KMK Regulatory Services offers expert understanding of GHS legislation and GHS compliance services for easy transitioning of your safety data sheets and labels. Contact us to learn how to become GHS-compliant–on time.
Important Changes to Safety Data Sheets and Labels for GHS Compliance
The UNECE (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe) web site offers public information regarding the implementation and timelines for the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling (GHS). The objective for hazard communication under GHS is to develop a harmonized hazard communication system including labelling and Safety Data Sheets (SDS’s) based on GHS classification criteria. An upcoming GHS implementation milestone has occured this year, in 2012, when the commencement date of the national model, Work Health and Safety legislation is expected in North America.
Certain important elements of the MSDS have been changed under GHS. First, the GHS MSDS will now be known as simply the Safety Data Sheet or “SDS” and it will have a new, 16 point format as follows:
| 1. Identification | 9. Physical and chemical properties |
| 2. Hazard(s) identification | 10. Stability and reactivity |
| 3. Composition/information on ingredients | 11. Toxicological information |
| 4. First-aid measures | 12. Ecological information |
| 5. Fire-fighting measures | 13. Disposal considerations |
| 6. Accidental release measures | 14. Transport information |
| 7. Handling and storage | 15. Regulatory information |
| 8. Exposure controls/personal protection | 16. Other information |
GHS also requires specific changes to harmonize labels including the following; new hazard pictograms, signal words and hazard statements, precautionary statements and pictograms, product identifiers and supplier identification. Learn more about GHS in our Resource Center.