Understanding GHS Labeling Standards
Written by Staff Writer
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), 50,000 U.S. workers die from chemical exposures and more than 190,000 suffer from exposure-related illnesses each year. Chemical exposure has been linked to health problems ranging from cancer to infertility.
If you work around chemicals, you need to understand the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS), what is required on chemical labels and how to spot problems.
All chemical products in the workplace must be properly labeled. All workers should be trained on chemical safety regulations, including chemical labeling requirements and hazard classification. This article is your guide to GHS labels and vital safety training.
Understanding GHS Labeling Requirements
Before the creation of the GHS standard, chemical labeling was inconsistent. Different countries sometimes used incompatible systems. This was especially confusing if compounds were manufactured in one country and shipped to another where different laws applied.
This lack of consistency meant workers transporting, storing or working around potentially dangerous substances might not know what was inside containers or the potential dangers they faced.
Thus, the need for the Globally Harmonized System (GHS).
What Is the Globally Harmonized System?
Developed by the United Nations, the Globally Harmonized System is a global effort to standardize the classification and labeling of chemicals. Labeling is key to compliance, providing what you need to know about compounds and dangers.
Standardization makes it easier to identify chemicals and understand the health implications of exposure. Harmonization between legal frameworks also reduces the burden of regulatory compliance for businesses that make and ship chemical substances.
What Is Required on a GHS Label?
There are six key elements that are required on GHS labels. The same requirements can be found under OSHA’s 29 CFR 1910.1200 Hazard Communication Standard (HCS). Labels must contain a:
- Name, address and telephone number
- Product identifier
- Signal word
- Hazard statement
- Precautionary statement
- Pictogram
Let’s break each of these down.
Name, Address and Telephone Number
This identifies the manufacturer or responsible party that supplies the substance.
Product Identifier
The product identifier must list information about the chemical name, code number and batch number.
Signal Word
The signal word indicates the severity of the potential danger. Two signal words are used for these labels: danger and warning.
Danger is used for the most severe potential problems, while warning is used for less severe hazards. However, each product should only have one signal word. The word chosen should indicate the specified compound's biggest potential risk.
Hazard Statement
Information on GHS labels must also include a statement about the dangers associated with the chemical, including methods of action and the magnitude of the threat. For example, label requirements for a compound that may cause kidney damage might read, “Causes damage to kidneys through prolonged or repeated exposure when absorbed through the skin.”
Hazard statements are standardized and specific to classification categories. They should be the same regardless of what the substance is or who produces it.
Precautionary Statement
The precautionary statement provides recommended actions to minimize or prevent dangerous conditions from exposure, improper storage or handling.
Statements must address four components:
- Prevention to minimize exposure
- Response in case of accidental exposure, emergency response and first-aid
- Storage
- Disposal
OSHA uses this example: “Do not breathe dust/fume/gas/mist/vapors/spray. Get medical advice/attention if you feel unwell. Dispose of contents/container in accordance with local/regional/national and international regulations.”
Pictogram
A pictogram is a graphic symbol that communicates information about hazards. Labeling criteria support nine different types of pictograms. These are the pictograms and the hazards they represent:
- Health hazard: Chronic health hazards, such as carcinogenicity, reproductive toxicity and respiratory sensitization
- Flame: Flammable gases, aerosols, liquids and solids, as well as self-reactive substances and organic peroxides
- Flame over circle: Oxidizing gases, liquids and solids
- Exclamation mark: Less severe health hazards, such as skin and eye irritation, skin sensitization and specific target organ toxicity
- Gas cylinder: Gases under pressure
- Corrosion: Corrosive substances that can cause severe skin burns and eye damage
- Exploding bomb: Explosives, self-reactive substances and organic peroxides
- Skull and crossbones: Acute toxicity that may be fatal or toxic if ingested or placed in contact with skin
- Environment: Substances that are hazardous to the aquatic environment
OSHA does not mandate the use of the ninth type of pictogram (Environment).
These pictograms do not replace U.S. Department of Transportation placards for transporting chemicals. Those labels must be on the external part of shipping containers separately.
What Is a Safety Data Sheet (SDS)?
Regulations also require manufacturers, distributors or importers to provide Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) for each hazardous chemical. The SDS provides specific guidance to ensure workers handling dangerous compounds understand physical and environmental health hazards, protective measures and precautions.
SDSs are necessary supplemental documents in addition to GHS label requirements. Every sheet uses the same template format, which must include 16 sections:
- Identification: Product identifier, manufacturer/supplier details, recommended use and emergency contacts
- Hazards identification: Regulatory classification, pictograms, signal words, hazard statements and precautions
- Composition: Ingredients and concentrations
- First-aid measures: Immediate treatment for exposure via inhalation, skin and eye contact or ingestion
- Fire-fighting measures: Suitable extinguishing media, specific chemical hazards and protective equipment
- Accidental release measures: Response procedures for containment, clean-up and disposal
- Handling and storage: Safe handling practices, storage conditions and incompatible materials
- Exposure controls/personal protection: Exposure limits, engineering controls and personal protective equipment
- Physical and chemical properties: Appearance, odor, pH, melting/boiling points, flash point and solubility
- Stability and reactivity: Stability, potential hazardous reactions and conditions to avoid
- Toxicological information: Potential adverse health effects, acute/chronic exposure and carcinogenicity
- Ecological information: Environmental impact, ecotoxicity, persistence and biodegradability
- Disposal considerations: Proper disposal methods for product and containers
- Transport information: Classification for transportation of hazardous materials
- Regulatory information: Applicable safety, health and environmental regulations
- Other information: Date of preparation/revision, abbreviations and references
What’s the Difference Between Labels and Safety Data Sheets?
While labels provide information in a concise and easy-to-read format, an SDS offers more in-depth information. Here is a quick comparison:
| GHS Label | Safety Data Sheet (SDS) | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Provide visible warnings on containers | Provide comprehensive information |
| Content | Concise information for easy comprehension | Detailed product data offering greater insight |
| Format | Visual aids affixed on containers | Structured document, paper or electronic format |
| Intended Users | Workers handling chemicals, consumers | Workers, employers, emergency responders and transporters |
| Communication Style | Immediate, at-a-glance hazard communication | Detailed reference for safe handling and emergency procedures |
| Regulatory Requirements | Mandatory for dangerous chemicals | Mandatory to accompany dangerous chemicals during shipment and sale |
Online Safety Courses
OSHA Education Center offers several online programs covering everything from GHS-compliant labels to written hazard communication programs. Our courses can be completed 100% online from any internet-connected device. Log on and off as needed. Learn whenever and wherever you like.
The courses below will help you understand what is required on a label, chemical classifications and standards, and safe operating procedures in the workplace.
GHS & Hazard Communication Online Course
This training covers basic OSHA requirements for proper communication about dangerous substances in any workplace, including the modification of OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard to conform with the requirements of the U.N. Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals.
Hazardous Chemical Information Certificate Course
Learn to recognize and avoid dangerous substances in the workplace. This primer is a perfect introduction to key workplace safety programs. Complete all lessons and pass a brief test on core concepts to instantly download your certificate of completion. The entire course takes less than 30 minutes.
DOT HAZMAT Transportation: Basic General Awareness Training
All employees who work around hazardous materials are required to complete at least four hours of instruction. That includes shippers, packagers, labelers and office workers — even if they have limited or indirect access to substances. This course explains the classes of dangerous goods, how to interpret placards and regulated material documentation.
HAZWOPER Training
This online course is for workers who respond to the uncontrolled release of regulated substances, including HAZMAT professionals, emergency responders or other workers who may contact regulated substances. These training courses satisfy HAZWOPER standards 29 CFR 1910.120 and 1926.65.
Start Learning Today
Sign up online and start learning immediately! Choose from the options above or browse the extensive OSHA Education Center course catalog for the high-quality compliance instruction you need.