Global

Harmonisation

System (GHS)

Awareness

National GHS Taskforce

Edwin Yap

Email: Edwin.Yap@esis.com

The Globally Harmonized

System (GHS) Taskforce

GHS Task Force (TF) was formed in 2005 by Ministry

of Trade and Industry (MTI)

To drive and lead the GHS implementation plan at workplace, which is of safety and health concerns,

Ministry of Manpower (MOM) took over the

custody of the GHS Task Force on 1 Sep 2010

Director of GHS Taskforce – Er. Ho Siong Hin. Divisional Director, Occupational Safety and

Health Division, Ministry of Manpower

GHS Taskforce - Purpose

Coordinate the implementation of chemical

hazard communication system through harmonised classification of chemicals, labelling of

chemical containers, and preparation of safety

data sheets

Protect humans and the environment against

hazardous chemicals as well as to facilitate

trading of chemicals through harmonised hazard

communication

GHS Taskforce - Function

Oversee the adoption of GHS developed by the

United Nations

Develop strategies and action plan, and

coordinate the implementation of GHS through

capability building, engagement, promotional

activities, and compliance assistance

Review relevant legislations by individual

Competent Authorities (CA) to ensure they are

aligned to GHS

Monitor the progress and performance of GHS

implementation

Aligning regulatory requirements

with GHS

The National Environment Agency (which regulates prescribed hazardous substances), Ministry of Manpower (which safeguards persons at work against hazardous substances), Singapore Police Force (which regulates explosives) and Singapore Civil Defence Force (which regulates prescribed flammable substances) have been amended to align with the GHS.

Under the Workplace Safety and Health Act 2006, a duty clause in respect of the provision of information by chemical manufacturers and

suppliers of hazardous substances used at work has been introduced. The meaning of hazardous substances is in line with the GHS hazard classes.

A specific regulation 42 on Warning Labels for chemical containers has also been introduced under the Workplace Safety and Health (General Provisions) Regulations 2006. Changes have also been made to the list of information items on Safety Data Sheet (regulation 43(2)) to correspond with the GHS SDS format

About the GHS

Is the work of the United Nations

Classify chemical hazards and

communicate them:

Classification

Hazard Communication

Labeling

Safety date Sheets (SDS)

Every Year – ¼ World Work-

Related Deaths are caused by

Chemicals:

Lack of chemical awareness and

appropriate handling:

Different classification of chemicals by different countries;

Improper labels, lack packaging labeling

and inaccurate Safety Data Sheets

Chemical hazards impact all industries

across sectors

Different

systems

Every Year – ¼ World Work-

Related Deaths are caused by

Chemicals:

Different systems

use different labels,

causing confusion!

Example : Acute Toxicity - Oral LD50

Every Year – ¼ World Work-

Related Deaths are caused by

Chemicals:

Summing up… GHS is

About communicating chemical hazards of

physical, health and the environment to users

A systematic way of classifying chemical

hazards – GHS classification

Once hazard classes and hazard categories

are classified, communicating them to users

prior to use, and

Hazard communication – GHS Lack of chemical

awareness and

Hazard communication – GHS labels and Safety

Data Sheets (SDSs)

Product identifier

Supplier information

Hazard pictogram

Hazard statements

Signal word

Precautionary statements

Supplemental

information

Summing up… GHS is Typical GHS label:

Summing up… GHS is

GHS Safety Data Sheets (SDSs):1. Identification

2. Hazard(s) identification

3. Composition/information on ingredients

4. First-aid measures

5. Fire-fighting measures

6. Accidental release measures

7. Handling and storage

8. Exposure controls/personal protection

9. Physical and chemical properties

10. Stability and reactivity

11. Toxicological information

12. Ecological information

13. Disposal considerations

14. Transport information

15. Regulatory information

16. Other information

Singapore Implementation

Roadmap – GHS Strategies

Promoting GHS

Building capacity in GHS

Engaging Stakeholders

Establishing an effective regulatory framework

Developing strong partnerships locally and

internationally

Establishing a Regulatory

Framework

Approved Code of Practice

Singapore Standard SS 586 Part

1 - 3

Gazetted by Ministry of

Manpower in January 2011 with

effect from 15 February 2011 for

implementation

A set of Implementation

Timelines was agreed

Phase Deadline Target Industry Requirement

1A Feb 2012All Chemical Manufacturers & Suppliers

Preparation of GHS SDSs & Labels for Single Substances.

2A End 2012 All Users of ChemicalsGHS Labelling of Containers for Single Substances.

1B Mid 2015All Chemical

Manufacturers & Suppliers

Preparation of GHS SDSs & Labels for Mixtures.

2B Mid 2015 All Users of ChemicalsGHS Labelling of Containers for Mixtures.

Implementation Timeline

The Singapore GHS implementation roadmap

was established in 2008 and revised in 2011:

Singapore

National

GHS Taskforce

Singapore SPRINGStandard

Committee

Legislations on Labelling/SDS & Hazard

Communication

Guidelines/ Instruction on

GHS

Industry/TradeAssociations

Competent Authorities (Ministries & Statutory Boards)

GHSUSERS

United Nations/

Int Labour Org

Academia/Exper

ts

Manufacturers/ SuppliersImporters/ Exporters

Workplaces

TransportersER Personnel

Capacity Building

Engage

Stakeholders

GHS Awareness

GHS Training

Working Group

GHS Classification

GHS Labels

GHS SDSs

Technical Documents

GHS Obligation – Set Up

Who are Involved?

Competent Authorities

Trade/Industry Associations

Academia

GHS Users

Manufacturers and suppliers

Importers and exporters

Workplaces and transporters

Emergency response personnel (ER)

Where to get more information about

GHS?