Video: Are you GHS ready?

As part of its Virtual Seminar Series, Safe Work Australia has released a short video which guides businesses through how to comply with the internationally agreed system for classifying and labelling chemicals.

Australia has been phasing in the new Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) for the last five years — a transitional period that concludes on 31 December 2016. The video describes what the new system means for manufacturers, suppliers and users of hazardous chemicals.

The video explains that the GHS now uses one of two words — Danger or Warning — to signal the level of classification. The system also uses nine standard pictograms to show how chemicals are classified.

Labels will be changed to include simple hazard and precautionary statements, describing the chemical’s severity and how to avoid or minimise the risk of exposure. Safety data sheets (SDS) will also be changed to use clear language under 16 universal headings.

Users of hazardous chemicals must ensure that any supplies obtained after 1 January 2017 are GHS compliant. Previously purchased chemicals can be kept until they run out, though Safe Work Australia recommends purchasing in smaller quantities in order to minimise your number of non-compliant GHS labels. Manufacturers, suppliers and importers meanwhile need to update their current SDS or prepare a new GHS-compliant SDS.

The video can be viewed in full below.