I'm a member of NFPA and vote on a few standards, but not this one. But I have NEVER liked this system for users. It is fine for hazmat workers mopping up a spill on the highway for immediate information. But users need something more sophisticated, and this GHS one is better. combined with the pictograms and proscribed warning phrases, it is more informative. So I'm teaching it. I admit our people have fewer technical issues than your lab people, but it works for me.
Monona Rossol, M.S., M.F.A., Industrial Hygienist
President: Arts, Crafts & Theater Safety, Inc.
Safety Officer: Local USA829, IATSE
181 Thompson St., #23
New York, NY 10012 212-777-0062
-----Original Message-----
From: Allen Niemi <anniemi**At_Symbol_Here**MTU.EDU>
To: DCHAS-L <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU>
Sent: Wed, Apr 17, 2013 4:43 pm
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] GHS
Like some others we have not tackled the training yet and I'd be interested in some suggestions on how we would keep the lab workers from finding out about the conflict and becoming confused? Do we say, continue to use the NFPA (or whatever) system and ignore the GHS numbers on the SDS?
Al
On Wed, Apr 17, 2013 at 4:14 PM, Ralph B. Stuart <rstuart**At_Symbol_Here**cornell.edu> wrote:
> How is anyone tackling the issue of NFPA and other ranking numbers for flammability, toxicity, etc. vs GHS?
I gave a presentation on this topic yesterday to other health and safety professionals where this question came up. My answer agreed with Kent that the numbering system within GHS does not have to be directly used by the person working with the chemical, and I would prefer to avoid discussing with lab workers.
This is particularly a problem in labs because the conflict in the numbering system is not only with NFPA; biosafety and laser safety numbering systems go from 1 to 4 in increasing the hazard level, and if we say chemicals go in one direction and other hazards in the other, the audience is likely to become frustrated and confused.
Cent. Cent.
- Ralph
Ralph Stuart CIH
Chemical Hygiene Officer
Department of Environmental Health and Safety
Cornell University
rstuart**At_Symbol_Here**cornell.edu
--
Allen Niemi, PhD
Director
Occupational Safety and Health Services
Room 322 Lakeshore Center
Michigan Technological University
Phone: 906-487-2118
Fax: 906-487-3048