At present, different systems are used around the world to classify and label chemicals. As a result, the same substance can be classed for example as “toxic” in the U.S., “not harmful” in China, and “harmful to health” in the EU. In an effort to eliminate these differences and improve health and environmental protection on an international scale, a globally harmonised system for the classification and labelling of chemicals has been introduced under the auspices of the United Nations.

Moreover, the new system is designed to standardize the legal regulations for hazardous goods and their transportation. In the long term, it is expected that these regulations will facilitate trade with regard to the global movement of goods. Therefore ISSA Chemistry and the ISSA Research Sections have taken initiative for organizing this important event.

The GHS Draft Regulation, which was adopted on June 27 2007 by the Commission, will be used to implement the United Nations GHS system in Europe. This complex system encompasses the new labelling elements, the new hazard pictograms and signal words as well as new criteria for classifying substances and preparations.

More than 350 participants from 16 countries (US, Africa and Europe) discussed the following topics:

• Information of the status of the European regulatory procedure
• Implementation of the GHS Regulation
• New pictograms and criteria for the classification and labelling of substances and mixtures  
• The consequences for business practice
• The consequences for safety data sheets
• Synergies with the new European Reach regulation.

We all are affected by these changes. The new classification will primarily affect the manufacturers of these substances, but it will also have an impact on “downstream users”, who will have to reclassify a large number of mixtures (now known as preparations).

Furthermore, institutions such as the INRS in France, AUVA in Austria, SUVA in Switzerland and BG Chemistry (institutions for statutory accident   insurance and prevention in Germany) will also be affected.

This event was envisaged as an introduction for everyone charged with classifying and labelling chemicals, but also for safety officers, company owners and work councils who have to implement these new regulations at their companies.

Programme
[ 2Programme.pdf 142.27 kB ]

Speakers
[ 0000_Referees.pdf 79.37 kB ]

Summary: GHS – A Challenge!
[ Summary.pdf 140.86 kB ]

Contributions

Hans-Horst Konkolewsky, Secretary General of the International Social Security Association (ISSA)
Welcome address
[ Konkolewsky_GHS_2008_02_25.pdf 17.42 kB ]

Herbert Bender, BASF AG
GHS – Auswirkungen auf den Arbeitsschutz
[ 13_Bender_GHS_its_impact_on_occupational_health_and_safety_from_the_industry_view_german.pdf 420.72 kB ]

Helmut Fleig, Member of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Sub-Committee of Experts on the GHS
Chronische Toxizität: Kriterien für die Einstufung
[ 07_Fleig_Chronic_toxicity_Criteria_for_classification_german.pdf 302.27 kB ]

Rosa Garcia Couto, Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Sub-Committee of Experts on the GHS
Historical background, purpose, scope and application of the GHS
[ 01_Garcia-Couto_Historical_background_purpose_scope_and_application_of_the_GHS_english.pdf 4.54 MB ]

Thomas Gebel, Bundesanstalt für Arbeitsschutz und Arbeitsmedizin
Acute toxicity: Criteria for classification
[ 06_Gebel_Acute_toxicity_Criteria_for_classification_english.pdf 433.96 kB ]

Ulrich Haas, Henkel KGaA
Neue Methoden der Einstufung von Gemischen (Zubereitungen)
[ 10_Haas_2008_02_26_Internet.pdf 203.97 kB ]

Elisabeth Hoffmann, Berufsgenossenschaft Chemie
GHS – transporting dangerous goods
[ 14_Hoffmann_2008_02_26_englisch_Internet.pdf 5.09 MB ]

Uta Jensen-Korte, European Commission, Enterprise and Industry DG
The GHS Regulation from the EU’s perspective
[ 02_Jensen_Korte_The_GHS_Regulation_from_the_EUs_perspective_english.pdf 248.56 kB ]

Helmut Klein, Bundesministerium für Arbeit und Soziales
The impact of the GHS Regulation on national legislations related to chemicals and other topics
[ 04_Klein_The_impact_of_the_GHS_Regulation_on_national_legislation_reladed_to_chemicals_and_other_topics_english.pdf 351.45 kB ]

Juliane Koch, Umweltbundesamt
Environmental hazards: Criteria for classification
[ 09_Koch_Environmental_hazards_Criteria_for_classification_english.pdf 306.43 kB ]

Marie-Hélène Leroy, Union des Industries Chimiques, France
Relation entre REACH et le SGH
[ 17_Leroy_Links_between_REACH_and_the_GHS_french.pdf 157.75 kB ]

Annabel Maison, INRS, France
Physical hazards: Criteria for classification
[ 08_Maison_Physical_hazards_Criteria_for_classification_english.pdf 2.80 MB ]

Sylvain Malo, Commission de la santé et de la sécurité au travail du Québec, Canada
GHS implementation: Experience from Canada
[ 16_Malo_GHS_implementation_Experience_from_Canada_english.pdf 1.39 MB ]

Karin Merkl, Merck KGaA
Hazard communication – the impact of GHS on safety data sheets
[ 12_Merkl_Hazard_communication_Auswirkungen_von_GHS_auf_das_SDB_english.pdf 465.36 kB ]

Tony Musu, European trade union confederation, Belgium
The impact of the GHS Regulation on workers protection legislation
[ 05_Musu_The_impact_of_the_GHS_Regulation_on_workers_protection_legislation.pdf 131.10 kB ]

Remco Visser, Toegepast Natuurwetenschappeliijk Onderzoek (TNO), The Netherlands
New ways of classifying mixtures (preparations) explained using an example
[ 11_Visser_Examples_GHS_CL_mixtures.pdf 216.15 kB ]