GHS - the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals - provides a comprehensive standard for the classification of chemical hazards and communication of information on labels and safety data sheets (SDSs). It is being adopted in Canada, the United States, Mexico and world-wide. Implemetation of GHS in Canada and the United States will require the revision of legislation at the federal level and in Canadian provinces and territories. In addition to changes in labor legislation, there will also be changes to requirements for pesticides, consumer products, and products during transport. All these changes are being carefully harmonized to the greatest extent possible through extensive consultation internationally and intranationally. GHS implementation will have significant impacts on manufacturers and suppliers of chemical products and, subsequently, on users of hazardous products. This roundtable will offer perspectives on the GHS implementation process and its impact. Emphasis will be on the health and safety impact in workplaces and the measures that employers and IH specialists can take to prepare for GHS implementation.
• WHMIS Meets GHS: Resources and Good Practices. L. Davison, CCOHS, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
• WHMIS After GHS - Perspective of a Provincial Regulator. D. Nikkel, Government of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
• OSHA's perspective on the GHS and Its Impact on the Hazard Communication Standard. M. O'Donnell, OSHA, Washington, DC.
• GHS Implementation Planning at Canada's National WHMIS Office. D.A. Bideshi, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
• GHS Implementation in Canada: Labour Perspective. L. Stoffman, United Food and Commercial Workers Union, Burnaby, BC, Canada.
• Downstream Users Perspective on the Implementation of GHS. S. Coombs, Canadian Consumer Specialty Products Association, Ottawa, ON, Canada.