ABSTRACT
Introduction ............................................................................................................ 172 Why was the GHS Developed and Why Is It Important? ...................................... 173 History of the GHS ................................................................................................ 174 International Context on the GHS .......................................................................... 175 The GHS Purple Book ........................................................................................... 176 The Scope of the GHS ........................................................................................... 176 GHS Classižcation ................................................................................................. 178
Physical Hazards ............................................................................................... 178 Health Hazards .................................................................................................. 178 Environmental Hazards ..................................................................................... 178 GHS and Classižcation of Mixtures ................................................................. 179
GHS Hazard Communication ................................................................................ 179 GHS Labels ....................................................................................................... 179 GHS Safety Data Sheets.................................................................................... 180 Product Life Cycle and Application of the GHS ............................................... 181 Target Audiences ............................................................................................... 181
Implementing the GHS .......................................................................................... 181 Building Block Approach .................................................................................. 181
Chemicals play an integral part of our daily lives and are a major component of our economy. The role of chemicals in international trade continues to grow, as globalization expands its reach and complexity. While chemicals can greatly enhance our quality of life, in the absence of effective management measures, they also have the potential to harm us and our environment. To protect human health and the environment, at every point in the chemical life cycle-in production, storage, transport, and consumption, we must make a concerted effort to manage chemicals in a sound and responsible way. This includes communicating information on chemical hazards, and their safe handling and use through consistent and comprehensible means, so that people can take the necessary actions to protect themselves, and to prevent adverse release of chemicals into the environment.
