More than sixty-five countries have started using the UN Globally unified System of Classifying and labeling chemicals. In the past, there were discrepancies when it came to issues related to classifying and specifying chemicals in many nations. That is why the UN GHS has taken the initiative to make the methods uniform as a way to improve safety for all people handling chemicals and also reduce the impact the chemicals have on the environment.
The United States adopted GHS in 2012 and OSHA made modifications later on. The modifications entailed updating of the MSDS to GHS safety data sheets and adding tags as pertains to UN GHS ideals.
The newer versions of safety data sheets comprise of sixteen parts that are organized logically. The newly introduced labels have symbols and texts that are not intricate and offer all info in one glance. The main advantage of the standardized safety data sheet is that it is uniform across the globe. No matter where you are in the world, you will benefit from using the identical SDS that you know and you will have all the info you need. Each section is carefully laid out and finding particular information is quick and straightforward. Whether employees are involved in processing or transporting chemicals, they are trained and equipped with skills to maintain high records of safety at workplaces.
Moving from MSDS to SDS is not as easy as it sounds especially for companies who have thousands of chemical products in their list. The new SDS has categorized different chemicals in regards to their degree of hazard, and it is difficult to tell which category a certain chemical fits.
This process is more complicated if the formulation has different types of chemicals in it. Any importer, distributor, manufacturer, and exporter who does not strictly follow the GHS safety data sheets rules set out by the UN, and they are prone to face many penalties in the future.
The procedure of transitioning to the new SDS has to be fast and accurate as well. To make the process fast, companies should involve an SDS authoring service provider. Professionals in their panel who have knowledge in Hazcom and UN’s specific revisions are the ideal parties who should take the initiative to prepare both the datasheets and the safety labels. This is enabled by shifting from printed documentation to electronic format.
It is vital to access the information on the devices of the workers or from a central database since that way it will be easy to respond to any emergency issues that may arise. To take emergency measures and to read SDS, electronic documentation is required.
