Page 36 - OHS, January/February 2021

IH: CHEMICAL SAFETY
Get the Upper Hand on GHS Label Compliance
Simple SDS-to-label compliance cross-checks, expert design tips and more.
BY JOANN MRGICH AND COLWIN CHAN
In 2016, OSHA required businesses to transition to Globally Harmonized System (GHS) standards for chemical safety and hazard communication. While most employers are now in- formed and working within the new standards, it can still be
difficult to find the exact information needed to create compliant GHS labels.
For the average facility, if a primary container label is dam- aged or illegible, creating new ones that are GHS-compliant are often a pain for safety and compliance teams. Yet, GHS compli- ance is critical if the chemicals will be distributed, transported or even transferred between facilities.
A Brief Overview of Safety Data Sheets
and GHS Compliance
Safety Data Sheets are a summary document covered in OSHA standard 1910.1200(g). They include a wealth of information about the physical, health and environmental hazards of each chemical as well as how to safely store, handle and transport them.
The information included in SDS is organized into 16 sections for easy navigation. The 16 sections are further organized in the following manner:
Sections 1-8: General Information. For example, identifying the chemical, its composition, how it should be handled and stored,
exposure limits and what to do in a variety of emergency situations. Sections 9-11: Technical and Scientific Information. The in- formation required in these particular sections of the safety data sheet is very specific and detailed, including physical and chemical
properties, stability, reactivity and toxicological information.
Sections 12-15: Information Governed by Non-OSHA Agen- cies. This includes environmental information, disposal consider- ations, transportation information and other regulations not indi- cated anywhere else on the SDS.
Section 16: Other Information. This section can include any useful information that hasn’t been recorded elsewhere on the SDS as well as information about the SDS itself. For example, facts such as when the SDS was prepared, the last known revision date, and where changes were made in the most recent revision could be included.
What Information is Required on a GHS Label?
OSHA Hazard Communication Standard 1910.1200(f)(1) was re- vised in 2012 to include six specific elements. These six elements are in alignment with GHS standards for labeling potentially haz- ardous chemical containers that will leave your facility.
■ Product Name/Identifier. The unique name or number that identifies a hazardous chemical
32 Occupational Health & Safety | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021
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