Oklahoma City, OK (PRWEB) February 19, 2013
SafetySkills® has created a new course titled Globally Harmonized System to assist employees and managers with questions regarding the GHS classification system. Upon completion of this SafetySkills™ online health and safety training learning event, employees will demonstrate knowledge of the recently implemented Globally Harmonized System. Employees will learn about the new label and safety data sheet requirements about the standard as well as answers to common questions about the standard. This course is intended to assist the employer in meeting OSHA Standard 29 CFR 1910.1200.
Along with this course, SafetySkills® will be rolling out modifications to select titles of existing courses to meet the new GHS requirements. The roll out will be complete by the end of March. The modified titles include Hazard Communication, Safety Data Sheets, Chemical Safety, Marking and Labeling and Basic Laboratory Safety.
The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals or GHS is an internationally agreed-upon system, created by the United Nations. It was designed to replace the various classification and labeling standards used in different countries by using consistent criteria for classification and labeling on a global level. Its development began at the United Nations in 1992 with various governments and other stakeholders at a United Nations conference. It supersedes the previous standards. Before the GHS was created and implemented by the United Nations, there were many different regulations on hazard classification in use in different countries. Previous guidelines may have been similar in content and approach, but did have multiple standards and classifications and labels for the same hazard in different countries. Given the extent of international trade, and the potential impact on neighboring countries when controls are not implemented, it was determined that a worldwide approach was necessary.
The GHS was designed to replace all the diverse classification systems and present one universal standard which all countries should follow. The system provides participating countries to implement a hazard classification and communication system, which many less economically developed countries would not have had the money to create. In the longer term, the GHS is expected to improve knowledge of chronic health hazards and encourage a move towards the elimination of hazardous chemicals, especially carcinogens, mutagens and reproductive toxins, or their replacement with less hazardous ones.
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