Globally Harmonized System & Solutions

The Globally Harmonized System or GHS was proposed by the United Nations in an effort to internationally standardize classification and labeling of chemicals through the use of pictograms, signal words, and hazard warnings. Benefits of the GHS include: reduced time and costs involved in meeting multiple regulations for labels, improved comprehension and understanding of health and environmental hazards, facilitation of trade by removing barriers created by various health and safety requirements and reduction of duplicate testing.

SiteHawk understands that your time is limited. The upcoming transition represents a challenge and SiteHawk is here to help you meet that challenge head on with our GHS and SDS Management Solutions. We've gathered all the GHS hazard information, relevant links, articles, and helpful hints you need to stay current and informed. We are dedicated to providing you a regularly updated and reliable source for Globally Harmonized System Information. Take a look around, be sure to sign up for the GHS News brief on the left, and contact us for a free live demo of products and tools designed to help with your GHS Transition.

GHS News Update:
March 20, 2012 Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis along with Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels announced the final rule updating OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard to align with the with the United Nations’ Globally Harmonized System (GHS) of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals. The final rule is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on March 26th finalizing the inclusion of the GHS into the HazCom Standard and effectively setting a date for the transition period.

Effective Dates and Requirements

Effective Completion Date	Requirement(s)	Who

Dec 1, 2013	Train employees on the new label elements and SDS format.	Employers

June 1, 2015	Compliance with all modified provisions of this final rule, except:	Chemical manufacturers, importers, distributors and employers

Dec 1, 2015	The Distributor shall not ship containers labeled by the chemical manufacturer or importer unless it is a GHS label	Chemical manufacturers, importers, distributors and employers

June 1, 2016	Update alternative workplace labeling and hazard communication program as necessary, and provide additional employee training for newly identified physical or health hazards.	Employers

Data Transition Period	Comply with either 29 CFR 1910.1200 (this final standard), or the current standard, or both.	All chemical manufacturers, importers, distributors and employers

Globally Harmonized System Timeline


2015	May 31, 2015 (EU) – Expected deadline for mixture reclassification after entry into force June 1, 2015 (EU) – The current Directives on classification, labeling and packaging, i.e. Council Directive 67/48/EEC and Directive 1999/45/EEC, will be repealed
2012	2012 (US) – On March 20, 2012 OSHA passed their final ruling updating the Hazard Communication Standard to align with the with the United Nations’ Globally Harmonized System (GHS) of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals. 2012 (US) – On February 21, 21012, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) concluded its review of OSHA's revised Hazard Communication Standard (HCS), incorporating the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) principles. In the Final Rule stage, the last step is for the rule to be published to the Federal Register which establishes the effective date.
2011	2011 (US) – OSHA to release Final Ruling on the updated Hazard Communication standard
2010	2010 (US) – OSHA hosting public hearings regarding its proposed changes to the Hazard Communication Standard per Globally Harmonized Standard (GHS) initiatives. Hearings are scheduled for March and April in Washington D.C., Pittsburgh, and Los Angeles. Nov. 30, 2010 (EU) – Expected deadline for substance classification according to the Globally Harmonized System of Hazard Classification and Labeling (GHS), after the rule is entered into force in the EU
2009	Sep 30, 2009 (US) – OSHA published a proposal to modify its existing Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) to conform with the United Nations' (UN) Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). Interested parties have 90 days of public comment before the proposal officially takes effect. 2009 (EU) – Expected entry into force of Directive COM (2006)852 on the inland transportation of dangerous goods. On the same date, the biennial updates of relevant international agreements will enter into force. The directive will make direct reference to the relevant legal instruments implementing the provisions of the UN Model Regulations on the transport of Dangerous Goods by road, rail, and inland waterways (i.e.: the European Agreement on the Transport of Dangerous Goods by road (ADR) and by inland waterways (AND) and the Regulation concerning the international carriage of dangerous goods by rail (RID)
2008	2008 (EU) – Adoption and entry into force of the GHS-implementing Regulation (Regulation of the European Parliament and the Council on classification, labeling and packaging of substances and mixtures, and amending Directive 67/548/EEC and Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006) 2008 (Austrailia) – Target Date for declaration of a new GHS-based framework for the control of workplace hazardous chemicals 2008 (IFCS) – Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety adopted an implementation goal of 2008. The US participates in this group and has agreed to work toward this goal Jan 1, 2008 (US) – US DOT Updates 49 CFR to align with 14th edition UN Model Regulations and international modal regulations
2007	2007 (US/DOT) – Transport regulations aligned to the GHS Dec. 14, 2007 (UN) – 14th session of the Subcommittee of experts on the GHS held in Geneva July 2007 (UN) – 2nd revision to the GHS is published (includes standardized precautionary measures and more) July 10, 2007 (Ireland) – Invited public to submit comments on the EU draft proposal through the HSA's public consultation web page. Comments to assist in the development of the national position and inform the negotiating team at the EU discussions. July 7, 2007 (UN) – 13th session of the subcommittee of Experts on the GHS was held in Geneva June 27, 2007 (EU) – Adopted a proposed act that aligns the EU system of classification, labeling and packaging substances and mixtures to the UN GHS. May 31, 2007 (Japan) – Deadline for most mixtures and substances to meet GHS March 15, 2007 (Australia) – Closed public comment period
2006	Dec. 10, 2006 (UN) – 1st revised edition adopted by committee of experts Nov. 1, 2006 (US/OSHA) – ANPR Public comment period was closed Oct. 21, 2006 (EU) – Closed the public comment period Sep. 21, 2006 (US/OSHA) – Published an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) and opened it to public comments Feb. 23, 2006 (Canada) – Published a sectored analysis
2005	Sep. 1, 2005 (US/OSHA/EU) – Discussed GHS implementation at a joint conference on occupational safety and health, completed a pilot project related to GHS. May 16, 2005 (US/OSHA) – Indicated the Hazard Communication Standard would adopt many of the GHS components.
2004	Dec. 10, 2004 (UN) – 2nd session of the subcommittee of experts adopted amendments to the GHS which included various revised provisions concerning classification and labeling, new provisions for aspiration hazards, new guidance on the use of precautionary statements, pictograms, and the preparation of safety data sheets. Aug. 1, 2004 (US/EPA) – Provided white paper related to application of GHS to pesticides in US. Some key components of the white paper were: how pesticides will be covered (some will be unclassified); adoption of GHS for all hazard classes currently labeled; generally limit changes to those required for GHS consistency; commitment to HAFTA technical working group on pesticides 5 year strategy; and info regarding other international and interagency coordinating efforts and outreach.
2003	Aug. 1, 2003 (Canada) – Published a situational analysis, which compared the existing systems in Canada to the GHS and identified possible issues for discussion during the implementation of the GHS in Canada. 2003 (UN) – The 1st edition of the GHS was published and made available to implement.
2002	Dec. 1, 2002 (UN) – The first Edition of the GHS was approved by the UN Sep. 26, 2002 (UN) – A plan of Implementation (para22.(c)) was adopted in Johannesburg, the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) encouraged countries to implement the new GHS as soon as possible, with a view to having the system fully operational by 2008.
1999	Oct. 26, 1999 (UN) – By resolution 1999/65 United Nations Economic and Social council decided to enlarge the mandate of the Committee of Experts on Transport of Dangerous Goods to include the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (CETDGGHS), and to create a new SubCommittee of Experts on the GHS.
1992	1992 (UN) – An international mandate to develop a Globally Harmonized System for Hazard Classification and Labeling was adopted at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED).