer this type of training in-house.

At present, it is common for many companies to outsource MSDS authoring. Many small and medium size companies do not have the volume of MSDSs to require a full-time onsite regulatory specialist. It is much more cost effective for these types of companies to outsource their periodic MSDS needs. An increase in complexity with the rules and regulations surrounding MSDS development also makes it more cost effective to outsource these tasks to professionals who receive continual training on new regulations. Most companies do not have the financial support to continually train their employees on the current regulations when they author a minimal number of MSDSs.

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