What is GHS?
Author: MSDS | 
Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) will replace a majority of national chemical regulations over the coming years. Currently under its third revision since its first publication in 2005 GHS will harmonize:
* Hazard classification criteria worldwide: physical, health and environmental hazards.
* The SDS format – 16 sections.
* Signal words: Danger - Warning.
* Hazard statements describing the nature and degree of hazard (e.g.: Harmful to aquatic life – Highly flammable liquid and vapor).
* Precautionary statements: 4 types of measures for prevention, response, storage and disposal.
* Hazard pictograms (square set at a point, black symbol, white background, red border).
There are many activities that will be required to ‘comply in time’ with the changing regulations as each country implements GHS, such as:
* Learn the nuances of country-specific regulations
* Revise all substances classifications
* Execute rules to produce, review and approve compliant documents
* Re-label your containers, barrels and drums
Will you be ready for this new set of regulations? Do you have the internal bandwidth and expertise to ensure you don’t hit a brick wall on the enforcement date?
Atrion International facilitates a smooth transition toward GHS by:
* Providing software and data solutions allowing productive and automated creation of SDS and labels in compliance with GHS legislation
* Monitoring GHS adoption by different countries ensuring our clients meet their legal obligations in a timely fashion
* Integrating country specific interpretation of GHS, as well as translations for hazard statements, precautionary statements and more than 6,000 phrases used on SDS, translated in over 40 languages
* Offering forums for experts within our client base to share their practical experiences with GHS
* Allowing compliance through services, where customers can outsource the production of their SDSs and labels by experienced and highly trained authors. MSDS
* Hazard classification criteria worldwide: physical, health and environmental hazards.
* The SDS format – 16 sections.
* Signal words: Danger - Warning.
* Hazard statements describing the nature and degree of hazard (e.g.: Harmful to aquatic life – Highly flammable liquid and vapor).
* Precautionary statements: 4 types of measures for prevention, response, storage and disposal.
* Hazard pictograms (square set at a point, black symbol, white background, red border).
There are many activities that will be required to ‘comply in time’ with the changing regulations as each country implements GHS, such as:
* Learn the nuances of country-specific regulations
* Revise all substances classifications
* Execute rules to produce, review and approve compliant documents
* Re-label your containers, barrels and drums
Will you be ready for this new set of regulations? Do you have the internal bandwidth and expertise to ensure you don’t hit a brick wall on the enforcement date?
Atrion International facilitates a smooth transition toward GHS by:
* Providing software and data solutions allowing productive and automated creation of SDS and labels in compliance with GHS legislation
* Monitoring GHS adoption by different countries ensuring our clients meet their legal obligations in a timely fashion
* Integrating country specific interpretation of GHS, as well as translations for hazard statements, precautionary statements and more than 6,000 phrases used on SDS, translated in over 40 languages
* Offering forums for experts within our client base to share their practical experiences with GHS
* Allowing compliance through services, where customers can outsource the production of their SDSs and labels by experienced and highly trained authors. MSDS