You are on page 1of 23

A Great Workforce A Great Workplace

Hazard Communication in Chemical Safety Management


Ang Zhixian
Ministry of Manpower
30th Sep 2010
WSH Council Forum Industrial Chemical Safety

A Great Workforce A Great Workplace

2010 Government of Singapore

A Great Workforce A Great Workplace

Scope

Chemi cal Ma nagement


Ha za rd Communication- GHS
Legi slation
Ca s e Study
Gui dance Ma terials

2010 Government of Singapore

A Great Workforce A Great Workplace

Key Components of InIn -plant Chemical Management


1. Policy & strategy
2. Procurement & register
3. Hazard communication
Labeling & warning notices
Safety Data Sheet & training
4. Risk assessments and control
Storage
Transportation
Use & handling
Disposal
5. Hygiene & Medical Surveillance
6. Personal protection
7. Emergency planning & first-aid
8. Programme review & audit

Gl obally Ha rmonized
Sys tem of Cl assification
a nd La belling of
Chemi cals (GHS)

2010 Government of Singapore

A Great Workforce A Great Workplace

What is GHS?
GHS is the abbreviation for Globally Harmonized System of Classification
and Labelling of Chem icals. It is developed by the United Nations to classify
chemicals by types of haz ard and proposes harmonized hazard
communication e lements, including labels and safety data sheets, to
enhance the protection of human health and the environment during the
handling, transport and use of these chemicals.
The GHS als o provides a basis for harmonization of rules and regulations
on chemicals at national, regional and worldwide level, an important factor
also for trade facilitation.
http://www.unece.org/trans/danger/publi/ghs/ghs_w
elcome_e.html

UNECE

United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

2010 Government of Singapore

A Great Workforce A Great Workplace

Benefits of GHS
Enhance the protection of human heal th and the
envi ronment by providing an internati onall y comprehensi ve
s ys tem for hazard communication;
Provide a recognized fra mework for those countries
wi thout a n existing system;
Reduce the need for testing and evaluation of chemicals;
Fa cilitate interna tional tra de in chemi cals by ha ving thei r
ha zards properl y identified and assessed on an
i nternational basis.

2010 Government of Singapore

A Great Workforce A Great Workplace

National GHS Implementation Task Force


Ministry of Manpower [MOM]
Singapore Chemistry Industry Council [SCIC]

National Environment Agency [NEA]


Singapore Civil Defence Force [SCDF]
Singapore Police Force [SPF]
Maritime and Port Authority [MPA]
Ministry of Trade and Industry [MIT]
Standards Productivity and Innovation Board [SPRING]
Health Science Authority [HSA]
Singapore Institution of Safety Officers [SISO]
Workplace Safety and Health Council [WSHC]

2010 Government of Singapore

A Great Workforce A Great Workplace

Classification of Hazards
Hazard Classification
 GHS classifies chem icals into three main classes: Physical Hazards,
Health Hazards and Environmental Hazards.
 Each hazard class is divide d into different sub-classes based on the
intrinsic hazardous properties of the chemicals.
 Each hazard sub-class is further divided into hazard categories
depending on the severity of the hazard. A lowe r category numbe r
indicates a more hazardous nature of the chemical and vice versa..
 Each hazard class or category is known as a building block in GHS.

2010 Government of Singapore

A Great Workforce A Great Workplace

Endorsement of GHS
APEC Chemical Dialogue
.Ministers encouraged APEC members to work towards
implementing the globally harmonized system (GHS) on
hazard classification and labelling of chemicals and safety
data sheets by 2006
2006,, including through capacity building
building .
14th APEC Ministerial Meeting, 2002

2010 Government of Singapore

A Great Workforce A Great Workplace

Implementation of GHS in Singapore


Multi--agency governmentMulti
government-industry collaboration in a
taskforce on GHS implementation

Co
Co--chaired by

Ministry of Manpower (MOM)

Co
Co--chaired by
Singapore Chemistry
Industry Council (SCIC)

2010 Government of Singapore

A Great Workforce A Great Workplace

Singapores GHS Hazard Classes

2010 Government of Singapore

10

A Great Workforce A Great Workplace

UNs Hazard Classification (Explosives)

2010 Government of Singapore

11

A Great Workforce A Great Workplace

Singapores GHS Hazard Classes

2010 Government of Singapore

12

A Great Workforce A Great Workplace

GHS Pictograms and Hazard Classes

2010 Government of Singapore

13

A Great Workforce A Great Workplace

Workplace Safety and Health Act


Duties of Employers
Section 12 (1)
It shall be the duty of eve ry employe r to take, so far as is reasonably
practicable, such measures as are necessary to ensure the safety and health
of his employees at work.
Section 12 (3)
For the purposes of subsection (1), the measures necessary to ensure the
safety and health of persons at work include
(e) ensuring that the person at work has adequate instruction, information,
training and supervision as is necessary for that person to perform his
work.

2010 Government of Singapore

14

A Great Workforce A Great Workplace

Workplace Safety and Health Act


Duties of manufacturers and suppliers for machinery, equipment
or hazardous substances used at work
Section 16 (1)
Subject to this section, it shall be the duty of any person who manufactures or supplies
any hazardous substance for use at work to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable(a) that the information about the safe use of the hazardous substance is available to
any person to whom the hazardous substance is supplied for use at work:
(i) the precautions (if any) to be taken for the proper use and maintenance of
hazardous substance;
(ii) the health hazards (if any) associated with hazardous substance;
(iii) the information relating to and the results of any tests or examinations of the
hazardous substances
(b) that the hazardous substance is safe, and without much risk to health, when properly
used;
(c) that the hazardous substance is tested and examined so as to comply with the
obligation imposed by paragraph (b)
2010 Government of Singapore

15

A Great Workforce A Great Workplace

Part II of the Fifth Schedule of the WSHA


Hazardous Substances
1.

Corrosive substances

11. Toxic substances

2.

Flammable substances

12. Mutagens

3.

Explosives

13. Carcinogens

4.

Oxidising substances

14. Teratogens

5.

Pyrophoric substances

15. Sensitizers

6.

Gases under pressure

16. Irritants

7.

Organic peroxides

8.

Self-heating substances

17. Substances hazardous to


aquatic environment

9.

Self-reactive substances

10. Substances which in contact with


water, emit flammable gases
2010 Government of Singapore

16

A Great Workforce A Great Workplace

WSH (General Provisions) Regulations


Hazardous substances
Regulation 41(2)
Adequate warning notices in languages understood by all
persons at work in a factory specifying the nature of the
danger of the hazardous substances shall be placed (a) at all entrances to any workroom; and
(b) at appropriate locations,
where the hazardous substances are used or present.

2010 Government of Singapore

17

A Great Workforce A Great Workplace

WSH (General Provisions) Regulations


Hazardous substances
Regulation 41(3)
Persons at work in a factory who are liable to be exposed to
hazardous substances shall be warned of the hazards involved
and the precautionary measures to be taken.

2010 Government of Singapore

18

A Great Workforce A Great Workplace

WSH (General Provisions) Regulations


Warning labels
Regulation 42
It shall be the duty of the occupier of a factory in which there
is any container of hazardous substances to ensure that, so far
as reasonably practicable, every such container is affixed with
one or more labels that
(a) are easily understood by all persons at work in the
factory;
(b)warn of the hazards involved with the hazardous
substance in the container; and
(c) specify the precautionary measures to be taken when
dealing with the hazardous substance in the container.
2010 Government of Singapore

19

A Great Workforce A Great Workplace

The GHS Label


Warning labels (SS586 Part 2)
1. Product Identifier
2. Pictogram
3. Signal Words

*Scanned
image was
taken from
SCICs
Guidebook on
the Globally
Harmonised
System of
Classification
and Labelling
of Chemicals

4. Hazard Statements
5. Precautionary Statements
6. Supplementary Information
7. Supplier Information

2010 Government of Singapore

20

10

A Great Workforce A Great Workplace

The GHS Label


Warning labels (SS586 Part 2)

*Scanned image was


extracted from SCICs
Guidebook on the Globally
Harmonised System of
Classification and Labelling
of Chemicals

2010 Government of Singapore

21

A Great Workforce A Great Workplace

Dimensions of a GHS Label


Warning labels (SS586 Part 2)
Capacity of the package

Dimensions
(in millimeters)

Package capacity 3 litres

If possible,
52 X 74

3 litres < package capacity 50 litres

74 X 105

50 litres < package capacity 500 litres

105 X 148

package capacity > 500 litres

148 X 210

2010 Government of Singapore

22

11

A Great Workforce A Great Workplace

WSH (General Provisions) Regulations


Safety data sheets (SDS)
Regulation 43(1)
Where any hazardous substance is used, handled or stored in a
factory, it shall be the duty of the occupier of the factory to
(a) obtain a safety data sheet of the substance;
(b) assess the information in the safety data sheet and take
precautionary measures to ensure the safe use of the
substance;
(c) make available the safety data sheet to all persons at work
in the factory who are liable to be exposed to the substance.

2010 Government of Singapore

23

A Great Workforce A Great Workplace

WSH (General Provisions) Regulations


Safety data sheets (SDS)
Regulation 43(2)
Where any hazardous substance is sold to any person for use
in a factory, the seller or any agent of the seller who caused
or procured the sale shall provide the buyer with a safety
data sheet for the substance, giving accurate and adequate
information on the substance, including as far as is
reasonably practicable -

2010 Government of Singapore

24

12

A Great Workforce A Great Workplace

WSH (General Provisions) Regulations


Safety data sheets (SDS)
Regulation 43(2) (continued)
(a) information on the identity of the substance;
(b) the safety and health hazard information pertaining to the substance;
(c) information on the composition of and ingredients used in the
substance;
(d) information on first-aid measures;
(e) information on fire-fighting measures;
(f) information on accidental release measures;
(g) information on the precautions to be taken for safe handling and
storage;
(h), (i) (p)
2010 Government of Singapore

25

A Great Workforce A Great Workplace

SS586 Part 3: Minimum Information for SDS

2010 Government of Singapore

26

13

A Great Workforce A Great Workplace

GHS Transition Period

Phase

Target

GHS focus

Phase 1A
2 yr wef 1 Nov 08
(by end 2010)

Chemical manufacturers /
suppliers

Preparation of GHS, SDS &


labels for containers
containing single chemicals
/substances

Phase 2A
3 yr
(by end 2011)

Users of chemicals

GHS labels for container


containing single chemicals
/substances

Phase 1B
4 yr
(by end 2012)

Chemical manufacturers /
suppliers

Phase 2B
5 yr
(by end 2013)

Users of chemicals

Preparation of GHS, SDS &


label for for containers
containing chemical
mixtures
GHS labels for containers
containing chemical
mixtures
2010 Government of Singapore

27

A Great Workforce A Great Workplace

WSH (Risk Management) Regulations


Provision of information
Regulation 6(1)
In every workplace, the employer, self-employed person and
principal shall take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure
that any person in the workplace who may be exposed to a
risk to his safety and health is informed of
(a) the nature of the risk involved; and
(b) any measure or safe work procedure implemented

2010 Government of Singapore

28

14

A Great Workforce A Great Workplace

Other Regulations
WSH (General Provisions) Regulations





Regulation 5. Ventilation
Regulation 39. Toxic dust, fumes or other contaminants
Regulation 40. Permissible exposure levels of toxic substances
etc

WSH (Risk Management) Regulations


Factories (Medical Examinations) Regulations
WSH (Incident Reporting) Regulations

2010 Government of Singapore

29

A Great Workforce A Great Workplace

Case Study
Prosecution VS Best Chemical (S) Pte Ltd for Providing
Misleading Information in SDS
Charges vs Best Chemical and the MD:
 Contravention of section 16(1)(a) of the WSH Act, failure to ensure that
information about the safe use of the hazardous substance and the long
term health effects of the toxic substances are available in the SDS for
the solvent Trisoh 101.

2010 Government of Singapore

30

15

A Great Workforce A Great Workplace

1996

2001

2010

Fined
S$2000

Fined
S$1500

Charged
and f ined
a total of
S$80k

2010 Government of Singapore

31

A Great Workforce A Great Workplace

Background

Supplier/ Manufacturer
Best Chemical (S) Pte Ltd (BestChem)- manufactures & supplies
Trisoh 101

User:
Shinei International Pte Ltd

User:
Unigold International Pte Ltd

Both companies wrote in to MOM to apply for exemption from


Statutory Medical Examinations for TCE

2010 Government of Singapore

32

16

A Great Workforce A Great Workplace

2010 Government of Singapore

33

A Great Workforce A Great Workplace

2010 Government of Singapore

34

17

A Great Workforce A Great Workplace

2010 Government of Singapore

35

A Great Workforce A Great Workplace

Findings
Problems with SDS
Uncommon synonym for PCE was stated. Literature shows that tertracap is a
synonym of tetrachloroethylene or perchloroethylene (PCE).
Permissible exposure levels provided are inaccurate
Declared ingredients were not found in the chemical, Trisoh 101

PCE is not safer than TCE. Both are Chlorinated hydrocarbons


 CNS impairment
 Toxic effects on the liver & kidneys if exposure is excessive. Possible
carcinogens to human beings.
 Persons exposed to TCE or PCE are required to undergo regular medical
examinations.

Investigations showed that both Unigold & Shinei were deceived by Best
Chemical into believing that Trisoh 101 is a safer substitute for TCE.

2010 Government of Singapore

36

18

A Great Workforce A Great Workplace

Environmental Protection and Management Act (EPMA) &


EPM (Hazardous Substances) Regulations
Hazardous Substances Control
Any person who wishes to:
 import, sell or export
export, any hazardous substance controlled under the EPMA
must obtain a Hazardous Substances Licence.
 purchase, store and/or use any hazardous substance controlled unde r the
EPM (Hazardous Substances) Regulations, must obtain a Hazardous
Substances Permit.
 transport any hazardous substance in quantities exceeding those specified in
Regulations must possess a valid Hazardous Substances Licence before
applying for transport approval.

2010 Government of Singapore

37

A Great Workforce A Great Workplace

Fire Safety Act & Fire Safety (Petroleum & Flammable


Materials) Regulations
Petroleum having flash point below 610 C, diesel, as well as
a list of 237 flammable chemicals and their mixtures
(P&FM) are subjected to SCDF licensing control.
SCDF licence is required to store,
store import and trans port
P&FM above the exemption quantity.

2010 Government of Singapore

38

19

A Great Workforce A Great Workplace

Storage and Transport Requirements for Dangerous Goods


(SS586 Part 1)
Domestic transport of containers or tanks carrying
dangerous goods shall require the display of Emergency
Information Panels containing the following information:





Appropriate dangerous goods class label, and subsidiary risk label if any;
Correct technical name or Proper Shipping Name of the substance;
UN Number of the substance
telephone numbers and names of the emergency response services, i.e SPF and
SCDF; and
 telephone numbers and name of the company or organization domiciled in
Singapore

2010 Government of Singapore

39

A Great Workforce A Great Workplace

Storage and Transport Requirements for Dangerous Goods


(SS586 Part 1)
Every road vehicle containing dangerous goods in excess of
the minimum quantity for the class or classes of dangerous
goods, shall be marked on the front, both sides and rear
with class label or placard if the vehicle does not require the
TEIP.
Transport Activity
Transport units
(Import/ export/ transshipment)
Transport units
(Domestic)
Lorry with chemical
drum/ LPG cylinder

TEIP

DG Placard

Display not required

Display required

Display required

Display not required

Display not required

Display required

2010 Government of Singapore

40

20

A Great Workforce A Great Workplace

Storage and Transport Requirements for Dangerous Goods


(SS586 Part 1)
Storage Emergency Information Panel (SEIP)
 Every all tanks and bulk stores not in a building, the SEIP is to be
posted on or adjacent to the tank or bulk store so that it is visible from
all normal directions of approach.
 For bulk stores within a building or structure, an SEIP is to be posted at
each entrance to the store.

Warning placard for package stores


 At package stores within a building, the warning placards are to be
posted at the main entrance to the building and at every entrance to
that room.
 If DG are not stored in a building or structure, the warning placard is to
be prominently displayed at the designated storage area.

2010 Government of Singapore

41

A Great Workforce A Great Workplace

Storage and Transport Requirements for Dangerous Goods


(SS586 Part 1)
Warning panel for storage in public areas
 Beside the a ppropriate da ngerous goods class label, the subs idiary risk
label if any, the proper shipping name of the dangerous goods stored,
the UN number and emergency contact numbers, the warning pa nel
also includes information to warn the public of the danger of the
substance present.

2010 Government of Singapore

42

21

A Great Workforce A Great Workplace

Guidance materials for GHS on


Hazard Communication
1. Singapore Standards SS 586: 2008 on Specification for Hazard
Communication for Hazardous Chemicals and Dangerous Goods
developed by Spring Singapore
2. Guidebook on GHS of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals by
Singapore Chemical Industry Council Limited (SCIC)
3.

United Nations GHS document can be downloaded from


http://www.unece.org/trans/danger/publi/ghs/ghs_rev02/02
files_e.html

2010 Government of Singapore

43

A Great Workforce A Great Workplace

Guidance materials for GHS on


Hazard Communication
GHS Leaflets
1. Fa ct Sheet
2. Cl a s sification
3. La belling of Chemical Containers
4. Sa fety Datasheet (SDS)

http://www.scic.sg/
http://www.siso.org.
s g/www/

2010 Government of Singapore

44

22

A Great Workforce A Great Workplace

Ang Zhixian
Email: ang_zhixian@mom.gov.sg
Internet Website: www.mom.gov.sg/oshd
2010 Government of Singapore

45

23

You might also like