With all the changes in the Regulatory Compliance World, it is quite easy to feel smothered by the burden of keeping up with it all. One of the changes is the promulgation of the Globally Harmonized System (GHS). In 1992, the United Nations (UN) issued an international mandate to implement a harmonized system for classifications and labeling of chemicals on a global level - this gave rise to the GHS. In 2003, the first edition of the GHS was approved and published by the UN and a second revision was published in 2007.

Japan, Korea, and New Zealand have already adopted GHS and are transitioning to the new classification and labeling methods now. The European Union (EU) adopted the proposed act that aligns the EU system with GHS in June of 2007. Once finalized, companies will be given 3 years to transition to the new system for pure substances, and another 5 years for mixtures.

In preparation for this domestically, OSHA has reviewed their current Hazard Communications Standard (HAZCOM) and as planning to adopt the New GHS Standard into it. The tentative time for the final rule will most likely come in 2009.

One of the major changes United States companies can anticipate has to do with Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS).  The MSDSs will under go an extensive change once the GHS is adopted.  There will also be modifications on labels, signal words, pictograms and hazard statements all designed to enhance communication for all that handle chemicals.

Finally, training must be modified - educating employees on the label and MSDS changes due to the updated product classifications, pictograms, signal words, and hazard and precautionary statements will represent the greatest training challenge. Delivering a consistent and timely training message to your employees that can be easily tracked will be critically important to the success of your GHS rollout.