Optimizing your company's GHS deployment

On June 3rd 1992 at the Rio Earth Summit, the United Nations Conference on the Environment and Development (UNCED) had its Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) declaration endorsed by the UN General Assembly. The declaration stipulated that: ‘A globally-harmonized hazard classification and compatible labeling system, including Material Safety Data Sheets and easily understandable symbols, should be available, if feasible, by the year 2000.’ To bring this declaration to fruition, the UN assembled a group of experts from different countries to develop: a worldwide standard for classifying chemicals according to their health, environmental and physical hazards; and the same hazard communication requirements for labeling and safety data sheets. The goal of GHS is to enhance the protection of human health and the environment, facilitate international trade of chemicals, reduce the need for duplicate testing and evaluation, and to assist all countries in the sound management of chemicals.