The Use of Hazard and Precautionary Symbols on GHS Safety Data Sheets

Abstract

The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) has not been adopted by OSHA, but it has the potential to impact the format of every safety data sheet (SDS) used in commerce today. This preliminary investigation attempts to investigate the impact of the use of hazard and precautionary symbols on SDS. Participants were able to refer to a SDS, either with or without hazard and precautionary symbols depending on the trial, to assist them in completing an on-line questionnaire. The presence of the precautionary symbols was significant for one pair of SDS, but there were no significant differences found between questionnaire scores for SDS with hazard symbols and SDS with no symbols or the other pair of SDS with precautionary symbols. The participants correctly responded to an average of 72% of the material on the survey. Participants self-reported they referred to the SDS 66% of the time to respond to seven yes/no questions.