Short answer is no you are not jumping the gun, in my opinion. GHS is coming and with it a new set of challenges on hazard communication training. Pictograms can have multiple meanings. Employees need to start being exposed to GHS hazard and precautionary statements. More importantly, they need to start to develop the understanding that our numerical system is inverted in relationship to the current NFPA rating system for health, fire, and reactivity. Plus the rating system is not necessarily equivalent (e.g., a 1 in GHS under health, may not be a 4 in the NFPA system). Kent A.Candee, CIH Environmental Health Services EMC Insurance Companies On 9/28/2010 2:48 PM, Peifer, Patricia wrote: > Yes, we get a lot of Sigma-Aldrich chemicals and I am seeing a lot of it, probably almost half of my Sigma Aldrich MSDSs. Not so much from other companies, though. I am wondering if I should start training our analysts on the new system, even though it's not official here yet. I made a poster with the GHS pictograms (since I couldn't buy one) and am thinking about hanging it in the labs. Am I jumping the gun? > > Pat Peifer > Health& Safety Officer > West Pharmaceutical Services > > -----Original Message----- > From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of Ralph Stuart > Sent: Tuesday, September 28, 2010 1:59 PM > To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU > Subject: [DCHAS-L] GHS on (M)SDS > > I'm curious if people have been noticing Globally Harmonized System style hazard communication information showing up in the laboratory chemical world. I'm thinking in terms of labels, safety data sheets, technical bulletins, etc. I looked at two Sigma/Aldrich MSDS's from the web and one from 2010 used the system and one from 2004 that didn't. I wonder what percent of the lab world is seeing this information and is aware of this change at this point? > > Any observations or comments would be appreciated. > > - Ralph > > P.S. Anyone who'd like a good primer on the GHS system in the lab context, as well as many lab safety subjects, would do well to pick up > > Laboratory Safety for Chemistry Students > Robert H. Hill, David Finster > ISBN: 978-0-470-34428-6 > Paperback > 546 pages > July 2010 > US $69.95 > > http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-0470344288.html > > I've bought three copies so far and haven't stopped yet ;). > > > Ralph Stuart, CIH > Environmental Safety Manager > University of Vermont > Environmental Safety Facility > 667 Spear St. Burlington, VT 05405 > > rstuart**At_Symbol_Here**uvm.edu > > ________________________________ > The contents of this message are confidential and may be privileged. If you have received this message in error, please permanently delete it, along with any files that may be attached to this message, without reading, printing, copying, forwarding or otherwise distributing it. Please notify the sender of the error immediately so that we can prevent it from happening again. > > -- Kent A. Candee, CIH Assistant Secretary - Home Office Risk Improvement Environmental Health Services Manager Ph: 515-345-2728 Cell: 515-321-5874 Fax: 515-345-2220 EMC Insurance Companies www.emcins.com Count on EMC for Loss Control Services Risk Improvement Vision: Be the best in loss control by providing exceptional services that make a difference. NOTICE: This message (including any attachments) is intended for a specific individual and may contain information that is either confidential or legally protected. If you believe that it has been sent to you in error, please reply to the sender that you have received the message in error, then delete it. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any retention, dissemination, distribution, or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. Thank you. EMC071856
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