Throughout recent years, global chemical manufacturers and distributors have been painfully aware of the fact that a uniform, multi-national standard for classifications, labels and SDS (safety data sheets) simply did not exist. Not only did this significantly slow down the process of production and distribution for companies hoping to make an impression on the international level, it added additional expenses for companies both large and small around the world.
First proposed by the UN, the GHS allows for easily accessible and uniform classification on chemical products that are produced and distributed in an exhaustive number of countries. The benefits of these changes, are numerous, and chemical manufacturers should expect to see:
· Increased opportunities for international trade.
· Reduced delay between product testing and manufacturing due to a “one-stop” examination method.
· Enhanced protection for workers, due primarily to the fact that everyone will know exactly what hazards are present in the products they are working with.
For manufacturers, two of the most important and beneficial implications of this legislation are reduced cost and increased efficiency. It will now be markedly easier for chemical manufacturers to produce and ship their products across the world, removing the need for exhaustive labeling and research. The money saved by these measures will allow for increased growth and training opportunities for both existing employees and new workers.
As it stands, chemical mixtures must be compatible with the GHS, or Globally Harmonised System, by June 2015. Reclassification measures for chemical substances was put into place beginning in 2010.
Not only will producers benefit from this process of reclassification, but employees will find themselves working within a production environment that is significantly safer and much more conducive to information assimilation and responsible handling.
The GHS remains a welcome change for many chemical manufacturers around the world. Very few, if any issues have been raised regarding these new implementations. If you suspect that your business may not be fully prepared to adapt to these new changes, we highly recommend that you contact your designated label designed and discuss these issues with them. Logistical failures at this crucial junction could prove quite damaging to the financial health of a business!
