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NewswireToday - /newswire/ -
Beaverton, OR, United States, 09/25/2009 - Graphic Products’ new white paper discusses the Globally Harmonized System of Chemical Classification (GHS) and defines information found on GHS labels.
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A new white paper on the Globally Harmonized System of Chemical Classification (GHS) is now available from Graphic Products, Inc. The white paper discusses OSHA’s impending adoption of the GHS and explains chemical hazard classifications and required GHS label elements.
"As the U.S. prepares to move towards GHS requirements within the next few years, it is imperative for safety professionals to begin understanding new standards and classifications for ensuring safety in the workplace,” said Stacy Foos, director of research development at Graphic Products. “The Globally Harmonized System of Chemical Classification white paper clearly defines what the new GHS entails.”
The white paper begins with a brief background to the GHS initiative in the United States. It explains how OSHA recently began finalizing revisions to its widely-used Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) in preparation for GHS implementation sometime between 2012 and 2015. The white paper goes on to describe the new GHS regulations as they relate to proper chemical hazard classifications. It defines required information and symbols to be included on safety data sheets and compliant GHS labels.
“The GHS uses a consistent approach to promoting safety, and because code-compliant labeling is such a huge part of safety, proper labeling should not be overlooked,” said Foos.
The Globally Harmonized System of Chemical Classification white paper offers insight into six required elements of a GHS label: pictograms, signal words, hazard statements, precautionary statements and pictograms, product identifiers, and supplier identifications. The following are excerpts from the white paper’s insight on the two of the six required GHS label elements—signal words and hazard statements:
2. Signal Words
a. These words are used to alert the reader of health, physical, and environmental hazards and to indicate a hazard’s level of severity.
b. “Danger” and “warning” are the only two signal words used.
i. Lower level hazard categories do not use signal words.
3. Hazard Statements
a. Phrase assigned to a hazard class that describes the nature of the hazard, as well as its level of severity.
b. “Highly Flammable,” “Unstable Explosive,” “Toxic If Inhaled,” etc. and various other statements are used for fire, health and environmental hazards.
The GHS white paper also includes basic information about the DuraLabel® line of label and sign printers (duralabel.com) specifically engineered to print GHS compliant labels and signs, including RTK labels.
The Globally Harmonized System of Classification white paper is available free from Graphic Products.
Graphic Products (graphicproducts.com) is a leading label printer and supplies dealer. It has been supplying industrial label and sign printers and supplies to industry since 1970. It is the manufacturer of the DuraLabel brand of printers that include the handheld DuraLabel 2000 up through the wide format DuraLabel 9000, and it also carry a wide variety of labelers made by other manufacturers. In addition to DuraLabel, it stocks label printer brands such as Brady, Kroy, Brother, K-Sun, Dymo and Varitronics. It also stock supplies for discontinued label printers. Graphic Products specializes in fast, same-day shipping to meet its customers’ just-in-time delivery requirements.
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