Public Consultation – Guidelines for the Construction and Demolition Waste Framework Regulations
23 July 2024
The Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) is holding a public consultation on the intent and...
Chemical Labels are Changing- How will this affect you?
17 November 2013
Chemical
products are used every day at work, for example cleaning products, lubricants,
paints and glues. Labels on these products tell us useful information about:
the type of
chemicals the product contains;
what hazards are associated with the
product;
how to use the chemical safely.
Over the next
few years, new legislation, known as the CLP regulation (classification,
labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures), will change the way
chemical products are classified to identify hazards and how this information
is communicated on labels and safety data sheets (SDS).
The CLP
regulation implements the United Nations' Globally Harmonised System of
Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) in the EU. GHS is being adopted
worldwide to improve and harmonise worker and consumer safety and facilitate
global trade.
Some of the
differences you may see are:
classification criteria and
classification methods are different for some types of hazard, so some chemical
products may be classified more or less severely;
new hazard pictograms will replace
danger symbols on labels;
new wording in hazard (H) and
precautionary (P) statements will replace risk (R) and safety (S) phrases;
classifications for both the CLP and
the previous legislation on SDS, and label information moved from Section 15 to
Section 2 of the SDS.
You should look out for these changes, make sure you understand the new
information and comply with any new safety instructions.
