Skip to content 
- Home
- GHS
GHS
What is GHS?
GHS stands for the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals. It is an international standard developed to ensure consistent classification, labeling, and communication of chemical hazards worldwide.
The GHS system aims to:
Identify and classify chemical hazards (physical, health, and environmental)
Standardize the structure and content of labels and Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
Improve safety and reduce confusion by ensuring the same hazard information is presented consistently across countries and industries
How is GHS Organized?
GHS categorizes hazards into three main groups, each with multiple classes and categories:
Physical Hazards
(e.g., flammability, explosiveness, reactivity)Health Hazards
(e.g., toxicity, carcinogenicity, skin or eye irritation)Environmental Hazards
(e.g., aquatic toxicity)
Each class has detailed criteria to determine the degree or severity of the hazard, helping users understand the level of risk involved in handling a substance.
What is a Designated Substance?
Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), a designated substance refers to a biological, chemical, or physical agent that has been prescribed as hazardous and whose exposure is regulated, limited, or controlled in the workplace.
Exposure includes contact through:
Skin absorption
Ingestion
Inhalation
These substances are recognized for posing significant health risks and must be carefully managed through workplace controls and procedures.
Examples of Designated Substances:
Arsenic
Asbestos
Benzene
Coke Oven Emissions
Ethylene Oxide
Isocyanates
Lead
Mercury
Silica
Vinyl Chloride
Proper training, hazard communication, and control measures are required by law when working with or near these substances.
