5.3 Chemical Safety, GHS Labeling & Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
Key Takeaways
- DOLE Department Order No. 136-14 mandates the implementation of the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) for chemical classification, labeling, and SDS in Philippine workplaces.
- The 9 standard GHS pictograms feature black symbols inside red diamond borders to communicate physical, health, and environmental chemical hazards.
- Safety Data Sheets (SDS) follow a mandatory 16-section format, with Section 1 (ID), Section 4 (First Aid), Section 8 (PPE/Exposure), and Section 9 (Physical Properties) being critical for Safety Officers.
- Chemical storage requires strict compatibility segregation, such as separating flammables from oxidizers and storing volatile solvents in fire-rated cabinets with spill bunding.
- All secondary containers (decanted solvents, spray bottles) must display complete GHS warning labels containing product identifiers, signal words, hazard statements, and pictograms.
5.3 Chemical Safety, GHS Labeling & Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
Construction sites routinely store and handle hazardous chemicals—including solvents, formwork release oils, concrete curing compounds, adhesives, paints, epoxies, compressed gases, and fuels. Exposure to chemical hazards can cause immediate acute harm (chemical burns, asphyxiation, toxic poisoning) or chronic long-term illnesses (silicosis, occupational cancer, dermatitis). In the Philippines, chemical hazard management is governed by DOLE Department Order No. 136-14 (Guidelines for the Implementation of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals in the Workplace) and OSHS Rule 1090 (Hazardous Materials).
Globally Harmonized System (GHS) Overview
The Globally Harmonized System (GHS) is an internationally recognized framework created by the United Nations to standardize chemical hazard classification, container labeling, and safety documentation across all countries and industries.
Core Objectives of DOLE DO 136-14
- Standardize chemical physical, health, and environmental hazard criteria.
- Mandate standardized warning labels containing universal pictograms, signal words, hazard statements, and precautionary statements.
- Require employers to maintain accessible, updated 16-section Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for every hazardous chemical present on the construction jobsite.
The 9 Standard GHS Pictograms
GHS pictograms consist of a black graphic symbol set against a white background, enclosed within a square set at a point (red diamond border). Every Safety Officer (SO2) must recognize all 9 GHS pictograms:
- Flame: Flammables (gases, aerosols, liquids, solids), self-reactives, pyrophorics, self-heating substances, organic peroxides, and water-reactive flammable gas emitters (e.g., gasoline, diesel, acetylene, thinner).
- Health Hazard: Serious chronic health hazards including carcinogens, germ cell mutagens, reproductive toxins, respiratory sensitizers, target organ systemic toxins (single or repeated exposure), and aspiration hazards (e.g., crystalline silica dust, benzene, polyurethane resins).
- Corrosion: Corrosive to metals, skin corrosion/irreversible burns, and serious eye damage (e.g., hydrochloric acid, muriatic acid, caustic soda, wet cement paste).
- Exclamation Mark: Acute toxicity (harmful), skin irritation, eye irritation, skin sensitization, narcotic effects (drowsiness/dizziness), and respiratory tract irritation (e.g., mineral spirits, epoxy hardeners, joint compounds).
- Gas Cylinder: Gases under pressure (compressed gases, liquefied gases, refrigerated liquefied gases, dissolved gases) (e.g., oxygen cylinders, nitrogen, LPG tanks).
- Exploding Bomb: Unstable explosives, self-reactive substances, and organic peroxides (e.g., demolition explosives, detonators).
- Flame Over Circle: Oxidizing gases, liquids, and solids that yield oxygen and intensify fires in combustible materials (e.g., oxygen tanks, calcium hypochlorite, nitric acid).
- Environment: Acute and chronic hazards to the aquatic environment (toxic to fish and aquatic plants) (e.g., pesticides, heavy oil preservatives).
- Skull & Crossbones: Acute toxicity (severe, fatal, or toxic upon oral ingestion, dermal contact, or inhalation) (e.g., highly toxic pesticides, cyanide compounds, concentrated hydrogen sulfide).
Safety Data Sheet (SDS) 16 Standardized Sections
Under GHS rules, traditional 9-section Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) have been replaced by standardized 16-Section Safety Data Sheets (SDS). The sections MUST follow a strict, unified sequence so emergency responders and workers can locate critical safety information instantly.
SDS 16-Section Structure & Safety Officer Focus
| Section Number & Title | Content Summary | Safety Officer (SO2) Focus & Application |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Identification | Chemical product identifier, manufacturer/distributor details, emergency contact numbers | Verify exact product match on site inventory; ensure emergency hotline is accessible |
| 2. Hazard(s) Identification | GHS classification, Signal Word (DANGER or WARNING), Hazard Statements, Pictograms, Precautionary Statements | Primary hazard assessment source; check Signal Word and hazard pictograms |
| 3. Composition / Ingredients | Chemical identity, CAS number, impurities, trade secret components | Identify toxic chemical constituents (e.g., % free crystalline silica) |
| 4. First-Aid Measures | Initial medical advice by exposure route (inhalation, skin, eye, ingestion), acute symptoms | Establish emergency eyewash stations, first-aid procedures, and responder guidelines |
| 5. Fire-Fighting Measures | Suitable/unsuitable extinguishing media, specific chemical fire hazards, firefighter PPE | Select correct fire extinguisher class (e.g., Foam/Co2 vs Water); hot work permits |
| 6. Accidental Release Measures | Personal precautions, emergency procedures, environmental precautions, spill cleanup | Select spill kits, absorbent booms, temporary containment, and evacuation plans |
| 7. Handling and Storage | Safe handling precautions, incompatible chemicals, storage temperature/ventilation | Design chemical storage areas, grounding/bonding requirements, and ventilation |
| 8. Exposure Controls / PPE | Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs, TLVs), engineering controls (exhaust), recommended PPE | Enforce respirator selection (N95 vs organic vapor cartridge), glove types, and PELs |
| 9. Physical & Chemical Properties | Appearance, odor, flash point, lower/upper explosive limits (LEL/UEL), pH, vapor pressure | Evaluate fire risk (flash point $<23^\circ\text{C}$ = highly flammable) and vapor density |
| 10. Stability and Reactivity | Chemical stability, reactivity hazards, incompatible materials, hazardous decomposition products | Enforce chemical storage segregation; prevent accidental hazardous gas generation |
| 11. Toxicological Information | Acute/chronic toxicity data, routes of exposure, symptoms, carcinogenicity listing | Health surveillance planning; worker exposure monitoring |
| 12. Ecological Information | Environmental fate, ecotoxicity, bioaccumulation potential | Prevent storm drain run-off; environmental protection compliance |
| 13. Disposal Considerations | Safe chemical waste disposal, contaminated packaging handling | Hazardous waste management; DENR-EMB accredited waste transporter rules |
| 14. Transport Information | UN number, proper shipping name, transport hazard class, packing group | Site chemical receiving, transport labeling, DOT/MARINA compliance |
| 15. Regulatory Information | National OSH standards, environmental regulations, chemical inventory listings | DOLE DO 136-14 compliance, RA 6969 toxic substance regulation |
| 16. Other Information | SDS revision date, preparation notes, literature references | Verify SDS is current (typically updated every 3–5 years or upon new data) |
Chemical Storage Compatibility & Segregation
Improperly stored chemicals can react violently, generating toxic gas, extreme heat, or explosive fires. Safety Officers must enforce strict chemical segregation principles within storage areas:
Storage Principles
- Flammable Liquids Storage: Flammable solvents, fuels, and paints must be stored inside FM-Approved, Fire-Rated Flammable Safety Cabinets equipped with dual flame-arrestor vents, self-closing doors, and grounding lugs.
- Segregation of Incompatibles:
- Flammables vs. Oxidizers: Never store flammable liquids or gases alongside oxidizing agents (e.g., oxygen cylinders, peroxides). Maintain a minimum distance of 20 feet (6 meters) or separate them with a non-combustible fire wall at least 5 feet high with a half-hour fire rating.
- Acids vs. Bases: Strong acids (hydrochloric, sulfuric) must be physically separated from strong bases (sodium hydroxide, ammonia).
- Water-Reactives: Keep water-reactive chemicals strictly isolated in dry, elevated locations away from overhead sprinklers or rainfall.
- Ventilation & Containment: Chemical storehouses must feature natural or explosion-proof mechanical ventilation. Floors must be impervious and sloped toward a secondary containment sump (bunding) capable of holding 110% of the volume of the largest stored container or 10% of total aggregate storage volume.
Secondary Container Labeling Requirements
When chemicals are decanted or transferred from original manufacturer drums into secondary containers (such as spray bottles, working cans, buckets, or squeeze bottles), unlabeled containers represent a high-risk violation.
Mandatory Secondary Label Content (DOLE DO 136-14)
Every secondary container MUST be affixed with a legible GHS label containing:
- Product Identifier: Chemical or trade name matching the primary SDS.
- Signal Word: Either "DANGER" (for severe hazard categories) or "WARNING" (for less severe hazard categories).
- Hazard Statement(s): Standardized phrases describing the nature and degree of hazard (e.g., "Highly flammable liquid and vapor," "Causes severe skin burns").
- Precautionary Statement(s): Measures to minimize exposure and handling risks (e.g., "Keep away from heat/sparks," "Wear protective gloves/eye protection").
- GHS Hazard Pictograms: Corresponding red-diamond graphic symbols.
Single-Shift Workstation Exception: Labeling may be omitted ONLY IF the decanted chemical is under the immediate, exclusive control of the worker who decanted it, and it will be completely consumed during that single work shift. If the container is left unattended or passed to another worker, a complete GHS secondary label is mandatory.
What are the two official standardized Signal Words used on GHS chemical warning labels and Safety Data Sheets to indicate the relative severity of a hazard?
A Safety Officer needs to review permissible exposure limits (PELs), engineering controls, and required personal protective equipment (PPE) for a hazardous solvent. Which SDS section contains this information?
Which GHS pictogram features a black symbol of a human torso with a starburst pattern across the chest inside a red diamond border?
Under DOLE Department Order No. 136-14, when a chemical is decanted from a bulk drum into a secondary working spray bottle, when is a complete GHS secondary label mandatory?