The document presents an overview of the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) for classifying and labeling chemicals, aimed at improving chemical hazard communication worldwide. It details the elements of GHS labels, including hazard pictograms, signal words, hazard statements, and precautionary measures, as well as the process for creating GHS labels using specific examples. Additionally, it highlights resources available from the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety to assist with WHMIS and GHS compliance.

1. GHS Labels
Presented by: Lorraine Davison, M.Sc. M.Eng.
Manager, Chemical Services
2012
www.ccohs.ca

2. What is GHS?
Globally Harmonized System of
Classification and Labelling of
Chemicals
An international system for
 All chemical substances, mixtures.
 Allows “continuous improvement” for
chemical hazard communication.
Goal is a common & effective
classification & communication system
world-wide.
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety www.ccohs.ca

3. GHS Hazard Groups
16 classes
10 classes 2 classes
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety www.ccohs.ca
www.ccohs.ca

4. Outline for Today’s Presentation
 Elements of a GHS Label
 Look at how a GHS hazard classification
determines GHS label content
 Resources such as CANLabel
 WHMIS label requirements
 OSHA label requirements
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety www.ccohs.ca

5. GHS Supplier Labels – Elements
Product identifier (chemical identity)
Supplier identifier
Review in more depth
Hazard pictograms
Signal word
Hazard statements
Precautionary statements
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety www.ccohs.ca

6. Hazard Pictograms
Nine pictograms
hazard symbols:
health, physical &
environmental hazards
Symbol plus border
= pictogram
(square set at a point)
Use depends on class and
category. None may exist for
some products.
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety www.ccohs.ca

7. Signal Words
Signal words warn users about the level or degree
of hazard. There are two signal words:
Danger
Warning
Use depends on class and category.
No signal word may be required.
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety www.ccohs.ca

8. Hazard Statements
Standardized statements about chemical hazards
Statements are listed by “letter/numbers” to
signify
• physical (H200’s)
• health (H300’s) and
• environmental hazards (H400’s)
Use depends on hazard class and category.
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety www.ccohs.ca

9. Precautionary Statements
Standardized statements These are organized
providing advice and guidance into groups
to support safe workplace
General (P100’s)
practices.
GHS still improving these (use Prevention (P200’s)
is recommended, not required) Response (P300’s)
Storage (P400’s)
Combinations may be specified Disposal (P500’s)
e.g. P370+P380:
In case of fire: Evacuate area
Use depends on hazard class and category.
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety www.ccohs.ca

10. Label elements:
If a product meets criteria for a hazard class and category – the data above is
specified and required = pictogram, signal word and hazard statement.
GHS provides suggested precautionary measures for labels and SDSs.
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety www.ccohs.ca

11. Creating a GHS Label for
“Cleans Super Great”
First step is to classify
review ingredients/composition, look at hazard
data, and identify the hazard classification.
Our product is a concentrated cleaning product
containing a ketone, petroleum distillate,
terpene – lots of hazards.
We evaluated the details and determined the
classification.
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety www.ccohs.ca

12. CSG – GHS Classification
Flammable Liquid – Category 2
Serious Eye Damage/Eye Irritation – Category 2A
Skin Corrosion/Irritation – Category 3
Skin Sensitization – Category 1
Specific Target Organ Toxicity
(Single exposure) - Category 3
Aspiration Hazard – Category 1
Note product hazard classification information is not on
the label but in Section 2 of the SDS
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety www.ccohs.ca

13. Pictogram, Signal Word, Hazard
Statement
Hazard Class & Category Pictogram Signal Word Hazard Statement
Highly flammable liquid
Flammable Liquid – Category 2 Flame Danger
and vapour
Serious Eye Damage / Eye Causes serious eye
Exclamation Warning
Irritation – Category 2A irritation
Skin Corrosion / Irritation –
None Warning Causes mild skin irritation
Category 3
May cause an allergic skin
Skin Sensitization – Category 1 Exclamation Warning
reaction
Specific Target Organ Toxicity May cause drowsiness or
Exclamation Warning
(Single Exposure) - Category 3 dizziness.
May be fatal if swallowed
Aspiration - Category 1
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health Health
and Safety Danger www.ccohs.ca
and enters airways

14. Pictograms and Signal Word
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety www.ccohs.ca

15. Hazard Statements
Highly flammable liquid and vapour.
Causes serious eye irritation.
Causes mild skin irritation.
May cause an allergic skin reaction.
May cause drowsiness or dizziness.
May be fatal if swallowed and enters airways.
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety www.ccohs.ca

16. Precautionary Statements
Hazard Class & Category Prevention Response Storage Disposal
P210
P233
P240 P303 + P361 + P353
Flammable Liquid – Category 2 P241 P403 + P235 P501
P242 P370 + P378
P243
P280
Serious Eye Damage / Eye P264 P305 + P351 + P338
Irritation – Category 2A P280 P337 + P313
Skin Corrosion / Irritation –
P332 + P313
Category 3
P302 + P352
P261
P333 + P313
Skin Sensitization – Category 1 P272
P321
P501
P280
P363
Specific Target Organ Toxicity P261 P304 + P340 P403 + P233
P501
(Single Exposure) - Category 3 P271 P312 P405
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety P301 + P310 www.ccohs.ca
Aspiration – Category 1 P331
P405 P501

17. Precautionary Statements, cont’d
Prevention Response Storage Disposal
P210 P312
P233 P321 P403 + P233 P501
P240 P331 P403 + P235
P241 P363 P405
P242 P301 + P310
Once you combine all the
P243 P302 + P352
precautionary statements you remove
P260 P303 + P361 + P353 duplicates, and you can also select
the most protective statements when
P261 P304 + P340
they are similar
P264 P305 + P351 + P338
P271 P332 + P313
This list is the final collection of
P272 P333 + P313 precautionary statements for our
P280 P337 + P313 sample product.
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety www.ccohs.ca

18. Expanded Precautionary Statements
Precautions and Storage:
• Keep away from heat/ sparks/ open flames/ hot surfaces - No smoking.
• Take precautionary measures against static discharge. Ground/bond container and receiving
equipment. Use explosion-proof electrical/ventilating/light/and other equipment. Use only non-sparking
tools. Use only outdoors or in a well-ventilated area.
• Keep container tightly closed. Store in a well-ventilated place. Keep cool. Store locked up.
• Avoid breathing mist or vapours.
• Wear protective gloves/eye protection/face protection. Here the codes have
• Wash any contaminated body parts thoroughly after handling. been expanded and
• Contaminated work clothing should not be allowed out of the workplace.
organized
Response:
IF INHALED: Remove victim to fresh air and keep at rest in a position comfortable for breathing. Remove
victim to fresh air and keep at rest in a position comfortable for breathing.
IF ON SKIN (or hair): Remove/Take off all contaminated clothing immediately. Rinse skin with
water/shower. If skin irritation or a rash occurs get medical advice/attention. Wash contaminated
clothing before reuse.
IF IN EYES: Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses if present and easy to
do – continue rinsing. If eye irritation persists: Get medical advice/attention.
IF SWALLOWED: Immediately call a Poison Center or doctor/physician. Do NOT induce vomiting.
IN CASE OF FIRE: Use Carbon dioxide, dry chemical powder or appropriate foam for extinction.
Disposal:
Dispose of contents/container following Health and Safety for flammable and hazardous materials.
Canadian Centre for Occupational
local regulations www.ccohs.ca

19. Cleans Super Great
Highly flammable liquid and vapour. Danger
Causes serious eye irritation.
Causes mild skin irritation.
May cause an allergic skin reaction.
May cause drowsiness or dizziness. Label elements all
May be fatal if swallowed and enters airways.
shown together
Precautions:
Keep away from heat/ sparks/ open flames/ hot surfaces - No smoking. Take precautionary measures against static discharge.
Ground/bond container and receiving equipment. Use explosion-proof electrical/ventilating/ light/and other equipment. Use only
non-sparking tools. Keep container tightly closed. Store in a well-ventilated place. Keep cool. Store locked up.
Avoid breathing mist or vapours. Wear protective gloves/eye protection/face protection. Wash any contaminated body parts
thoroughly after handling. Contaminated work clothing should not be allowed out of the workplace.
Response:
IF INHALED: Remove victim to fresh air and keep at rest in a position comfortable for breathing. Remove victim to fresh air and keep
at rest in a position comfortable for breathing.
IF ON SKIN (or hair): Remove/Take off all contaminated clothing immediately. Rinse skin with water/shower. If skin irritation or a
rash occurs get medical advice/attention. Wash contaminated clothing before reuse.
IF IN EYES: Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses if present and easy to do – continue rinsing. If
eye irritation persists: Get medical advice/attention.
IF SWALLOWED: Immediately call a Poison Center or doctor/physician. Do NOT induce vomiting.
IN CASE OF FIRE: Use Carbon dioxide, dry chemical powder or appropriate foam for extinction.
Disposal: Dispose of contents/container following local regulations for flammable and hazardous materials
SEE SDS FOR MORE INFORMATION
ABC Chemical Company, 123 Main Street East, Anytown, ON

20. CANLabel
Web-based software
WHMIS, OSHA and GHS labels
English, French and Spanish languages
Classification drives phrases
Customized phrases can be retained
Free demonstration – make your own labels
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety www.ccohs.ca

21. Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety www.ccohs.ca

22. Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety www.ccohs.ca

23. Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety www.ccohs.ca

24. Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety www.ccohs.ca

25. Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety www.ccohs.ca

26. Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety www.ccohs.ca

27. Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety www.ccohs.ca

28. Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety www.ccohs.ca

29. Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety www.ccohs.ca

30. Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety www.ccohs.ca

31. Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety www.ccohs.ca

32. Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety www.ccohs.ca

33. Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety www.ccohs.ca
<file:Nws_ccohs2dataGLOBALWorking_groupsChemical_Safety_ToolsCANLabelGHS_product_launchCleans_super_great_GHS_label.pdf>

34. Next Steps and….
Resources
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety www.ccohs.ca
www.ccohs.ca

35. Resources from CCOHS
To find these resources just ‘Google’ GHS and CCOHS – list
of related products is at the bottom of all product and
service pages.
Publication E-courses Fact Sheets
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety www.ccohs.ca

36. Resources from CCOHS
Free and low cost resources are available from
CCOHS:
Publication
WHMIS after GHS:
Preparing for Change
(now available, contains
summary of issues and
copy of the Fact Sheets)
http://www.ccohs.ca/products/publications/WHMISGHS.html
OSH Answers on GHS
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety www.ccohs.ca

37. E-courses from CCOHS
Two free e-courses are available through CCOHS
and funded with the support of Health Canada’s
National Office of WHMIS (requires registration)
http://www.ccohs.ca/products/courses/whmis_ghs_intro/
WHMIS After GHS: An Introduction
• 20-minute awareness course
WHMIS After GHS: How Suppliers Can Prepare
• 60-minute awareness course
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety www.ccohs.ca

38. WHMIS after GHS
Fact Sheets from CCOHS
Set of 7 Fact Sheets – free from CCOHS
Through support of Health Canada’s National
Office of WHMIS – (requires online registration)
You can take a peek at them on this page – just
click on the image for a better view of the page.
http://www.ccohs.ca/products/publications/whmis_ghs/
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety www.ccohs.ca

39. More Information...
CCOHS
Google – CCOHS and GHS
Health Canada - WHMIS Official National Site
Google – WHMIS Canada
Or Google – Health Canada and GHS
GHS Home (includes the “Purple book”)
Google – UNECE and GHS – look for 3rd edition
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety www.ccohs.ca

40. Thank You
Questions?
Free, confidential Inquiries Service:
1-800-668-4284
clientservices@ccohs.ca
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety www.ccohs.ca