The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals is meant to increase safety surrounding hazardous chemicals with labels that address specific dangers in a clear, compliant manner. Labels are a significant part of this standard, which means that companies may want to put extra care into the way they format and print these important pieces.
Those employers that need to update their procedures to meet the compliance deadline of next June could have questions about the differences between the new requirements and the old ones. Some changes concern the terms used in the older Hazard Communication Standard, with the definitions for words like “pyrophoric” and “compressed gas” being deleted.
In an article for Material Handling & Logistics, process safety specialist Walter Kessler looked at the changes that come with the new updates. One of the major ones is the simple standardization of information, which goes beyond the traditional requirements of the HCS.
“These proposed requirements are significantly different from the existing HCS, which allows chemical manufacturers to use whatever language they believe is appropriate to convey hazards,” Kessler writes. “The existing HCS does not require the use of pictograms, specific signal words or precautionary statements.”
The nine pictograms listed on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s website include specific images for flammable chemicals, gasses under pressure and oxidizers, among other hazards. Chemical manufacturers likely know the heavy amount of work industrial print jobs can require and could use professional grade printers such as the VIPColor VP495 to print appropriate volumes of labels that match their specifications. These can also be paired with BarTender labeling software, to help keep the same level of professionalism in all labels.
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