Chemical Hazard Communication Research Articles

Safety Data Sheets: Challenges for Authors, Expectations for End-Users

Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) are a primary tool for chemical hazard communication. The creation and maintenance of product SDSs (and the corresponding labels) is a significant cost center for chemical manufacturers, distributors, and importers. SDS management is also a significant focal point for regulators. There are many complaints about SDS content, ranging from missing or incomplete information, erroneous information to the cost of creating or maintaining SDSs. The rapidly evolving global chemical regulatory environment places a burden on the chemical manufacturer of staying current with regulations as well as hazards. The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) was designed to make the globalization of hazard communication easier for the chemical user. It has but certainly not completely. GHS has complicated the creation and management of SDSs for the chemical manufacturer in many ways. This article will examine these areas, including the development and use of machine-created SDSs using global safety and regulatory data, and provide the perspective of a chemical manufacturer and SDS author.

GHS Implementation to Strengthen Global Chemical Hazard Communication: Will We Ever Get There?

The establishment of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) is one of the global initiatives to promote effective chemical hazard communication worldwide. Ultimately, the GHS aims to enhance safe use of chemicals, as well as to facilitate chemical trading across national borders. Countries that are now adopting GHS into their respective national legislations include the EU, US, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Malaysia. Nonetheless, challenges exist that might impede GHS implementation worldwide. These challenges have been identified and are discussed in this paper, namely, (i) adoption of different versions of the GHS document, (ii) adoption of building blocks, (iii) list of classified chemicals, (iv) different chemical mixture classification throughout the supply chain, and (v) the definition of GHS implementation. The challenges discussed in this paper are not to discourage countries from implementing GHS but, rather, to serve as input for the relevant entities to further strengthen GHS implementation worldwide.

Effects of Climate Change on Environmental Hazards in Local Communities: A Data Visualization Prototype

Introduction: Although the effects of climate change on health risk have been extensively studied, it is unclear how climate change affects exposure pathways for environmental hazards. We create data visualization maps that inform policy makers to identify areas and people at greatest risk. Methods: Working with the EPA Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) Program and the Society for Chemical Hazard Communication (SCHC), we leveraged publicly available data (e.g. from the TRI, State health and environmental agencies, and NOAA and Landsat satellites) to develop an interactive web portal to display and communicate potential health and environmental effects of climate change on a disadvantaged neighborhood: the Near West Neighborhood. We created visualizations to identify: 1) locations at increased risk of flooding and associated vulnerabilities with respect to housing structures (mold), other critical infrastructure (including hospitals and schools), and contaminated sites and repositories for waste; 2) areas with an increased level of ozone formation from mobile and non-mobile sources of VOCs as they relate to increases in overall ambient temperature and localized urban heat island effects; and 3) hotspots where residents are more vulnerable to acute cardiovascular emergency call and hospitalization as a result of urban heat island effects. Results: these maps may aid decision-makers in identifying targeted areas and/or at-risk populations for disaster prevention, preparation, and response as a result of climate change and provides a cost-effective way to mitigate potential impacts of climate change. We have gained permission from the Near West Neighborhood to display this tool in the Neighborhood’s community center so the residents are empowered for environmental justice. Conclusion: the mapping tool will be invaluable for policy makers, as evidenced by our first prize award for the NIH/NIEHS Climate Change and Environmental Exposure Challenges. http://arcg.is/1K1mElG

The association of the original OSHA chemical hazard communication standard with reductions in acute work injuries/illnesses in private industry and the industrial releases of chemical carcinogens

OSHA predicted the original chemical Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) would cumulatively reduce the lost workday acute injury/illness rate for exposure events by 20% over 20 years and reduce exposure to chemical carcinogens. JoinPoint trend software identified changes in the rate of change of BLS rates for days away from work for acute injuries/illnesses during 1992-2009 for manufacturing and nonmanufacturing industries for both chemical, noxious or allergenic injury exposure events and All other exposure events. The annual percent change in the rates was used to adjust observed numbers of cases to estimate their association with the standard. A case-control study of EPA's Toxic Release Inventory 1988-2009 data compared carcinogen and non-carcinogens' releases. The study estimates that the HCS was associated with a reduction in the number of acute injuries/illnesses due to chemical injury exposure events over the background rate in the range 107,569-459,395 (Hudson method/modified BIC model) depending on whether the HCS is treated as a marginal or sole factor in the decrease. Carcinogen releases have declined at a substantially faster rate than control non-carcinogens. The previous HCS standard was associated with significant reductions in chemical event acute injuries/illnesses and chemical carcinogen exposures.

Chemical hazard communication comprehensibility in South Africa: Safety implications for the adoption of the globally harmonised system of classification and labelling of chemicals

Chemical hazard communication is a key strategy to prevent illness and disability from exposures to potentially hazardous chemicals. The Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) was developed to strengthen national capacities for safe management of chemicals. In this paper we present the results of a descriptive study on comprehensibility of chemical hazard communication elements. The study of 402 respondents, including 315 workers in the manufacturing, transport and agricultural sectors and 87 consumers was conducted in 2003 to provide data on chemical hazard communication comprehensibility as part of a feasibility study into the possible adoption of the GHS in South Africa. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered instrument developed for the International Labour Office (ILO) to support GHS implementation.Less than half of respondents reported any training in their current jobs in health and safety, and only 34% on labels. Agricultural workers were far less likely to have received any training. In general, comprehension of hazard communication labels and safety data sheets (SDSs) was low. Symbols such as the skull and crossbones (98%) and the flammable (93%) symbol were relatively well understood (either correct or partly correct responses), but the majority of hazard symbols were of moderate to poor comprehensibility (less than 75% correct or partly correct responses). Significant levels of critical confusions (5% or more) occurred with symbols for corrosive and compressed gas. Co-workers and supervisors were identified as important sources of information.If the GHS is to provide a safety framework, there has to be investment in GHS training that emphasises comprehensibility. There should be a focus on those items causing critical confusion and peer trainers should be used. The GHS should be promoted through media to reach consumers. If the GHS fails to address problems of comprehensibility, it will only succeed in facilitating trade in chemicals without ensuing adequate safety.

Analysis of the Comprehensibility of Chemical Hazard Communication Tools at the Industrial Workplace

Chemical classification and labelling systems may be roughly similar from one country to another but there are significant differences too. In order to harmonize various chemical classification systems and ultimately provide consistent chemical hazard communication tools worldwide, the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) was endorsed by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Several countries, including Japan, Taiwan, Korea and Malaysia, are now in the process of implementing GHS. It is essential to ascertain the comprehensibility of chemical hazard communication tools that are described in the GHS documents, namely the chemical labels and Safety Data Sheets (SDS). Comprehensibility Testing (CT) was carried out with a mixed group of industrial workers in Malaysia (n=150) and factors that influence the comprehensibility were analysed using one-way ANOVA. The ability of the respondents to retrieve information from the SDS was also tested in this study. The findings show that almost all the GHS pictograms meet the ISO comprehension criteria and it is concluded that the underlying core elements that enhance comprehension of GHS pictograms and which are also essential in developing competent persons in the use of SDS are training and education.

化学品の有害性情報伝達とトキシコロジストの貢献－分類・表示の世界調和システム（GHS）導入にあたって

化学品の有害性情報伝達とトキシコロジストの貢献－分類・表示の世界調和システム（GHS）導入にあたって

Chemical Hazard Communication Comprehensibility in South Africa: Implications for the Adoption of the Globally Harmonised System for Chemical Hazard Classification (GHS).

P-376 Abstract: Chemical hazard communication is a key strategy to prevent illness and disability from potentially hazardous chemicals. The Globally Harmonised System for Chemical Hazard Classification (GHS) was developed to strengthen national capacities for safe management of chemicals. A study of 402 respondents, including 315 workers in the manufacturing, transport and agricultural sectors and 87 consumers was conducted in 2003 to provide data on chemical hazard communication comprehensibility as part of a feasibility study into the possible adoption of the GHS in South Africa. Data were collected using an adaptation of an instrument developed for the International Labour Office (ILO) to support GHS implementation. Less than half of respondents reported any training in their current jobs in health and safety, and only 34% on labels. Agricultural workers were far less likely to have received any training. In general, comprehension of hazard communication labels and safety data sheets (SDSs) was low, varying positively by education and a history of previous training, and negatively if the respondent’s home language was not English. Symbols such as the skull and crossbones (98%) and the flammable (93%) symbol, and pictograms denoting use of protective clothing (93% or more) were relatively well understood (either correct or partly correct responses), but the majority of hazard symbols, warning and activity pictograms, and hazard messages, were of moderate to poor comprehensibility (less than 75% correct or partly correct responses). Significant levels of critical confusions (5% or more) occurred with symbols for corrosive, compressed gas and the hazard statement “do not induce vomiting.” Less than half of all respondents were able to identify correctly information on health and physical hazards, emergency procedures, protective clothing use and storage directions from Safety Data Sheets. Co-workers and supervisors were identified as important sources of information. Multivariate analyses confirmed positive associations with comprehensibility for years of education, increasing age, previous safety training and home language fluency in English, and negative associations with female gender and employment in agriculture. If the GHS is to leave a legacy of safety, there has to be investment in GHS training, with a particular focus on those items causing critical confusion, using peer trainers; hazard statements written in simple local languages; and public awareness through media to reach consumers. If the GHS failes to address problems of comprehensibility, it will only succeed in facilitating trade in chemicals without ensuing adequate safety.