You probably know about WHMIS and the Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) Regulations, and you’ve almost certainly seen the hazard labels on household chemicals. Did you know that all three systems use different definitions of terms such as "flammable" and other hazard classes? Did you know that Canadian hazard criteria are different than in other countries? That’s likely to change in the next few years with the introduction of GHS – the Globally Harmonized System.

During the 1992 Earth Summit in Brazil delegates identified the need to develop a consistent information system for the classification of hazardous chemicals that all countries could use. The GHS was then developed to meet this need. In the age of globalization an internationally recognized hazardous chemicals classification system is paramount not only for the safety of workers, but for the world’s consumers and the environment.

A UN Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods and on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (UNCETDG &GHS) is responsible for the GHS. For GHS to become a reality many bodies met to develop a consensus on the technical components of the system. Representatives were required from various governments, industry, organized labor as well as the OECD (Organization for the Economic Cooperation & Development). The GHS is anticipated to encompass chemicals that are present in workplace, consumer and transportation sectors.

Health Canada has played an active role in the development of GHS since 1992. They coordinated the position for classification standards developed by Canadian government departments, including Environment Canada and Transport Canada.

The GHS was approved by the UNCETDG & GHS in December 2002. The GHS is now ready for countries to implement. In Canada the implementation of GHS is slated to begin in January, 2006 with complete realization by December 2008, according to Health Canada.

The implementation of the GHS will result in a number of changes to WHMIS, TDG, and the hazard communication systems for hazardous household chemicals and pesticides. For example:

• classification criteria will encompass hazards not previously included in all systems;
• new pictograms and standardized hazard statements will be established;
• a 16-part MSDS format (which has already been adopted by many companies) will become the standard.

GHS, over a decade in the making, is expected to bring about significant economic benefits, as well as a safer and healthier environment. It’s likely that all Canadian workplaces will be affected by this new, global hazard communication system.