GHS, or Globally Harmonized System of Classification of Labeling of Chemicals, is a system used world wide to standardize the labeling and safety data sheets for chemicals. Because there are so many chemicals and hazardous substances used world wide, GHS strives to make everyone safer by creating a universal communication system.

 

THe GHS is not a regulation body in and of itself, but rather a set of standards that regulatory bodies can adopt to create a uniform system across the globe. Think of GHS as akin to the metric or imperial system- metric or imperial are not themselves a regulation, but something that regulating bodies adopted.

 

Similarly, GHS has recently been adopted by OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the Federal Government, to standardize hazardous material safety in the US. This means that the way things look on the chemicals you use and the material safety data sheets you see will change. Each company will need to train employees on the key elements of the GHS system to meet OSHA standards.

 

Here's a breakdown of how this applies to Oxygen Providers:

 

1. You'll have to train your employees how to read the new SDS (Safety Data Sheet) format by December 1, 2013.

The new SDS format requires 16 standardized sections: 
Section 1. Identification
Section 2. Hazard(s) identification
Section 3. Composition/ingredients
Section 4. First-aid measures
Section 5. Fire-fighting measures
Section 6. Accidental release measures
Section 7. Handling and storage
Section 8. Exposure control/personal protection
Section 9. Physical and chemical properties
Section 10. Stability and reactivity
Section 11. Toxicological information
Section 12. Ecological information
Section 13. Disposal considerations
Section 14. Transport information
Section 15. Regulatory information
Section 16. Other information

 

2. You'll have to train your employees on the new label elements by December 1, 2013.

GHS has standardized pictograms that describe the primary hazard associated with each chemical or hazardous material. This will allow communication involving these chemicals to be consistent.

Some the relate to our industry are:

  Gas Cylinder: Gases under pressure Flame over Circle: Oxidizers

 

3. If you are an oxygen filler, you'll need to make sure your oxygen drug product labels are updated by June 1, 2015. The new labels have updated warnings and use the pictograms prescribed by OSHA.

 

Get the training you need to teach your employees about the new standards with our online GHS OSHA course, just click here!