The document discusses the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). It was developed by the United Nations to standardize chemical hazard communication globally. The GHS provides a standardized approach to classifying chemical hazards and communicating hazard information through standardized labeling. This improves understanding of chemical hazards and enables safe handling and use. The document also provides examples of GHS-compliant labels for hydrogen sulfide and n-propyl alcohol, identifying the hazards and safety precautions for each chemical.
The document discusses the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). It was developed by the United Nations to standardize chemical hazard communication globally. The GHS provides a standardized approach to classifying chemical hazards and communicating hazard information through standardized labeling. This improves understanding of chemical hazards and enables safe handling and use. The document also provides examples of GHS-compliant labels for hydrogen sulfide and n-propyl alcohol, identifying the hazards and safety precautions for each chemical.
The document discusses the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). It was developed by the United Nations to standardize chemical hazard communication globally. The GHS provides a standardized approach to classifying chemical hazards and communicating hazard information through standardized labeling. This improves understanding of chemical hazards and enables safe handling and use. The document also provides examples of GHS-compliant labels for hydrogen sulfide and n-propyl alcohol, identifying the hazards and safety precautions for each chemical.
The document discusses the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). It was developed by the United Nations to standardize chemical hazard communication globally. The GHS provides a standardized approach to classifying chemical hazards and communicating hazard information through standardized labeling. This improves understanding of chemical hazards and enables safe handling and use. The document also provides examples of GHS-compliant labels for hydrogen sulfide and n-propyl alcohol, identifying the hazards and safety precautions for each chemical.
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Activities and Assessments: ASSIGNMENT (SUBMIT your answers at EDMODO
ASSIGNMENT SECTION )
1. What does “GHS” means and why is it important?
Before I discuss the GHS, I'd like to recall that a hazard is anything that has the potential to harm, damage, or affect the environment, people, and properties negatively, and a chemical hazard is one of the most dangerous because it can result in fire hazards, explosion, burning, it can also be toxic or poisonous if swallowed, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin, and it can react dangerously when they come into contact with other materials. This hazard led to the foundation of GHS which stands for Globally Harmonized System of Chemical Classification and Labeling. The United Nations developed the Globally Harmonized System decades before the rest of the world did in order to help create a standard for the labeling and classification of chemicals that could be used by companies all over the world. It was founded in 1992, and the United Nations (UN) adopted the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals in 2003. The term "globally harmonized" pertains to the GHS' goal of providing harmonized information to chemical users all over the world in order to improve human health, worker safety, and environmental protection through better communication. The Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) in the United States was modified in 2012 to adapt the GHS. The Department of Labor and Employment implemented it in the Philippines in 2014. This system has been extremely beneficial and is being used all over the world due to its many benefits.
Its importance includes providing a more standardized approach to classifying hazards
and communicating information through the use of the GHS label template, which has become required in chemical manufacturers and workplaces to provide specific criteria to address health and physical hazards as well as chemical mixture classifications. The GHS includes detailed criteria for assessing what hazardous effects a chemical could have, as well as standardized label elements assigned by hazard class and category. This will improve both employer and worker understanding of the hazards, enabling for proper handling and safe use of workplace chemicals. Aside from its workplace benefits, it also reduces the language barrier between people and businesses. It can also help to warn people about potential risks or hazards, such as having acute and chronic effects when they come into contact with dangerous chemical substances. I must also admit that the GHS label template is useful because it includes the product name, signal word, precautionary symbols or pictogram, hazard statements, precautionary measures, supplier identification, and supplemental identification. All of this information should be sufficient to keep people safe from hazards. 2. Look for an available GHS-compliant label of hydrogen sulfide, identify the type of hazards of the substances and the necessary measure(s) if someone inhales it.
PRODUCT NAME: Hydrogen Sulfide
HAZARDS/PICTOGRAM: a) Physical Hazards - Self-heating substances - Gases under pressure b) Health Hazards - Acute Toxicity - Skin irritation, Eye irritation, Serious eye damage, dermal sensitization c) Environmental Hazards - Acute aquatic toxicity - Chronic aquatic toxicity
Hydrogen Sulfide is a reactive hazard (self-heating substances) as well as an
explosion hazard (gases under pressure) that falls below physical hazard. This substance contains extremely flammable gas and gas under pressure, which could explode if heated. Hydrogen Sulfide can also be a health hazard because it has systematic effects on our health through acute toxicity, which is often caused by oral, dermal, vapor, gases, and dust exposure or inhalation, and is often seen within minutes or hours after. Even though it is not in the label template, I would like to include skin and eye irritation, serious eye damage, and dermal sensitization because it is a hazard of the substance. Lastly, hydrogen sulfide is an environmental hazard due to its acute and chronic effects on aquatic life. SIGNAL WORD: Danger HAZARD STATEMENTS: - Extremely flammable gas. - Contains gas under pressure. - May explode if heated. - Contains poisonous hydrogen sulfide gas. - Fatal if inhaled. - May cause respiratory irritation. - Very toxic to aquatic life. - Causes eye irritation. PRECAUTIONS: - Keep away from heat, sparks, open flames or hot surfaces. – No smoking. - Do not breathe gas, vapors. - Avoid release to the environment. - Leaking gas fire: Do not extinguish, unless leak can be stopped safely. - Eliminate all ignition sources if safe to do so. - Store in a well-ventilated place. - Store locked up. NECESSARY MEASURE IF INHALED: - Remove victim to fresh air and keep at rest in a position comfortable for breathing. Immediately call a POISON CENTER or doctor/physician. Specific treatment is urgent: maintain adequate ventilation and consider administration of 100% oxygen. Sodium nitrite may be a useful antidote.
3. Look for an available GHS-compliant label of n-propyl alcohol, identify the type of hazards of the substances and the necessary measure(s) if it gets to your eyes. PRODUCT NAME: n-Propyl Alcohol HAZARDS: a) Physical Hazards - Flammable liquids b) Health Hazards - Skin corrosion - Skin Irritation, Eye Irritation, Serious Eye Damage, Dermal Sensitization
N-Propyl alcohol is a fire hazard which falls under the physical hazard because it is a flammable liquid. It is also a health hazard because it has a systematic effect on our health through skin corrosion, skin irritation, eye irritation, serious eye damage and dermal sensitization.
SIGNAL WORD: Danger
HAZARD STATEMENTS: - Highly flammable liquid and vapor. - Causes serious eye damage. - May cause drowsiness or dizziness. PRECAUTIONS: - Keep away from heat/sparks/open flames/hot surfaces. - No smoking. - Avoid breathing fumes/mist/vapors/spray. - Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection. NECESSARY MEASURE IF IT GETS IN THE EYE: - Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses if present. Continue rinsing.
