Determining classification and hazard communication requirements
The GHS affects four key sectors, namely, industrial workplaces, agriculture, transport, and consumer products. Countries may decide to prioritize GHS implementation for a particular sector or sectors, depending on the needs of the country.
Prepare a detailed plan on how the GHS will be implemented in the sector. Based on the GHS, decide which GHS elements will be adopted for the sector. The needs of a sector can vary depending on the needs of the target audience. For example, the transport of dangerous goods sector focuses on acute health hazards, physical hazards, and environmental hazards. Chronic hazards are not covered given the exposures anticipated in that sector. On the other hand, the consumer sector may not need to know some specific physical hazards given the use they have for a particular consumer product. In addition, consideration can be given to how other countries have implemented the GHS.
Determining classification and hazard communication requirements can include the following sub-elements:
- Identifying hazard classes to be included
- Identifying who will do the classification
- Identifying the labelling and safety data sheet requirements
- Identifying who will assess the hazard communication elements
Relevant tools
- UNECE. “GHS Implementation.” Online
- UNITAR, GHS Review Conference For South-East Asia Final Report, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 21-23 May 2013 (Geneva, 2013)
- UNITAR, GHS Stocktaking Workshop for Southeast, East, and Central Asia, Beijing, PR China, 15-17 September 2010 (Geneva, 2010)
- UNITAR, GHS Conference for ASEAN: Implementation Towards 2008 and Beyond, Jakarta, Indonesia, 9-11 May 2007 (Geneva, 2007)
- UNITAR, Regional Workshop on Chemical Hazard Communication and GHS Implementation for Countries of Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Bled, Slovenia, 24-25 October 2006 (Geneva, 2006)
- UNITAR, Regional Workshop on Chemical Hazard Communication and GHS Implementation for Countries of the Arab Region, Alexandria, Egypt, 30 October - 2 November 2006 (Geneva, 2006)
- UNITAR, Regional Workshop on Chemical Hazard Communication and GHS Implementation for Countries of ASEAN, Manila, Philippines, 17-20 October 2005 (Geneva, 2005)
- UNITAR, South American Sub-regional Workshop on Chemical Hazard Communication and GHS Implementation, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 29 Nov - 2 Dec 2004 (Geneva, 2004)
- UNITAR, SADC Sub-regional Workshop on Chemical Hazard Communication and GHS Implementation, Livingstone, Zambia, 1-4 September 2003 (Geneva, 2003)
- UNITAR, “WSSD Global Partnership for Capacity Building to Implement the GHS”. Online.
- UNITAR, Preparing a National Profile to Assess Infrastructure and Capacity Needs for Chemicals Management: A Guidance Document (2nd Edition 2012) (Geneva, 2012)
- UNITAR. “Guidance For Developing SAICM Implementation Plans.” (Geneva, 2009)
- UNITAR, “Guidance on Action Plan Development for Sound Chemicals Management Guidance Document” (Geneva 2009).
- UNECE, Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS, Rev.5), (Geneva: United Nations, 2013), ST/SG/AC.10/30/Rev.5
- UNITAR, ILO and IOMC (2012), Understanding the GHS: A Companion Guide to the Purple Book, June 2012 Edition, (UNITAR, Geneva)
- UNITAR, ILO and IOMC (2010), Developing a National GHS Implementation Strategy, September 2010 Edition (UNITAR, Geneva)
- UNITAR : GHS Implementation Experiences and lessons learned (2021)
- UNITAR: Key Elements of a National GHS Adoption and Implementation Roadmap (2020)