Hazard Pictograms Research Articles

Optimising testing strategies for classification of human health and environmental hazards – A proof-of-concept study

This paper outlines a new concept to optimise testing strategies for improving the efficiency of chemical testing for hazard-based risk management. While chemical classification based on standard checklists of information triggers risk management measures, the link is not one-to-one. Toxicity testing may be performed with no impact on the safe use of chemicals . Each hazard class and category is not assigned a unique pictogram and for the purpose of this proof-of-concept study, the level of concern for a chemical for the population and the environment is simplistically considered to be reflected by the hazard pictograms. Using active substances in biocides and plant protection products as a dataset, three testing strategies were built with the boundary condition that an optimal approach must indicate a given level of concern while requiring less testing (strategy B), prioritising new approach methodologies (strategy C) or combining the two considerations (strategy D). The implementation of the strategies B and D reduced the number of tests performed by 6.0% and 8.8%, respectively, while strategy C relied the least on in vivo methods. The intentionally simplistic approach to optimised testing strategies presented here could be used beyond the assessment of biocides and plant protection products to gain efficiencies in the safety assessment of other chemical groups, saving animals and making regulatory testing more time- and cost-efficient.

Barriers to the safe use of chemical household products: A comparison across European countries

Chemical household products, such as cleaning and washing products or pest control and garden chemicals, are frequently involved in poisonings in private households. Consumer research has identified a number of barriers that impede the safe use of these products, ranging from unfamiliarity, to misconceptions and a lack of risk perception, to behavioural or situational barriers. This study aimed at investigating these barriers for consumers in eight European countries. Participants from eight European countries were recruited and asked to fill out an online questionnaire on their familiarity with hazard pictograms, perceptions and self-reported behaviour (Total: N = 5631, Austria: N = 731, Switzerland: N = 698, Germany: N = 711, France: N = 708, Italy: N = 695, Poland: N = 693, Sweden: N = 682, UK: N = 713). Across all countries, the lowest consumer familiarity was found for the meaning of the pictogram for “health hazard” (65% indicated having never seen it before). Small-sized differences between the eight countries were observed regarding people’s familiarity, perceptions and self-reported behaviour. The results suggest that people apply hazard-related as well as product- and marketing-related strategies to judge the dangerousness of a chemical household product. These findings suggest a number of starting points for risk regulation and communication regarding hazardous household chemical products. Further, the results suggest that positive outcome expectancies and rules of thumb for judging the risks of a chemical household product are particularly relevant for people’s self-reported safe use of chemical household products.

AVALIAÇÃO DAS INFORMAÇÕES NAS ROTULAGENS DE PRODUTOS SANEANTES DOMISSANITÁRIOS

O presente artigo avaliou as rotulagens de produtos saneantes comercializados na cidade de São Luís, Maranhão, através das normas ABNT 14725-3 (2012), resoluções da Agência Brasileira de Vigilância Sanitária – ANVISA e variáveis de Wogalter et al. (2002), verificando a ausência ou presença dessas informações por categoria de produto. O resultado mostrou que a maioria dos problemas é relacionado a não presença das informações de consequências da exposição ao perigo; não é observado o uso de pictogramas de perigo nas rotulagens de produtos de risco I; o número emergência é ausente em um grande número de embalagens, e que os produtos de risco 1, da categoria sabão e lava roupas, foram os que apresentaram mais problemas.

Chemical Classification and Labelling System in Malaysia: Before and After GHS

In Malaysia, the Occupational Safety and Health (Classification, Packaging and Labelling of Hazardous Chemicals) Regulations 1997 (CPL Regulations) were replaced by the Occupational Safety and Health (Classification, Labelling and Safety Data Sheet of Hazardous Chemicals) Regulations 2013 (CLASS Regulations) as a step towards the implementation of the Globally Harmonized System of Chemical Classification and Hazard Communication (GHS). This paper highlights 10 significant differences between the two regulations in these aspects: (i) the legal status of reference documents; (ii) clarity of chemical classification; (iii) incorporation of environmental hazards; (iv) classification criteria; (v) their labelling presentation; (vi) use of danger symbols and hazard pictograms; (vii) sizes of danger symbols and hazard pictograms; (viii) hazard descriptions; (ix) safety data sheet; and (x) inventory submission. Although both CPL Regulations and CLASS Regulations have similar frameworks, the legal requirements outlined in both regulations differ significantly particularly in chemical classification, labelling and safety data sheet requirements, and inventory submission. The most important step forward is that the CLASS Regulations’ requirement for chemicals to be classified with proper documented evidence and comprehensive hazard communication makes the chemical suppliers take greater responsibility for the chemicals they supply.

Situative and product-specific factors influencing consumers’ risk perception of household cleaning products

In Europe, the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) provides a system for hazard communication for consumer products that includes a signal word, hazard pictograms, and hazard and precautionary statements. However, it is yet unclear whether consumers consider the pictograms as part of their interpretation of the potential hazard or whether other, potentially misleading, attributes are also considered. Previous studies suggest that consumers underestimate the risk of eco-friendly cleaning products, irrespective of the presence of objective risk information. In this study, a 7 × 4 × 2 × 2 mixed-design scenario experiment was conducted with a large sample of Swiss consumers. In seven scenarios (within-factor), the following three aspects were systematically manipulated (between-factors): (1) type of cleaning product, (2) eco-friendly or regular product and (3) GHS pictogram visible or not. Participants were asked to indicate their risk perception and self-reported behaviour regarding each scenario. The results suggest that consumers have a rather accurate estimation of the risk based on scenario and involved cleaning product and correctly identified the most problematic scenarios (e.g., unsafe storage of drain cleaner). However, consumers also exhibited a “green” halo effect for eco-friendly cleaning products by rating the perceived risk for these products lower than for the corresponding regular cleaning products. This offers important implications for further research and policy, as risk perception was also the most important predictor of self-reported behaviour within this study.

Interested consumers\u2019 awareness of harmful chemicals in everyday products

BackgroundEveryday products can contain a multitude of harmful substances unnoticed by most consumers, because established risk communication channels reach only part of the society. The question is, whether at least interested and informed consumers are able to use risk communication tools and assess harmful chemicals in products.ResultsAn online survey investigated the awareness of 1030 consumers on harmful substances in everyday items. Participating consumers’ education level, knowledge in chemistry, and motivation were above society’s average. Although a large number of responses showed that survey participants were familiar with several aspects of the issue, the results revealed that knowledge in chemistry helped, but was not enough. Many participants assumed that products with an eco-label, natural personal care products, products without hazard pictograms or products produced in the European Union would not contain harmful substances. Most participants indicated to use hazard pictograms, information on the packaging, reports in the media, and environmental and consumer organizations as information sources, while information by authorities and manufacturers were not named frequently and did not receive high confidence. Smartphone applications were not indicated by many participants as information sources. The information sources most trusted were environmental and consumer organizations, hazard pictograms, and lists of ingredients on the containers. The declared confidence in certain risk communication instruments did not always correspond to the use frequencies indicated. Nearly all participants considered legislators as responsible for the reduction of harmful substances in consumer products.ConclusionsMisconceptions about harmful substances in products can be dangerous for the personal health and the environment. The survey indicates that motivation, educational level, and chemical expertise do not automatically provide an appropriate understanding of harmful substances in products. If well-informed consumers are not sufficiently capable to use risk information elements as revealed in this study, then this will be even more the case for the general public. Consumer awareness should be stipulated by an improved information strategy about chemical risks in consumer products with an extensive participation of the target groups and by more efforts by authorities and manufactures to build trust and to provide easily understandable information.

Comprehension of hazard pictograms of chemical products among cleaning workers

To assess the comprehension among cleaning workers of the hazard pictograms as defined by the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) of the United Nations, concerning the classification, labeling and packaging of substances and mixtures. A sample of 118 workers was surveyed on their perception of the GHS hazard pictograms. Comprehensibility was measured by the percentage of correct answers and the degree to which they reflected International Organization for Standardization and American National Standards Institute standards for minimum level of comprehension. The influence of different variables to predict comprehension capacity was assessed using a logistic regression model. Three groups of pictograms could be distinguished which were statistically differentiated by their comprehensibility. Pictograms reflecting "acute toxicity" and "flammable", were described correctly by 94% and 95% of the surveyed population, respectively. For pictograms reflecting "systemic toxicity", "corrosive", "warning", "environment" and "explosive" the frequency of correct answers ranged from 48% to 64%, whereas those for pictograms "oxidizing" and "compressed gas" were interpreted correctly by only 7% of respondents. Prognostic factors for poor comprehension included: not being familiar with the pictograms, not having received training on safe use of chemical products, being an immigrant and being 54 years of age or older. Only two pictograms exceeded minimum standards for comprehension. Training, a tool proven to be effective to improve the correct interpretation of danger symbols, should be encouraged, especially in those groups with greater comprehension difficulties.

Comprehension of hazard communication: Effects of pictograms on safety data sheets and labels

IntroductionThe United Nations has proposed the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals to make hazard communication more uniform and to improve comprehension. MethodTwo experiments were conducted to test whether the addition of hazard and precautionary pictograms to safety data sheets and product labels would improve the transfer of information to users compared to safety data sheets and product labels containing text only. Additionally, naïve users, workers, and experts were tested to determine any potential differences among users. ResultsThe effect of adding pictograms to safety data sheets and labels was statistically significant for some conditions, but was not significant across all conditions. One benefit of the addition of pictograms was that the time to respond to the survey questions decreased when the pictograms were present for both the SDS and the labels. GHS format SDS and labels do provide benefits to users, but the system will need further enhancements and modifications to continue to improve the effectiveness of hazard communication. Impact on industryThe final rule to modify the HCS to include the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) for the Classification and Labelling of Chemicals announced by OSHA (2012b) will change the information content of every chemical SDS and label used in commerce. This study suggests that the inclusion of GHS hazard pictograms and precautionary pictograms to SDS and labels may benefit the user.

Obstruktive Atemwegserkrankungen als Berufskrankheiten

Obstructive airway diseases, i. e., bronchial asthma and COPD, have a prevalence of about 5 % each in our population. 5 to 25 % of the cases are caused by the impact of hazardous substances in workplace atmospheres. Pathophysiologically and according to legal definitions on occupational diseases, allergic disorders (occupational disease no 4301) have to be differentiated from those of chemically irritative genesis (occupational disease no 4302 and predominantly also no 1315) and from afflictions in coal miners induced by inorganic dust (occupational disease no 4111). At present, hard coal mine dust is still the prevailing noxious agent followed by flour/baking additives, fumes occurring during welding, casting and cutting procedures, and isocyanates. In the majority of cases, the prognosis is not good and depends on the duration of exposure to the causative impact. This emphasises the urgency of early diagnosis and targetted individual prevention. The new international labelling of working materials hazardous to health (GHS; EU: CLP) also refers to inhalative noxae. It replaces the hitherto valid R und S notes by hazard statements (H) and precautionary statements (P) as well as by new hazard pictograms.

Evaluating Hazard Symbols for the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) for Hazard Communication

Sweeping globalization has resulted in unparalleled economic growth, including increased international trade of hazardous chemicals. Fundamental differences between nations trading these materials, including language, literacy rates, cultural values, and technical and governmental infrastructures has created an urgent need for a common system of risk communication to reduce the occurrence of deaths and serious injuries that result from unintended chemical exposures. To accomplish this goal, the United Nations (UN) created the Globally Harmonized System for the Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) in 1992. Unfortunately, there was no requirement for testing of the GHS labeling components, including pictograms intended to depict specific hazards, before their deployment. In Experiment 1, twenty GHS hazard pictograms were subjected to comprehension testing in two non-student samples from the U.S. and Brazil, respectively. In Experiment 2, alternatives for five of the GHS pictograms that were least well understood were created and then re-tested for comprehension. Several of the new pictograms outperformed their “original” GHS counterparts in terms of comprehension and participant preference. Overall, the results of testing showed that only a small portion of the original GHS hazard pictograms reached acceptable levels of comprehension. Therefore, additional systematic work is needed to develop GHS pictogram alternatives that effectively convey safety hazards to a global audience.

The changes in hazard classification and product notification procedures of the new European CLP and Cosmetics Regulations

Introduction. The United Nations Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (UN-GHS) is developed to harmonize the criteria for hazard communication worldwide. The European Regulation on classification, labeling, and packaging of substances and mixtures [CLP Regulation (European Commission, EC) No 1272/2008] will align the existing European Union (EU) legislation to the UN‐GHS. This CLP Regulation entered into force on January 20, 2009, and will, after a transitional period, replace the current rules on classification, labeling, and packaging for supply and use in Europe. Both old and new classifications will exist simultaneously until 2010 for substances and until 2015 for mixtures. Hazard classification. The new hazard classification will introduce new health hazard classes and categories, with associated new hazard pictograms, signal words, Hazard (H)-statements, and Precautionary (P)-statements as labeling elements. Furthermore, the CLP Regulation will affect the notification of product information on hazardous products to poisons information centers (PICs). Product notification procedures. At this moment product notification widely varies in procedures and requirements across EU Member States. Article 45 of the CLP Regulation contains a provision stating that the EC will (by January 20, 2012) review the possibility of harmonizing product notification. The European Association of Poisons Centres and Clinical Toxicologists (EAPCCT) is recognized as an important stakeholder. For cosmetic products, the new Cosmetics Regulation will directly implement a new procedure for electronic cosmetic product notification in all EU Member States. Conclusion. Both the CLP Regulation and the Cosmetics Regulation will develop their own product notification procedure within different time frames. Harmonization of notification procedures for both product groups, especially a common electronic format, would be most effective from a cost-benefit viewpoint and would be welcomed by PICs.

Assessment of the accuracy of material safety data sheets

The United Nations has proposed the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals to make hazard communication more uniform and to improve comprehension.Two experiments were conducted to test whether the addition of hazard and precautionary pictograms to safety data sheets and product labels would improve the transfer of information to users compared to safety data sheets and product labels containing text only. Additionally, naïve users, workers, and experts were tested to determine any potential differences among users.The effect of adding pictograms to safety data sheets and labels was statistically significant for some conditions, but was not significant across all conditions. One benefit of the addition of pictograms was that the time to respond to the survey questions decreased when the pictograms were present for both the SDS and the labels. GHS format SDS and labels do provide benefits to users, but the system will need further enhancements and modifications to continue to improve the effectiveness of hazard communication.The final rule to modify the HCS to include the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) for the Classification and Labelling of Chemicals announced by OSHA (2012b) will change the information content of every chemical SDS and label used in commerce. This study suggests that the inclusion of GHS hazard pictograms and precautionary pictograms to SDS and labels may benefit the user.