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GLOBALLY HARMONIZED SYSTEM

The Globally Harmonized System (GHS) is a worldwide plan to classify and label chemicals. It is being
developed under the umbrella of the United Nations. The GHS will create one system for workplace,
consumer transportation, and emergency response. An interim policy has been established to permit
use of GHS-formatted safety data sheets in Canada. Regulatory proposals to update WHMIS are
forthcoming.

For more information, visit the website of the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety:
http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/chemicals/ghs.html#_1_11

CLASSES OF CONTROLLED PRODUCTS

There are 6 classes of controlled products. Each of the classes is represented by a hazard symbol.

Class, Symbol Description

Class A: Compressed Gas A substance that is a gas at room temperature (20C), but is
compressed (by pressure of refrigeration).

Examples: compressed acetylene and oxygen.

Class B: Flammable and A solid, liquid, or gas that will ignite and continue to burn if
Combustible Material exposed to a flame. There are 6 divisions within Class B:
1. flammable gas (e.g. hydrogen, butane)
2. flammable liquid – a liquid with a flash point below
37.8C (100F). e.g. gasoline
3. combustible liquid – a liquid with a flash point between
37.8C and 93.3C (100 and 200F). e.g. kerosene
4. flammable solid – a material which can be ignited by

heat or friction (e.g. magnesium, white phosphorus)
5. flammable aerosol – the flammable aerosol can be the
product itself, or the propellent (e.g. butane is used as a
propellent in many spray cans; the paint in cans of spray
paint)
6. reactive flammable material – a material that is
spontaneously combustible in air or becomes
spontaneously combustible when mixed with water (e.g.
sodium)

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