GHS Labelling Requirements

FSE Best Practice Guidelines

1.

Overview of the GHS requirements for chemical labelling

1

1.1

Labels for hazardous chemicals

1

1.2

Labels for non-hazardous and non-dangerous solutions

3

2

Types of labels

4

2.1

Labels for large containers (≥ 500 mL)

4

2.2

Labels for small containers (< 500 mL)

4

2.2.1

Minimum requirements for labels of small containers of hazardous solutions

4

2.2.2

Minimum requirements for labels of small containers of non-hazardous solutions

5

2.3

Labels for research samples e.g. Synthesised chemicals and nano-particles

7

2.4

Labels for waste

7

3.

Examples/Scenarios/FAQs

8

4.

Printing your chemical labels

9

4.1

In the event that it is all beyond you to get started

9

4.2

The quick and easy way to print labels

9

4.3

The more complicated way to print labels

10

4.4

Printing permanent labels

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1. Overview of the GHS requirements for chemical labelling

Research laboratories within FSE are shared facilities – researchers from a diverse range of research backgrounds share many laboratories within the faculty. Labelling is required so that everyone can clearly tell what all chemicals (solids, liquids or mixtures) are – what is common knowledge to you and your research group might not be common knowledge to others who access the laboratory, including security and emergency services in the event of an incident.

Chemical labelling requirements depend on whether the chemical(s) is/are hazardous or non-hazardous, the volume/mass of the chemical(s) and how long the chemical(s) will remain in the container. Printed labels are required for hazardous and non-hazardous chemical(s) – but common sense should be applied with these labelling rules. There is no expectation for every single microcentrifuge tube, or every column fraction, to have an individual printed label – refer to section 3 (p7) for some examples of what does and does not need to be labelled.

Containers used during preparation of your hazardous chemicals (solids, liquids or mixtures) need to be left clean and free from any hazardous residues. If you feel you may not get around to cleaning up on the day then these containers should be labelled so unknown hazards aren’t lying around.

Section 3 has some FAQ-type questions and answers (p8). Section 4 contains practical guidance on printing.

1.1 Labels for hazardous chemicals

Hazardous chemical of ≥ 500 mL

The WHS Act 2011 regulations and Macquarie University require the following components to be present on a chemical label of a hazardous chemical with a container capacity of 500 mL or more, in accordance to GHS (Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals), as shown in Figure 1. Note that the label must be in English (this is true for ALL chemical labels).

1. The full name of the chemical (abbreviations such as PBS can be used, but the full name of the chemical, as it appears in the SDS, must also be on the label)

2. The concentration/s or proportions of each component in the solution

3. The signal word for the chemical (WARNING or DANGER) in bold and uppercase

4. CAS number, UN number, dangerous goods (DG) class and packing group.

5. GHS hazard pictogram/s corresponding to the chemical hazard class, in colour.

6. Hazard statements in bold and precautionary statements in sentence case, the codes for the hazard and precautionary statements are not necessary.

7. First aid procedures

8. Leak or spill emergency procedures

9. The name, Australian address and business number of the supplier. This will be your lab and contact number if you decanted or produced it.

10. A statement prompting users to refer to the Safety Data Sheet for further information, such as “Additional information is listed in the Safety Data Sheet”

Figure 1: A label for a hazardous chemical that meets all requirements of WHS regulations and Macquarie University.

Some notes about labelling hazardous chemicals

· For any solutions known to degrade over time (e.g. sodium hypochlorite), an expiry date must be included on the label.

· Nothing can be crossed out and corrected with handwriting. For example, if you need a label for 70% ethanol, you can’t just take a label for 20% ethanol, cross out 20% and hand write 70%. You need to edit the label, ensure that the hazard and precautionary statements are correct for the new concentration, and print out the label specifically designed for 70% ethanol.

· Space is limited on labels so do not duplicate information – you don’t need ‘response’ precautionary statements if the first aid procedures are included in the label.

· If multiple hazards exist, the pictogram for the most immediate hazard is displayed first.

· For risk cut off values of solutions please consult http://hcis.safeworkaustralia.gov.au. There are two types of concentration cut offs listed below:

· Specific cut offs, these are based on test data and are not available for all hazardous chemicals, please search for the specific hazardous chemical here (http://hcis.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/HazardousChemical) first, if the chemical does not list the cut off value then see next point.

· Generic cut offs, for any hazardous chemicals for which you could not find a specific cut off concentration please refer to the table hosted here: http://hcis.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/SearchKey#Cut-offs.

· Refer to the NSW Code of Practice for Labelling Workplace Hazardous Chemicals for further details.

Hazardous chemical of container capacity < 500 mL

The information outlined above for samples that are contained within containers that are 500 mL or larger simply may not fit on the label for a smaller container. Options for labelling these are discussed below in section 2.

1.2 Labels for non-hazardous chemicals

Non-hazardous chemicals (solid, liquids or mixtures) of container sizes ≥ 500 mL

Chemicals that are not hazardous according to the SDS must be labelled with a printed label if the substance is not going to be used immediately. Non-hazardous chemicals of container sizes ≥ 500 mL must contain the following:

· The full name of all the chemical components (abbreviations can be used as long as the full name is included somewhere on the label)

· The CAS number of the chemical component

· The concentration of the chemical component (if present as a mixture)

· A declaration that the solution is “NON-HAZARDOUS”

· A statement prompting users to refer to the Safety Data Sheet for further information.

Here is an example of an acceptable label for a non-hazardous chemical:

Sodium chloride (5 M)

CAS 7647-14-5

Non-hazardous

Additional information is listed in the Safety Data Sheets

Figure 2: A label for a non-hazardous chemical of 500 mL or greater. For Epson permanent label printer (100 mm x 65 mm labels).

Some non-hazardous chemicals may contain many components, but since there are no hazard/precautionary statements to fit on the label, it is usually easy to fit in all of the required information for even the most complex mixtures, as shown in Figure 3.

M9 Media

Non-hazardous, Non-dangerous

Additional information is listed in the Safety Data Sheets

Figure 3: A label for a >500 mL non-hazardous chemical with multiple components. For Avery L7165 8UP Laser Shipping Labels.

Non-Hazardous chemicals of container sizes < 500 mL

The information outlined above for containers of 500 mL or larger simply may not fit on the label for a smaller container. Options for labelling these are discussed below.

2. Types of labels

2.1 Labels for large containers (≥500 mL)

All chemicals (solids, liquids, mixtures) with container volumes of 500 mL or more of a hazardous chemical must include all of the label elements listed in section 1.1 (and shown in Figure 1). Non-hazardous chemicals (solids, liquids or mixtures) in containers with volume ≥ 500 mL must contain the label elements listed in section 1.2 if the substance is going to be stored.

2.2 Labels for small containers (< 500 mL)

For small containers it may be unreasonable to include all the components shown in Figure 1. You should always use the largest appropriately sized label for a given container so that you can include as much information as possible. This section describes the minimum requirements for hazardous and non-hazardous chemicals.

2.2.1 Minimum requirements for labels of small containers of hazardous solutions

As a minimum requirement at Macquarie University, labels of hazardous solutions less than 500 mL must have the following:

· The full chemical name as per the SDS (No abbreviations)

· Relevant GHS hazard pictogram/s

· Signal word (eg ‘DANGER’) in bold and uppercase

· The name, Australian address and business telephone number of either the manufacturer or importer.

An example of the minimum requirements for a hazardous chemical label are shown in Figure 4. While acceptable as a bare minimum, it is highly recommended that hazard and precautionary statements be included on small containers labels wherever possible.

Figure 4: This label is acceptable for very small containers upon which no larger labels will fit (for Avery AV952000 21UP Laser Address Labels).

If even the level of information illustrated in Figure 4 cannot be fitted legibly on a label, then see the note on p6.

2.2.2 Minimum requirements for labels of small containers of non-hazardous solutions

For non-hazardous chemicals it is even easier – for containers <500 mL you need to include the elements shown in Figure 5:

· The full name of all the chemical components (not just an abbreviation)

· A declaration that the solution is “NON-HAZARDOUS”

· A statement prompting users to refer to the Safety Data Sheet for further information.

0.1 M Sodium chloride

Non-hazardous

Additional information is listed in the Safety Data Sheets

M9 Media

Non-hazardous

Additional information is listed in the Safety Data Sheets

Figure 5: These labels are acceptable for non-hazardous solutions in small containers (for Avery AV952000 21UP Laser Address Labels)

If you cannot fit the information on a label or you have many samples requiring the same label, then you can put the label on a box or rack as outlined in the Note below. Remember your labelling is not just for you. Anything left unlabelled on a bench may stop emergency services responding to an incident.

NOTE:

It is clearly not practical to prepare labels for very small containers such as microcentrifuge tubes or fraction tubes (<7 mL). If you want to store small containers/tubes, it is perfectly acceptable to place a label on the rack or box that the small containers are stored in (as shown in Fig 4 or 5).

· There is no expectation for you to label every single small tube, as long as the small containers are stored in a properly labelled rack or box. The important point is to be able to identify any content in any tube etc.

· You may handwrite on the small tubes to distinguish them if they are inside a labelled rack/box/container.

· If your handwriting is legible to anyone and your samples are truly non-hazardous, it may be possible to use generic printed label as in Figure 5 in some circumstances, subject to prior approval from your laboratory manager.

2.3 Labels for research samples e.g. Synthesised chemicals and nano-particles

All labels must contain an identifier name e.g.: “functionalised silica”. A general hazard identification has to be applied to these samples such as “synthesised new chemical entities, treat as hazardous”. The label must also contain a laboratory book reference number, name of the person who has made the sample and date. If many vials are present with the same generic description, the hazard identification can be labelled on the outside of a container or rack in which the samples are stored. See figure 6 for an example using: AVERY 938212 45UP WHITE GENERAL USE LABELS (L7156GU). In this instance printing out a whole sheet and legibly hand writing the laboratory book reference number and date is acceptable.

Functionalised silica- New chemical entity

Treat as hazardous

(lab book ref: )

Anthony Gurlica Date : ,

Figure 6: A label acceptable for research samples in 20 mL vials or 15 mL falcon tubes.

Where you suspect that due to functional groups or chemical analysis your research or synthesised chemical can be classified into a GHS class, then you should indicate this classification on the label and label as per the appropriate label size and context.

2.4 Labels for waste

The requirements for waste labelling are the same as for the labelling of any other container – if it is ≥ 500 mL then everything highlighted in Figure 1 must be included. Additionally, you must make sure that the name of disposer and their contact number is included on the label. The dangerous goods class and packing group number should also be included, as the waste will be transported from the university after pick-up by a contractor. A good example of a label for a waste bottle is shown in Figure 7 below. Please refer to the disposal section within the MQ wiki page https://wiki.mq.edu.au/display/healthandsafety/Purchase%2C+storage+and+disposal.

Hazard statement(s)

Highly flammable liquid and vapour.

Harmful if swallowed.

Harmful in contact with skin.

Causes serious eye irritation.

Harmful if inhaled.

Precautionary statement(s)

Keep away from heat/sparks/open flames/hot surfaces. - No smoking.

Keep container tightly closed. P261 Avoid breathing dust/ fume/ gas/ mist/ vapours/ spray.

Wear protective gloves/ eye protection/ face protection.

Class: 3 PG: II

First Aid

In case of skin contact

Wash off with soap and plenty of water. Consult a physician.

If inhaled

If breathed in, move person into fresh air. If not breathing, give artificial respiration. Consult a physician.

If swallowed

Do NOT induce vomiting. Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person. Rinse mouth with water. Consult a physician.

In case of eye contact

Rinse thoroughly with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes and consult a physician.

User: MUCAB (F7B311)

Disposer: Phone:

Date: 8/6/18

HPLC WASTE

UN

CAS

% (v/v)

Acetonitrile

1648

75-05-8

40

Water

-

7732-18-5

40

Methanol

1230

67-56-1

20

Trifluoroacetic Acid

2699

76-05-1

<0.001

DANGER

Spills/Leaks

Contain spillage, and then collect by wet-brushing and place in container for disposal according to local regulations (see section 13). Keep in suitable, closed containers for disposal.

Additional information is listed in the Safety Data Sheet

Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, Balaclava Rd, North Ryde, NSW, 2109.

Figure 7: A label for a waste container, printed on an A4 label sheet and cut to size (Avery L7167)

3. Examples/Scenarios/FAQs

I have just run a size exclusion column and I want to keep all of my fractions. Do I need to print labels for every fraction??

Labelling of every single fraction is not required – you can just use a pen to write the fraction number on each tube and just put a label on the box/rack that the fractions are kept in, provided the fractions are not stored for extended periods of time. If the intention is to keep them longer than 48 hours, they should be transferred into appropriate containers and labelled appropriately.

I need to make up one buffer – in order to make up the buffer I need to make a lot of stock solutions. I am not even going to keep the stock solutions, do I have to label all of the stock solutions?

You only have to label the stock solution that you are going to keep – if you are not going to keep the stocks solutions you do not have to label them. Recall that the motivation is so that someone else coming in to the laboratory will know what is hazardous. If the stock solutions qualify as hazardous then you must also ensure that you clean the containers, as soon as possible, so no hazardous residues remain.

I am making a wide range of variations of M9 Media in order to find the best composition for my cells. I am going to try 3 different concentrations of every ingredient in the media, and test every combination of the media in order to find the best media. It will take forever to prepare and print the labels for those thousands of solutions!!

You do not have to make labels for those thousands of solutions – you can put the label on the box that the solutions are stored in, indicating the range of concentrations of the components. You can do whatever you want to distinguish the different solutions as long as the solutions are stored inside the labelled box (Figure 8).

M9 Media derivatives

Non-hazardous, Non-dangerous

Additional information is listed in the Safety Data Sheets

Figure 8: A label for a collection of non-hazardous chemicals with multiple components at various concentrations. For Avery L7165 8UP Laser Shipping Labels.

4. Printing your chemical labels

Best practice for labelling

You should always use the largest label that is appropriate for a given container so that you can include as much information as possible. Some examples of labels that are suitable for different sized containers are shown in Figures 9 and 10. Three ways to print labels are given below.

DANGER

 

Additional Information is listed in the Safety Data Sheet

 

70% ETHANOL (v/v)

CAS: 64-17-5 UN: 1170 Class: 3 PG: II

Highly flammable liquid and vapour. Keep away from heat/sparks/flames/hot surfaces. Keep container tightly closed.

Chem-Supply Pty Ltd (+61 8 8440 2000)

38-50 Bedford St, Gillman SA 5013 Australia

Figure 9. A good label for a small container (100 – 250 mL), relevant Hazard and Precautionary statements are also included, since there is sufficient space to do so (Avery AV952003 14UP Laser Address Labels).

DANGER

Sigma-Aldrich Pty Ltd

12 Anella Avenue

Castle Hill NSW 2154

Phone: 1800 448 465 Sheet

 

LACTIC ACID

CAS: 50-21-5

Causes skin irritation.Causes serious eye damage.Wash skin thoroughlyafter handling. Wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

Figure 10: A good label for falcon tubes – by clever arrangement of the label Hazard and Precautionary statements can fit on the label (for Avery AV952000 21UP Laser Address Labels).

4.1 In the event that it is all beyond you to get started

Talk to your laboratory managers or the FSE safety coordinator, they will be able to assist you with creating labels.

4.2 The quick and easy way to print labels

Printing labels can be tricky to set up proper alignment on label sheets. The easiest way to print labels is to print your labels onto full A4 page labels (1 label per sheet) and just cut the labels to size:

1. Open Word and create a label of the appropriate size for your container on an A4 page. Be sure to include all required elements and as much relevant information as possible.

2. Submit your labels to iPrint

3. Obtain a sheet of label paper (full A4 page label – Avery L7167).

4. Put your label sheet into the paper tray of the networked printer

5. Print your label, in colour, onto the label sheet.

6. Cut out your labels to size.

Alternatively, labels can be printed on normal paper and attached to containers using clear tape. Tape is often very difficult to remove from bottles, and it is easier for labels to tear off the bottles when they are stuck on with tape, so using proper labels is strongly recommended.

4.3 The more complicated way to print labels

It is convenient in the long run if you correctly set up templates for printing labels. The process for setting up properly sized templates is described here.

· Obtain a sheet of labels appropriately sized for the selected container. Take note of the label dimensions and product code located either on the box or on the sheet itself.

· Open a new document in Word and create a rectangle that is identical in size to your label. Have a black outline and clear fill to use as your label template.

· Proceed to include various label information by using text boxes and inserting pictures. Be sure to include as much information as practically possible.

· Once all label elements are present, select all text boxes and pictures (rectangle not necessary), and group them.

· Go to Drawing Tools > Wrap Text > In Line with Text and copy the grouped objects into your clipboard.

· Of the main tabs, go to “Mailings” and click on “Create Labels”. The “Envelopes and Labels” dialog box will open.

· In the “Labels” tab, check the “Full page of the same label” option in the “Print” section and then click “Options”. The “Label Options” dialog box will open.

· Select “Page Printer” in the “printer information” section and then select “bypass tray” from the drop down menu. In the “Label Information” section, find the appropriate supplier of your chosen label sheet (likely Avery A4-A5). After clicking on the supplier, the list below will populate with their label product numbers. Select your label product number, check the dimensions which display on the right of the dialog box, then click “OK”.

· Once the “Options” dialog box closes, click the “New Document” button to create your sheet of labels. A new Word document will open populated with copies of your label.

· Select the entire table in the new Word document and go to the “Layout” tab within the “Table Tools” tab. Centre your labels in the “Alignment” section.

· Go to “Print”, find your printer and select “Printer Properties”.

· In either the “My Tab” or “Basic” tabs, check that the “bypass tray” is selected. If you are printing multiple copies, check that the “Print Type” is “one-sided”. In the “Quality” tab, ensure that the colour option is selected.

· FOR PHOTOCOPYING: Print out your Word document sheet of labels as per standard. Sometimes a warning will appear stating that margins are outside of the print area – click okay and the sheet will print. Load the blank label sheet into the bypass tray of the printer FACE DOWN and the printed document into either the flatbed scanner or the document feeder. Copy the document in colour with the bypass tray selected on the printer to photocopy your labels onto the label sheet.

· FOR DIRECT PRINTING: If your printer has the ability to hold print jobs (iPrint does), you may select “Save in User Box” in the “Output Method” section. In the “User Settings” dialog box, name the print job and designate a box number. Select “Print”; sometimes a warning will appear stating that margins are outside of the print area – click okay and the sheet will be sent to the printer. At the printer, find your document in the printer’s user box. Load the blank label sheet into the bypass tray of the printer FACE DOWN. Print the document in colour with the bypass tray selected on the printer to direct print your labels onto the label sheet.

4.4 Printing permanent labels

The Epson TM-C3500 printer (located in 4WW 221) can be used to print ‘permanent’ labels for your chemicals – these labels (and ink) are waterproof. These labels are ideal for spray bottles of ethanol, or other containers that are repeatedly used to contain the same chemical.

To print a permanent label you will need to prepare the label in Word with the page size the same as the required label (Table 1). You can then send the label to Nicole or Remi for printing.

The following label sizes are available for you:

Label name

Width (cm)

Height (cm)

Epson-A

10.0

15.0

Epson-B

10.0

6.5

Epson-C

10.4

3.1

Epson-D

6.5

3.0

Epson-E

4.0

2.3

Table 1: The sizes of permanent labels that are available for the Epson printer.

Instructions for preparing a permanent label

· Open a new word document, then click on the ‘Page Layout’ tab. Click the little symbol on the bottom right corner of the Page Setup box (highlighted with the red box below)

· Click on the paper tab and enter the width and height of the label that you want to make (choose values that match the labels we have – given in Table 1).

· Save your label as a word document (so you can modify it or copy it later) or as a pdf and email it to Nicole (Nicole.cordina@mq.edu.au) or Remi (Remi.rouquette@mq.edu.au) for printing. Indicate the number of labels of each type that you want printed.

· Remi or Nicole will print your labels for you and email you when they are ready for collection from 4WW 221.

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