subject: What does a GHS Label and SDS incorporate? [print this page] The GHS is a common and consistent approach to defining and classifying hazards, and communicating hazard information on labels and Safety Data Sheets or SDS. The GHS will cover all hazardous chemicals, which includes substances, products, mixtures, preparations, etc. It will provide an internationally agreed upon system of hazard classification and labeling. The target audiences include workers, consumers, transport workers, and emergency responders. Under this system, chemical substances and mixtures will be classified according to their physical, health, and environmental hazards. However, this includes ingredients that meet the criteria for carcinogenic, toxic to reproduction or specific target organ toxicity in concentrations exceeding the cut-off limits for SDS specified by criteria for mixtures as well.
In order to author a GHS SDS one must incorporate the following instructions according to the GHS guidelines. Signal words need to be incorporated such as DANGER for more severe categories and WARNING for less severe categories. The SDS author has to pay close attention to the wording used in the SDS. Phrases such as not applicable, not relevant, or leaving blank spaces in the health effect section can lead to confusion and misunderstanding and should not be used. For health effects where information is not available, this should be clearly stated. Precautionary statements should be chosen carefully in order not to mislead the user of the SDS which should incorporate the following: Precautionary, Prevention, Response, Storage and Disposal stamens. Minimum information required in an SDS are the following 16 section headings:
1.Identification
2.Hazard(s) identification
3.Composition/information on ingredients
4.First-aid measures
5.Fire-fighting measures
6.Accidental release measures
7.Handling and storage
8.Exposure controls/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
How ever a GHS label should be as follows; the GHS hazard pictograms, signal words, and hazard statements should be located together on the label. Color can be used on other areas of the label to implement special labeling requirements such as the use of the pesticide bands in the FAO Labeling Guide, for signal words and hazard statements or as background to them, or as otherwise provided for by the competent authority. Guidelines which need to be followed in order to author a label are the following:
1.Allocation of label elements
2.Reproduction of symbol
3.Reproduction of hazard pictogram
4.Signal words
5.Hazard statements
6.Precautionary statements and pictograms
7.Product and supplier identification
8.Multiple hazards and precedence of information
9.Arrangements for presenting the GHS label elements
