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

THe GHS is not a regulatory 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 different countries and regulatory 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. You'll also have to do some training for your employees on what the new standard looks like.

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 format by December 1, 2013.
The new SDS format requires 16 standardized sections, where our old MSDS did not. 

2. You'll have to train your employees on the new label elements by December 1, 2013.
GHS has standardized pictograms and the hazards associated with them so that the communication of hazards will be consistent across the board. We've developed training that you can have your employees take to review these requirements.

Some the relate to our industry are: