OSHA PART 1: PREPARING FOR THE SESSION. 1. Training Booklet. 2. Why This Session Is Important. 3. Purpose and Objectives of the Session

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1 Globally Harmonized ystem 3210A OHA R A PAR 1: PRPARING FOR H ION 1. raining Booklet here is no training booklet that goes along with this ession. rainers should review other written material on this topic and be prepared to discuss the subject knowledgeably. 2. Why his ession Is Important Implementation of the Globally Harmonized ystem for Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GH) in the United tates will involve some changes in how employers communicate hazard and protection information to employees. A new standardized safety data sheet (D) and new standard labeling requirements will be part of the GH. our workers need to understand the upcoming changes so that they will be prepared to work safely and effectively with the new system and continue to prevent chemical exposures and accidents in the workplace. 3. Purpose and Objectives of the ession Purpose: o provide an overview of the new Globally Harmonized ystem for Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GH) Objectives: By the end of this ession, employees should know: What the Globally Harmonized ystem for Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GH) is Benefits of the GH Changes the GH will bring to the workplace Who ight Need It ost: mployees who handle chemicals and currently rely on labels and material safety data sheets (Ds) for chemical safety and health information need to be trained to understand how the GH will affect hazard communication with the new safety data sheet (D) and new chemical label requirements. 3210A

2 OHA R A Globally Harmonized ystem 3210B 4. OHA Requirements OHA s hazard communication standard requires you to tell employees about chemical hazards in the workplace, train workers who handle chemicals to prevent exposures, and teach them appropriate emergency procedures. In addition to training, two key ways employers are required to communicate chemical hazard and protection information is with labels and Ds. he GH will make some changes in how chemical information is communicated to employees, including the use of a new safety data sheet (D) and new labels. he GH is not a regulation or standard. OHA will implement the GH through its own hazard communication standard and continue to regulate chemical safety in the United tates. he hazard communication standard will, however, be revised to incorporate the provisions of the new global system. Applicable OHA tandards: 29 CFR (Hazard Communication) 5. Key Points ake sure that by the end of the ession employees understand the following main points: he purpose of the GH is to improve safety and health in workplaces around the world. Communication of safety and health information about chemicals used in the workplace will be standardized globally. U.. workers will benefit from the new system along with their fellow workers in all parts of the industrialized world. 3210B

3 Globally Harmonized ystem 3210C OHA R A PAR 2: CONDUCING H ION 1. Warm-Up raining essions are most effective when there is active discussion between you and the group. o encourage such discussion, begin by asking one or more of the following questions: Have you heard of the Globally Harmonized ystem for Classification and Labeling of Chemicals, or GH, for short? What is the purpose of the GH? How will the GH improve safety and health in workplaces around the world? 2. Introduction: ession Objectives Use Handout #1, General Objectives, as a handout or an overhead slide. (hese are the same points listed previously in Purpose and Objectives of the ession. ) his makes it clear to the group what they are expected to learn from this raining ession. 3. he ession Note: he outline presented here generally follows the ummary of Key Points (listed previously and on Handout #2.) 3210C

4 OHA R A Globally Harmonized ystem 3210D A. What Is the Globally Harmonized ystem for Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GH)? i. he GH is a comprehensive international system for: Defining health, physical, and environmental hazards of chemicals Classifying chemicals based on their specific hazards Communicating hazard information and protective measures consistently throughout the world ii. iii. raining Idea: Briefly review your hazard communication program. xplain that hazard communication is required in U.. workplaces by OHA, but that in many countries around the world, there is no such requirement and workers are often exposed to chemical hazards they know nothing about. he GH is not a regulation or standard. OHA will implement the GH through its own hazard communication standard and continue to regulate chemical safety in the United tates. he hazard communication standard will, however, be revised to include new chemical container label requirements and a new uniform safety data sheet (D), which will replace the current D. raining Idea: Briefly review the basic requirements of the hazard communication standard, and point out that these requirements will remain the same under the GH. he GH is necessary because of the global economy. Chemicals are imported and exported from different countries around the world. 3210D

5 Globally Harmonized ystem 3210 OHA With international trade in chemicals comes the risk that chemical suppliers in some countries might not do as good a job of identifying hazards of their products or of recommending precautions to prevent exposure to hazards. he GH is a kind of international hazard communication standard, like the one we have in this country to protect employees who handle chemicals in the workplace. R A iv. raining Idea: Identify any hazardous chemicals used in your workplace that are imported from foreign countries. Point out that the GH will ensure that these products are properly labeled for the U.. market and that uniform safety data sheets are supplied with the products. Implementation of the GH is expected to: Create a safer work environment for employees. Reduce workplace accidents and illnesses caused by chemical exposures in the United tates and around the world. Provide consistent and simplified communications about chemicals and safe work practices. Create greater awareness of hazards, resulting in safer use of chemicals in the workplace and in the home. ake it easier and less costly to comply with hazard communication regulations. nhance the protection of human health and the environment worldwide. raining Idea: Discuss the benefits of having a global system for labeling hazardous chemicals and providing safety and health information in uniform safety data sheets. 3210

6 OHA R A Globally Harmonized ystem 3210F B. How Will the New D Differ from the D? i. he purpose of both the D and the new D is the same to provide safety, health, and environmental information about chemicals to help prevent accidents and exposures. Primary differences between the two documents include: How the documents are organized he information included he degree of detail presented he number and content of sections If you ve been using Ds that follow the American National tandards Institute (ANI) format, the new D will look similar and contain basically the same information. ou will, however, find some additional information and a few differences in where and how information is presented in the new D. ii. raining Idea: Bring samples of different D formats currently in use in your workplace to the meeting. Ask participants to locate a particular topic for example, firefighting measures or hazard identification in each of the formats. he D developed by the GH includes the following ections: ection 1: Identification of the substance or mixture and of the supplier ection 2: Hazards identification ection 3: Composition and information on ingredients ection 4: First-aid measures ection 5: Fire-fighting measures ection 6: Accidental release measures 3210F

7 Globally Harmonized ystem 3210G OHA R A ection 7: Handling and storage ection 8: xposure controls and personal protection ection 9: Physical and chemical properties ection 10: tability and reactivity ection 11: oxicological information ection 12: cological information ection 13: Disposal considerations ection 14: ransport information ection 15: Regulatory information ection 16: Other information (e.g., preparation and revision of D) iii. raining Idea: Compare these sections with the sections on the Ds you are currently using. Point out that while the information between the two documents is essentially the same, it may be located in different places, and the new D will include additional information. here will be an D for each hazardous chemical in the workplace just as there is now an D for each chemical. Ds will be provided by chemical suppliers. mployers will be required to make Ds available to employees at all times. ou will need to consult the D for each chemical you handle, just as you do now with the D. raining Idea: Review procedures for accessing (material) safety data sheets, and emphasize that participants should always consult the (material) safety data sheet before using any chemical. 3210G

8 OHA R A Globally Harmonized ystem 3210H C. How Will the GH Affect Labeling of Chemical Containers? i. tandardized label elements in the GH include: ymbols and pictograms that identify health, physical, and environmental hazards ignal words, such as Danger or Warning to emphasize hazards and indicate the severity of the hazard Hazard statements that describe the nature of the hazard ii. iii. raining Idea: Identify these elements on the container labels currently in use in your workplace. Other GH label elements include: Precautionary statements and pictograms that describe measures to minimize or prevent exposures For example, personal protective equipment, handling instructions, and first aid A product identifier, which provides the name or number used for a hazardous product on the label and in the D upplier identification, which provides the name, address, and telephone number of the chemical supplier raining Idea: Point out that these other elements may vary somewhat in format and location from label to label, but will basically include the same information. New labels under the GH might differ from labels currently used. any of the labels currently used in the United tates already meet most, if not all, of the GH labeling requirements. Labels under the GH will therefore often look similar to the labels you are used to and contain basically the same information. 3210H

9 Globally Harmonized ystem 3210I OHA R A raining Idea: ell participants that they will be thoroughly trained in use of new labels and Ds at the appropriate time. D. Conclusion: he GH Is Designed to Improve Chemical afety in Workplaces Worldwide i. he Globally Harmonized ystem for Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GH) is a comprehensive international system for communicating hazard information across national boundaries and languages. ii. OHA will continue to regulate use of chemicals in workplaces in the United tates and will implement the GH through a revised hazard communication standard. iii. he GH should improve safety and health for workers who handle hazardous chemicals anywhere in the world. iv. he GH will involve adoption of a new safety data sheet (D) to eventually replace current material safety data sheets (Ds). v. New standard requirements for labeling hazardous chemical containers will also go into effect when GH is implemented in the United tates. 3210I

10 OHA R A Globally Harmonized ystem 3210J 4. ummary of Key Points Use Handout #2, ummary of Key Points, as a handout or an overhead slide. (hese are the same points listed previously in Preparing for the ession. ) Using the summary reinforces the essential messages you want to leave with the group. 5. Quiz Have the group take the ultiple Choice Quiz included as Handout #3. ou can also use Handout #3 as an overhead slide and review each question as a group. Answers to ultiple Choice Quiz: 1. b, 2. a, 3. b, 4. c, 5. a, 6. a, 7. b, 8. c, 9. c, 10. c 6. Wrap-Up Ask for any final questions. Distribute the raining ession Attendance Form and have group members sign and return it. Distribute handouts if you have not already done so during the ession. hank group members for their attention. 3210J