Globally Harmonized System

           As mentioned by OSHA, the four major changes made in the Globally Harmonized System were to the hazard classification, labeling, Safety Data Sheets, and information and training. The new Globally Harmonized System has a new way of categorizing hazardous material that the old hazardous materials system did not. In the new system, there are three different ways to categorize hazardous materials. The first way is with the use of symbols. Symbols convey health, physical, and environmental hazard information. They are assigned to a Globally Harmonized System hazard class and category. This is to make it easier to identify the hazardous materials. There are also signal words. Examples of these words are, “danger, or warning.” They are to emphasize the hazards and the relative severity of the danger at hand. The last part of the label system is standard phrases. These are standard phrases are used to quickly convey the hazards of the chemical.

            Hazard classifications are another part of the Globally Harmonized System. The new system has allowed workers to more easily identify chemicals that are hazardous to the worker. In this case, they have updated the classifications of hazards to be more identifiable. The new classifications read as follows: acute toxicity, skin irritation, serious eye damage or eye irritation, respiratory or skin sensitization, germ cell mutagenicity, carcinogenicity, reproductive toxicity, specific target organ toxicity (single or repeated exposure), aspiration hazard.

            There are now 12 mandatory sections and 4 non-mandatory section formats in the Safety Data Sheets as opposed to 8 non-mandatories in the old system. They were originally referred to as the Material Safety Data Sheets but have been shortened to the Safety Data Sheets now. The total 16 sections of the SDSs are listed below per the OSHA QuickCard.  

1. Identification

2. Hazard identification

3. Information on ingredients

4. First-Aid measures

5. Firefighting measures

6. Accidental release measures

7. Handling and storage

8. Personal protection

9. Physical and chemical properties

10. Stability and reactivity

11. Toxicological information

12. Ecological information

13. Disposal considerations

14. Transport information

15. Regulatory information

16. Other information, including date of preparation/revision

Looking at the OSHA Factsheet, as of December 1, 2013, workers have to be trained on the new labels and Safety Data Sheets. On June 1, 2015, chemical manufacturers, importers, distributors, and employers have to be on the same page in regards to all the new changes of the HCS. Essentially, the new regulations makes it so the world has an easier time understanding these Safety Data Sheets regardless of where in the world the Safety Data Sheets are being accessed. This is why it is referred to as the Globally Harmonized System. The point is to make sure that the world is on one system to allow the workers, employers, and average people, to be able to recognize the dangers of the chemicals that they are working with. Some of the new requirements of the new system force the labels to change within 6 months of finding new chemicals or new details of new chemicals.

            According to SDS Online, Hazard Communication moved up from the #3 spot to the #2 spot in 2012 of OSHA’s most used standards. There have been over 42,000 of Hazard Communication violations since 2009.  Overall, the new system has allowed for much more organization and rules pertaining to chemicals and their hazards.