GHS hazards are those classified under the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS), an international standard that is used to classify and label chemicals.
It is designed to help people identify and understand the hazards of chemicals so that they can take appropriate safety precautions. Here’s what you need to know about GHS hazards.
The 16 Hazard Classes
GHS hazards are classified into 16 hazard classes. They are, in order, the following:
- Acute toxicity: This hazard class includes chemicals that can cause serious health problems or death if ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin.
- Skin corrosion/irritation: This hazard class includes chemicals that can cause burns or irritation to the skin.
- Serious eye damage/eye irritation: This hazard class includes chemicals that can cause severe damage to the eyes or eye irritation.
- Respiratory or skin sensitization: This hazard class includes chemicals that can cause allergic reactions in the respiratory tract or on the skin.
- Germ cell mutagenicity: This hazard class includes chemicals that can cause mutations in genes.
- Carcinogenicity: This hazard class includes chemicals that can cause cancer.
- Reproductive toxicity: This hazard class includes chemicals that can harm the reproductive system.
- Specific target organ toxicity (single exposure): This hazard class includes chemicals that can cause damage to particular organs or tissues after a single exposure.
- Specific target organ toxicity (repeated exposure): This hazard class includes chemicals that can cause damage to specific organs or tissues after repeated exposure.
- Aspiration hazard: This hazard class includes chemicals that can be inhaled into the lungs and cause serious health problems.
- Oxidizing agent: This hazard class includes chemicals that can cause fires or explosions.
- Flammable gas: This hazard class includes gases that can easily catch fire.
- Flammable liquid: This hazard class includes liquids that can easily catch fire.
- Flammable solid: This hazard class includes solids that can easily catch fire.
- Self-reactives: This hazard class includes chemicals that can react with other chemicals or materials to produce a fire or explosion.
- Explosives: This hazard class includes chemicals that can explode under certain conditions.
More on GHS Hazard Classification
GHS hazards are classified by a system of pictograms, signal words, and hazard statements. The pictograms are a series of symbols that are used to represent the different hazard classes. The signal words are used to indicate the severity of the hazard. The hazard statements provide more detailed information about the hazard. For example, the pictogram for acute toxicity is skull and crossbones. The signal word for acute toxicity is “Danger.” The hazard statement for acute toxicity may be “Causes death if swallowed.”
The GHS is a valuable tool for identifying and understanding the hazards of chemicals. By understanding the hazards of chemicals, you can take appropriate safety precautions to protect yourself and others. Always be sure to pay close attention to all hazard and safety signage while at work to help keep yourself safe while on the job.
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