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Wednesday, April 29, 2015
CHEMSAFETY NEWSLETTER VOL.5 2015: Are You Ready for C-REACH.
Introduction to Dangerous Goods Regulations
The UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods Model Regulations (TDG Model Regulations, also called UN Orange Book) is a guidance document developed by the United Nations to uniform the development of national and international regulations governing the various modes of transport of dangerous goods (by air, by road and by sea). Most of dangerous goods regulations such as IMDG Code, IATA and other national regulations are developed based on this Model Regulations. .
General Principles for the Transport of Dangerous Goods (TDG)
No person may offer or accept dangerous goods for transport unless those goods are properly classified, packaged, marked, labelled, placarded, described and certificated on a transport document. Persons engaged in the transport of dangerous goods shall be trained first.
Classification of Dangerous Goods & Hazard Symbols
Substances (including substances and mixtures), and articles are assigned to one of nine classes. Some of the classes are divided into divisions, e.g., Class 1, while others are not e.g., Class 3. The nine classes are:
- Class 1 Explosives
- Class 2 Gases
- Class 3 Flammable Liquids
- Class 4 Flammable solids; substances liable to spontaneous combustion; substances which, in contact with water, emit flammable gases
- Class 5 Oxidizing substances and organic peroxides
- Class 6 Toxic and Infectious substances
- Class 7 Radioactive material
- Class 8 Corrosive substances
- Class 9 Miscellaneous dangerous substances and articles, including environmentally hazardous substances
The picture below shows hazard symbols for Class 4 dangerous goods. You can download all hazard symbols for all 9 hazard classes above by clicking the picture below.
UN Number, Proper Shipping Name and Packing Group
Dangerous goods are assigned four-digit UN numbers and proper shipping names according to their hazard classification and composition. Several examples are given below:
- Example 1: UN 1090 ACETONE
- Example 2: UN 1993 FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS, N.O.S.
Selecting a correct propper shipping name is not easy. More info about how to assign a correct proper shipping name can be found here.
Dangerous goods (excluding articles) are further divided into packing groups (although some classes do not have packing groups, i.e. Class 2, Division 6.2 and Class 7) in accordance with the degree of danger they present:
- Packing Group I: high danger
- Packing Group II: medium danger
- Packing Group III: low danger
Only UN-approved packages are allowed to be used for packaging transported dangerous goods. UN-approved packages are packages that have passed specific performance tests and certified by authorities or qualified labs. There will be UN specification markings on UN certified packages (please refer to marking and labelling part).
Understanding Dangerous Goods List
The UN Dangerous Goods List in Chapter 3.2 of the Model Regulations lists the proper shipping names and UN numbers of substances most commonly transported. The picture below is an example of several entries in the Dangerous Goods list.
The dangerous goods list includes lots of useful information such as proper shipping name, hazard class, packing group and packaging instructions. More info about how to understand and download this list, please click here.
Marking & Labelling of Dangerous Goods Package
Dangerous goods packages must be marked and labelled before they are assigned for shipment. The differences between marking and labelling under TDG are listed as below:
- Marking: mainly refers to UN number, proper shipping names, UN specification marks and other markings if applicable(i.e. orientation arrows, environmental hazardous substances mark for UN 3077 and UN 3082 and excepted quantities mark);
- Labelling: mainly means hazard symbols (and handling labels) displayed on small means of packages (usually less than 450 liters) ;
The picture below shows how a dangerous goods package should be marked and labelled.
Limited Quantity and Excepted Quantity
Selected dangerous goods packed in small quantities (limited quantity) or very small volumes (excepted quantity) pose a lesser risk in transport than do the same goods packed in larger volumes. Thus they qualify for some relief from robust packaging requirements provided that they are packed and marked properly. This could save considerable packaging costs.
More info about limited quantities and excepted quantities can be found here.
Packing Instructions
The Packing Instructions consist of a small number of general instructions supplemented by a limited number of more specific instructions for particularly hazardous or specialized dangerous goods. The Packing Instructions are primarily intended for the person preparing the package for consignment. It can be found in the column 8 of the Dangerous Goods List.
The picture bellows shows the packing instructions for P001:
There are also packing instructions for ISO containers and tanks for different classes of dangerous goods. More info about packing instructions can be found here.
Placarding of Cargo Transport Units
Placards are affixed to the exterior surface of cargo transport units to provide a warning to other people and vehicles. The minimum dimension is 250mm x 250mm. Both hazard symbols and UN numbers shall be placarded (see examples below). Proper shipping name is not required.
Note: a cargo transport unit containing environmentally hazardous substances classified under UN 3077 and UN 3082 needs to be marked with the following environmentally hazardous substance mark. Additional marking is also required for dangerous goods transported at an elevated temperature.
Documentation for Dangerous Goods
Whenever dangerous goods are offered for transport, a dangerous goods transport document shall also be provided conveying basic hazard information about the dangerous goods to be transported. The following information is required for each of the dangerous goods offered for transport by any mode. Different authorities may consider requiring addition info.
- Consignor, consignee and date;
- Dangerous goods description: UN number, proper shipping name, primary and subsidiary hazard class and division, packing group, and technical names for "N.O.S" and generic entries; empty uncleaned packages, waste, and elevated temperature substances (i.e., MOLTEN) shall also be indicated;
- Total quantity of dangerous goods;
- Additional words: Indication of "limited quantities" or "excepted quantities" or "STABILIZED" or "SALVAGING PACKING" if applicable.
Note: Many consignments of goods are treated with fumigants that pose a risk during transport. Special documentation and warning sign requirements apply in the consignment.
Source: http://www.chemsafetypro.com/Topics/TDG/Introduction_to_the_transport_of_dangerous_goods_TDG.htmMonday, April 27, 2015
CHEMSAFETPRO: K-REACH's New Safety and Labelling Standards for Consumer Products
In April 2015, the Ministry of Environment (MoE) in South Korea issued its Notice No. 2015-41 setting safety and labelling standards for 8 types of products designated as products of risk concern: cleaning agents, synthetic detergents, bleaching agents, fabric softeners, coatings, adhesives (including glues), fragrances, and deodorants. Manufacturers and importers of those household chemicals are required to comply with the new standards from 1 Oct 2015.
K-REACH not only regulates chemical substances but also regulates chemical consumer products. Product containing hazardous chemical substances may require notification while product of risk concern needs to comply with additional safety and labelling standards. The picture below is an overview of product management under K-REACH.
CHEMSAFETYPRO has written an article on helping you understand how those safety and labelling standards work and how to comply with them. http://www.chemsafetypro.com/Topics/Korea/Safety_and_Labelling_Standards_Chemical_Consumer_Product_Korea_REACH.html
K-REACH not only regulates chemical substances but also regulates chemical consumer products. Product containing hazardous chemical substances may require notification while product of risk concern needs to comply with additional safety and labelling standards. The picture below is an overview of product management under K-REACH.
CHEMSAFETYPRO has written an article on helping you understand how those safety and labelling standards work and how to comply with them. http://www.chemsafetypro.com/Topics/Korea/Safety_and_Labelling_Standards_Chemical_Consumer_Product_Korea_REACH.html
Tuesday, April 21, 2015
ChemSafetyPro publishes a free guide on international chemical conventions.
CHEMSAFETYPRO has published a free guide on major international chemical conventions with a focus on their aims, controlled substance list, control measures and their impacts.
Note: You do not need to read all chemical conventions because some of them are not relevant to your business. The table below shows you how to identify which chemical conventions you shall read.
Table of Content
- Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs);
- Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade;
- Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal;
- Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer;
- Minamata Convention on Mercury;
- Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC);
- The United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances;
- ILO’s Chemicals Convention concerning Safety in the use of Chemicals at Work;
- Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM);
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
Newsletter Vol. 5 2015: 4 Changes and 5 Facts about the New Catalogue of Hazardous Chemicals in China
Source: http://www.chemsafetypro.com/
You may have already heard a lot of
interpretations of the new Catalogue of Hazardous Chemicals in China recently.
If you are still confused and would like to know more, you are encouraged to
spend a few minutes reading our version.
More News & Updates in This Newsletter
How Are Existing Chemicals Regulated by Types and Lists in China?
13 April 2015
If you think that having all your substances listed on IECSC means compliance with Chinese chemical regulations, then you are wrong. Lots of existing chemicals such as hazardous chemicals, chemical weapons precursors and drug precursor chemicals are also subject to registrations, reporting and production, import and export control. Read more...
Tips on Searching Japan ENCS
8 April 2015
If you find it difficult to search the Japan existing chemical substance inventory ENCS, you may get some tips here.
Original Report: A Comparison of Global GHS Label Size Requirements 2015
24 March 2015
Many countries have set minimum GHS label size requirements for chemical packages with different packaging capacities. Some countries have even set additional requirements on GHS pictogram size and even font size. Read more...
GHS Quiz Result Summary & Some Clarifications
24 March 2015
Over 300 people have taken our GHS quiz in the past month. Less than 5% of people have scored more than 80%. Less than 20% of people have scored more than 60%.
If you failed in this quiz, please do not get disappointed. Some questions are designed to be confusing to make this quiz difficult. You are the GHS experts as long as you can find some arguments to support your choices.
Most of participants did not answer the 2nd question correctly. Just to clarify, some physical tests are still needed for mixture classification.
"Did you know that we are a mobile device friendly website? Please feel free to click all links above on your phone or tablets to take a look." - Mr Little Pro.
Monday, April 13, 2015
A Comparison of Global GHS Label Size Requirements
Many countries have set minimum GHS label size requirements for chemical packages with different packaging capacities. Some countries have even set additional requirements on GHS label pictogram size and even font size. In this article, we will give you a brief summary of global GHS label size requirements, including pictogram size requirement and font size requirement.
General Principles
Before we move into each country or region's GHS label and pictogram size requirements, there are a few general principles you need to be aware of:
- The minimum size of a GHS label shall be related to package sizes;
- The minimum size of a pictogram on a GHS label shall be related to the minimum size of the GHS label;
- The minimum size of a GHS pictogram on a GHS label is usually much smaller than a transport pictogram (100mm x 100mm);
- A GHS label must be legible and prominently displayed;
Europe, Switzerland, Singapore & Malaysia
- Minimum GHS label size and pictogram size depend on package capacities;
- Malaysia: minimum font size is 7 points.
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