USA to follow UN recommendations on chemicals
Geneva,, 20 October 2009 --
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) of the United States of America’s Department of Labor published on 30 September a draft rule to modify its existing Hazard Communication Standards (HCS) to conform to the United Nations’ Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS). The proposed rule is based on the third revised edition of the GHS, which was published in June 2009.
The GHS addresses classification of chemicals by types of hazards and proposes harmonized hazard communication elements. It aims at ensuring that information on chemical hazards be available in order to enhance the protection of human life and the environment during the handling, transport and use of these chemicals. The GHS also provides a basis for harmonization of rules and regulations on chemicals at national, regional and worldwide level and it has been designed to allow industry to self-classify its own products.
OSHA estimates that the adoption of the GHS will strengthen and refine its current regulatory system and will enhance workers’ safety. In its statement, it noted that: “Although the GHS has the same general concept of an integrated, comprehensive process of identifying and communicating hazards, it provides more extensive criteria to define hazards in a consistent manner, as well as standardized label elements and Safety Data Sheet formats to help to ensure that the information is conveyed consistently.”
According to OSHA, about 880.000 hazardous chemicals are currently used in the USA and over 40 million employees are potentially exposed to hazardous chemicals on over 5 million workplaces. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that in 2007, employees suffered 55.400 illnesses that could be attributed to chemical exposures while about 17.340 chemical-related injuries and illnesses involved days away from work.
It is expected that better information will enable employers and employees to take measures that would result in a reduction in the number and severity of chemical-related injuries and illnesses.
Legal instruments implementing the GHS have already entered into force in the following countries: New Zealand (2001), Mauritius (2004), Republic of Korea (2006), the 27 member states of the European Union and the 3 members of the European Economic Area (January 2009).
Other countries, in particular all those which participate (either as full members or as observers) in the meetings of the Subcommittee of Experts of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals continue to revise and amend their legal texts, standards and guidelines to achieve implementation of the GHS as soon as possible.
For further information, please visit: http://www.unece.org/trans/danger/publi/ghs/ghs_welcome_e.html
OSHA’s statement: http://www.osha.gov/dsg/hazcom/index.html
Contact:
Rosa Garcia Couto
Secretary of the Sub-Committee of Experts on the GHS
UNECE Transport Division
Dangerous Goods and Special Cargoes Section
Tel: +41 22 917 24 35
[email protected]
Note to editors
The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) offers a single, globally harmonized system to address the classification of chemicals, labels, and safety data sheets. Chapter 19 of Agenda 21, adopted at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in 1992, provided the international mandate to complete this task.
The first version of the document, which was intended to serve as the initial basis for the global implementation of the system, was adopted by the United Nations Economic and Social Council's Sub-Committee of Experts on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (UNSCEGHS) at its fourth session (December 2002) and published in 2003. The third revised edition was published in June 2009.
The secretariat of the GHS Sub-Committee and its parent committee, the "Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods and on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals" (UNCETDG/GHS), is provided by UNECE’s Transport Division.
The UNSCEGHS is responsible for maintaining the GHS and promoting its implementation. It provides additional guidance as needs arise, while maintaining stability in the system to encourage its adoption. Under its auspices, the document is regularly revised and updated to reflect national, regional and international experiences in implementing requirements into national, regional and international laws, as well as experiences of those doing the classification and labelling.
35 countries are currently full members of the Sub-Committee of Experts on the GHS. These are: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iran (Islamic Republic of) Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Senegal, Serbia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America and Zambia.
Observer countries include Thailand, Viet Nam, Philippines, Gambia, Russian Federation, Cambodia, Jamaica, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Switzerland and Uruguay.
Other countries which do not participate in the sessions of the Sub-Committee of experts on the GHS are working on the implementation of the GHS (e.g.: Malaysia, Chile, Singapore).
In paragraph 23 (c) of its Plan of Implementation adopted in Johannesburg on 4 September 2002, the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) encouraged countries to implement the GHS as soon as possible with a view to having the system fully operational by 2008.
Subsequently, in its resolutions 2003/64 of 25 July 2003, 2005/53 of 27 July 2005 and 2007/6 of 23 July 2007, the United Nations Economic and Social Council invited Governments who had not yet done so, to take the necessary steps, through appropriate national procedures and/or legislation, to implement the GHS as recommended in the WSSD Plan of Implementation. It also reiterated its invitation to the regional commissions, United Nations programmes, specialized agencies and other organizations concerned, to promote the implementation of the GHS and, where relevant, to amend their respective legal international instruments addressing transport safety, workplace safety, consumer protection or the protection of the environment so as to give effect to the GHS through such instruments.
Information about the status of implementation of the GHS worldwide may be found on the UNECE Transport Division website: http://www.unece.org/trans/danger/publi/ghs/implementation_e.html
Ref: ECE/TRANS/09/P11