Appendix A to 1910.1200 is Health Hazard Criteria.  There are (my count) 11 hazard classes in Health Hazards.  Each class (e.g., acute toxicity) is divided into one or more hazard categories.  Acute toxicity ranges from Category 1 (most toxic, oral LD 50 of < 5 mg/kg bodyweight) to Category 4 (least toxic, oral LD 50 of > 300 to < 2000 mg/ kg bodyweight).  The complete description of acute toxicity is in Table A.1.1.  Specific Target Organ Toxicity (STOT) have two types – STOT Single Exposure and STOT Repeated Exposure.  STOT- SE has three categories  while STOT- RE has two categories.  See Sections A.8, STOT-SE and A.9, STOT-RE.

It seems to me the biggest difference between NFPA/HMIS and GHS rankings is the order.  In NFPA/HMIS, little numbers (0 and 1) were “little” hazards.  In GHS, little numbers (1) are the most severe or “biggest” hazards and big numbers (3 and 4) and “little” hazards. 

Good afternoon,

We came across a different problem with GHS ratings within the past 3 months.  I have two SDS from a large vendor that has the GHS classification numbers reversed.  Their 2011 version listed the acute toxicity as a category 4 (which is incorrect).  Their 2012 revision is correct with a category rating of 1.  Just something else to keep an eye on although I have not seen a second case of reversed GHS ratings.

Bob

Robert Vassallo

Manager, Environmental Health and Safety

Momenta Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

675 West Kendall Street

320 Bent Street

Cambridge, MA 02142

617-395-2831 (d)

617-206-8360 (c)

617-621-0431 (f)

bvassallo**At_Symbol_Here**momentapharma.com

All,

Welcome to the world of the GHS clashing with the NFPA.  This is an illustration of what we will all experience for a long period of time to come:  the “inverted” nature of the NFPA and GSH rating systems.  The episode below almost certainly refers to an NFPA fire rating of 4 – the highest (most dangerous) level in their 0-4 rating system.

As we are coming to learn about the GHS, their rating system has “1” as the most hazardous rating, and larger numbers are less hazardous.  But, the system will have different “end point values” for the most hazardous category for different kinds of hazards.  Thus, Flammable Gases will be 1-2, but Acute Toxicity is 1-5.  Reproductive Toxicity is 1A, 1B, and 2.  And Organic Peroxides are A-G.  Wow.

This is all explained at:  http://www.osha.gov/dsg/hazcom/ghs.html  and nicely synopsized in one of my favorite books (!) in Table 3.2.1.1 on page 3-27 in “Laboratory Safety for Chemistry Students,”  Hill and Finster, Wiley, 2010.  

Dave

Here’s a tidbit from today’s “Chemical Safety Headlines from Google:”

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FIRE CAUSES MINOR EXPLOSIONS AT DISTRIBUTING COMPANY http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/story/21975892/2013/04/15/fire-causes-minor-explosions-at-distributing-company

Tags: us_AZ, industrial, explosion, response, aerosol

PHOENIX -

A shipping container caught fire at a distributing company near Grande Avenue and McDowell Road on Sunday night.

According to Phoenix Fire Department, minor explosions occurred after a Conex box outside Star Distributing Company caught fire.

A Conex box is a sturdy container commonly used on trains and at some businesses.

Placards on the outside of the box read that whatever was inside had a level four hazardous threat, the highest level possible.

Crews were able to quickly contain the fire. They used saws to cut holes into the box and found it was full of aerosol cans.

Phoenix Fire Cpt. Jonathan Jacobs says the fire caused the cans to heat up and explode.

The auto parts distributing company is located in a primarily industrial area and no homes were threatened.

-----------------------

From the images and news video on the website, it’s an NFPA placard.  Even news media are accustomed to the current NFPA placarding scheme.  It’ll be interesting if NFPA flips their numbering scheme.

Debbie M. Decker, CCHO

Safety Manager

Department of Chemistry

University of California, Davis

1 Shields Ave.

Davis, CA  95616

(530)754-7964

(530)304-6728

dmdecker**At_Symbol_Here**ucdavis.edu

Birkett's hypothesis: "Any chemical reaction

that proceeds smoothly under normal conditions,

can proceed violently in the presence of an idiot."

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