Sistema Globalmente Armonizado de Químicos
Sistema Globalmente Armonizado de Químicos
The GHS categorizes physical hazards into 17 types, including explosives, gases under pressure, and flammable liquids and solids, among others. For health hazards, it classifies into 10 categories such as acute toxicity, skin corrosion/irritation, and carcinogenicity. This comprehensive categorization helps in effectively communicating potential risks, ensuring that both physical and health hazards are addressed consistently across different regions and for a variety of chemicals .
The GHS addresses physical hazards by focusing on the inherent properties of substances that can cause harm through chemical reactions or physical interactions, such as explosiveness or flammability. Health hazards, in contrast, are addressed by evaluating the potential for causing harm to human health, such as toxicity or carcinogenicity. This dual approach reflects the GHS's overall strategy of providing comprehensive and all-encompassing guidelines that ensure safety and promote awareness across different domains of chemical interaction, enhancing both preventive measures and emergency responses .
The 'Purple Book' is a key document within the GHS framework as it contains the standardized criteria for classifying substances and mixtures according to their physical, health, and environmental hazards. It provides a crucial reference for the implementation of GHS globally, offering technological and scientific bases needed to ensure consistency and transparency in classification and labeling. Its guidelines aid countries and organizations in establishing regulations and ensuring compliance with international standards .
The GHS impacts existing national regulations by providing a unified framework that standardizes hazard classification and labeling. By aligning national regulations with GHS criteria, countries can achieve greater consistency in hazard communication, facilitating international trade and improving safety measures across borders. This harmonization minimizes discrepancies among national regulations, enabling more effective management of chemical risks and helping countries fulfill international obligations more efficiently .
The main criteria for classifying substances that pose an environmental hazard according to the GHS include the potential for aquatic toxicity and the ability to damage the ozone layer. These criteria help gauge the potential adverse effects of substances on the environment, mandating the inclusion of specific pictograms and safety measures to mitigate these hazards effectively .
The main international organizations involved in the development of the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) include the United Nations (UN), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and the UN Sub-committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods. These organizations were integral in establishing harmonized criteria for classifying chemicals based on their physical, health, and environmental hazards. The UN provided a global framework, the ILO contributed expertise on occupational safety, the OECD offered insight into economic impacts and standards, and the UN Sub-committee focused on transport-related safety .
Industries handling hazardous chemicals are required to implement a comprehensive program that includes activities, resources, responsible parties, goals, and indicators aimed at preventing major accidents. They must ensure the classification and labeling of chemicals according to the GHS, adhere to legal obligations, and comply with regulations like the Law 320 of 1996, Decree 1496 of 2018, and other relevant norms regarding the safe management and transport of dangerous goods .
Pictograms in the GHS serve as visual representations of specific chemical hazards, aiding in the quick and clear communication of potential dangers. They are standardized across different regions to ensure consistency in hazard communication irrespective of language differences. The pictograms are part of the harmonized elements that facilitate global understanding and compliance with safety protocols. Each pictogram is associated with distinct hazards such as toxicity, flammability, or environmental dangers .
A chemical product label under the GHS must include the product name, hazard pictograms, the manufacturer's name, a signal word ('Danger' or 'Warning'), hazard statements (phrases H), precautionary statements (phrases P), and additional information about the substance's properties and recommended storage .
The Globally Harmonized System (GHS) ensures the communication of chemical hazards through requirements for labels, pictograms, and safety data sheets. Key elements in this communication include the product name, pictograms representing specific hazards, the name of the responsible party (such as the manufacturer), a signal word (either 'Danger' or 'Warning'), hazard statements (phrases H), precautionary statements (phrases P), and additional information such as physicochemical properties and storage classification .