All Glossary

GHS Safety Data Sheets

The Globally Harmonized System (GHS) of classifying and labelling chemicals presents material hazard information in a 16-section user-friendly data sheet.

Key phrases linking here: ghs safety data sheets, ghs safety data sheet - Learn more

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The UN Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) addresses the real danger for human health and the environment in the production, handling, transport and use of the great variety of chemicals in available on earth today. The system has undergone revisions since 2005 (as of 2023 we are at revision 10 with another coming in 2025). The system requires that material safety data be presented in a consistent user-friendly, 16-section format.

While the processed minerals and ceramic materials used in ceramics are not really 'chemicals' in the sense that we normally think, many materials do present very real dangers and are thus regulated. The GHS system is being adopted by many countries. Canada has aligned its WHMIS (Workers Hazardous Material Information System) with GHS based on the federal legislation – the amended Hazardous Products Act and the new Hazardous Products Regulations (HPR). In the US, OSHA enforces the Hazard Communication Standard, it requires providing SDS (Safety Data Sheets) which align with GHS (however they are not enforcing the content of sections 12 through 15).

Related Information

Generating GHS Safety Data Sheets Automatically

The trade in chemicals, many of which present hazards in use and handling, is global. The hazards are thus global and it has been recognized that an internationally-harmonized approach to their classification, labelling and safety data sheet formats is needed. The "Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS)" not only addresses this need but has become an important enabler for trade. At digitalfire.com we have long provided a database of ceramic materials and tools to search and use them digitally on both the chemical and physical level. Since ceramic materials divide into relatively few hazard categories we have been able to develop code coupled with a system of templates that enables suppliers to generate safety data sheets customized to their products and with their branding.

The sheets shown here are an example. These products are similar enough that they can share the same template. These can be accessed at https://plainsmanclays.com/index.php?menupath=38
The URLs of each sheet are the same, they look like this:
https://plainsmanclays.com/data/sds.php?product=xxxx
This page at their website acts as a dispatcher, passing a product code and template to an SDS generator at Insight-live.com (along with various variables to override values in the default sheet).

This project has been on hold for some time - but as of 2024 we are starting a new initiative that will enable Insight-live group account subscribers to define SDSs (choosing templates, specifying override data and uploading logos). We will also be looking for partners to help generate templates and do translation.

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