From: "Casparian, Armen" <caspariana**At_Symbol_Here**WIT.EDU>
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] GHS and chemical storage
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2013 16:43:20 +0000
Reply-To: DCHAS-L <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU>
Message-ID: 34A942B15A329D46820651CB2BA02CAD44AACA25**At_Symbol_Here**EXMBX2.wit.private
In-Reply-To <5564F9EDC11C09468EE5DAF02B5CB30F3FACBFA9**At_Symbol_Here**BY2PRD0410MB376.namprd04.prod.outlook.com>


I think this is the point I was trying to get at, especially when one is trying to inventory and store a chemical.  The user of a chemical must read and understand the  (M)SDS and be prepared to address all of the hazards associated with this chemical.  A chemical may/should have multiple pictograms on its label to warn the user, and that’s all the more reason to pay careful attention to how this chemical will be used, stored, and disposed of.

 

Armen

 

Armen S. Casparian

Professor, Dept. of Sciences

Wentworth Institute of Technology

Boston, MA 02115

 

Mobile Home of “The Law of Unintended Consequences.”

 

Law of Unknown Origin: “There will always be more questions than answers.”

 

From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU] On Behalf Of Ralph B. Stuart
Sent: Wednesday, July 24, 2013 10:02 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] GHS and chemical storage

 

> Maybe there isn’t an order and the user has to be aware that the chemical has multiple, simultaneous hazards

 

There are various categories with a specific hazard class (for example, 1-4 for flammable liquids), but it doesn't seem reasonable that they were intended to compare the degree of hazard associated with a specific pictogram, since the units of the associated hazards are entirely different. So, I don't think the fact that a chemical is a Class 3 flammable is more or less important than it being a Class 2 carcinogen. It depends on the scenario you're evaluating as well as the chemical…

 

- Ralph

 

Ralph Stuart CIH

Chemical Hygiene Officer

Department of Environmental Health and Safety

Cornell University

 

rstuart**At_Symbol_Here**cornell.edu

 

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