Globally Harmonized System (GHS) Labeling Requirements: How to Comply with OSHA’s HazCom Requirements

What is the hazard communication standard and how do you implement it in your facility? Learn more about keeping your workers safe with the system for chemical classification, labeling and hazard communication. 

The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals, or GHS, is an international system for classifying and labeling chemicals that is designed to provide consistent guidelines to categorize human health and environmental hazards in the workplace.

Created by the United Nations, the GHS standardizes the way these hazards are communicated on labels and safety data sheets (SDS). It covers all hazardous chemicals including pure substances and mixtures.

GHS was officially adopted in the U.S. on March 26, 2012, by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). OSHA’s adoption of the GHS is actually a revision of the Hazard Communication Standard designed to align with the GHS. It’s called HazCom 2012.
 

Earlier this year, OSHA initiated its first major update to HazCom 2012 since it became mandatory in 2015, indicating its intention to address issues that have arisen since the new system was first implemented, and to keep the hazard communication standard updated regularly.

OSHA has always intended to, just as the Department of Transportation updates the Hazardous Materials Regulations to ensure compliance with international requirements.

Read more: The Evolution of the Hazard Communication Standard

On Feb. 16, 2021, OSHA filed a proposed rule and request for comments (Agency/Docket Number OSHA-2019-0001) on the Federal Register, revealing its intention to update the hazard communication. OSHA has scheduled an informal public hearing for Sept. 21 on proposed updates to the hazard communication regulations.

For companies looking to comply with OSHA’s 29 CFR 1910.1200(e) regulation for Hazard Communication, a written HazCom plan that documents and outlines how your company responds to hazardous chemicals is required.

Tracking, maintaining and managing your chemical inventory is crucial to your HazCom plan and GHS compliance. In order to maintain a successful plan, you must keep your inventory organized and updated.

Update Chemical Containers with GHS Labels

Labeling is the cornerstone of GHS compliance. 

With an emphasis on consistency and comprehension of chemical labels, it is important to know what goes into a GHS label for primary and secondary containers. 

Here are the six key elements to a GHS label that you need to know.

1. Signal Word. ​The signal word indicates hazard level. “Danger” is used for the most severe instances, while “Warning” is less severe.
2. GHS Symbols (Hazard Pictograms). These pictograms are used to identify hazardous products and are commonly grouped by chemical/physical risk, health risk and environmental risk. View Brady’s GHS pictogram guide.
3. Manufacturer Information. This identifies the manufacturer’s company name, address and telephone number.
4. Precautionary Statements/First Aid. These are phrases that are tied to each hazard statement. They describe general preventive, response, storage or disposal precautions. These statements are found on the chemical’s safety data sheet. Similar to hazard statements, precautionary statements can be identified by a P-code (like P100).
5. Hazard Statements. These are phrases that describe the nature of hazardous products and the degree of hazard. Hazard statements are on the chemical’s SDS and identified by an H-code (like H100).
6. Product Name or Identifiers. This identifies the product or chemical name. Additional identifiers can be noted to the right of the manufacturer’s information.