From: Kim Gates <kim.gates**At_Symbol_Here**STONYBROOK.EDU>
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] GHS and the news
Date: April 17, 2013 3:12:02 PM EDT
Reply-To: DCHAS-L <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU>
Message-ID: <7AB8F8BFE46C5446902F26C10EBF4AEA514446F3**At_Symbol_Here**Mailbox1.wittenberg.edu>


Many parts of 1910.106 will also be changing because of the GHS updates. the tables on max. allowable will change. There will be no more "combustible liquid". If you have flammable liquids in storage or even incidental to your work, you need to review the new changes! http://www.osha.gov/FedReg_osha_pdf/FED20120326.pdf


Kim Gates
Laboratory Safety Specialist
Environmental Health & Safety
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, NY 11794-6200
Kim.Gates**At_Symbol_Here**stonybrook.edu
631-632-3032
FAX: 631-632-9683
EH&S Web site: http://www.stonybrook.edu/ehs/lab/

Please note my name and email have changed.


On Wed, Apr 17, 2013 at 1:43 PM, David C.. Finster <dfinster**At_Symbol_Here**wittenberg.edu> wrote:

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 =96 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

David C. Finster
Professor, Department of Chemistry
University Chemical Hygiene Officer
Wittenberg University
937-327-6441
http://userpages.wittenberg.edu/dfinster/index.html

From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU] On Behalf Of Debbie M. Decker
Sent: Wednesday, April 17, 2013 11:48 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: [DCHAS-L] GHS and the news

Here's a tidbit from today's "Chemical Safety Headlines from Google:"

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

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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