Labeling Innovations from Weber

By now you've probably started transitioning your old HazCom labels to a GHS form label. With the June 1, 2015 deadline here, we're looking at some of the challenges chemical manufacturers have faced. If you're encountering any of the issues below, you're probably not GHS compliant. 

Big changes are coming for chemical manufacturers and workplaces that use chemicals. We've been talking about ways to comply with the Globally Harmonized System of labeling chemicals since the final ruling was announced by OSHA in 2012. As we're getting closer to one of the biggest deadlines, let's go over some questions that we're often asked by our customers. If you have a question that wasn't answered below, contact our GHS labeling expert. 

Here are some of Weber's Frequently Asked Questions about GHS labeling

When are the deadlines for compliance?

The deadline for GHS label compliance is June 1, 2015. However, there are some exceptions to this deadline. If you're making an effort to comply but you're still waiting to obtain the SDS, you won't be fined. Also, if you still have products labeled with the old label, you can still sell these products until December 1 2015. The absolute final deadline for compliance is June 1, 2016.  

What are the main components of a GHS label?

There are six things you must include on your label.

Signal Word - All GHS labels must include the words "DANGER" or "WARNING." The signal word “DANGER” identifies chemicals and products that present, relatively speaking, a greater or more immediate hazard to the worker. The word “WARNING” identifies chemicals and products that present a lesser (although still potentially harmful) degree of hazard.

Hazard Statements - Under the signal word a hazard statement must be included. This is where people can find the risks involved with handing the chemical.

Precautionary Statements - This describes the recommended measures to minimize or prevent adverse effects resulting from exposure

Supplier Identification - All GHS compliant labels must include the name, address and telephone number of the manufacturer or supplier of the company that made the product

Pictograms - There are nine different symbols you might use to convey the specific hazard information visually. These include Explosion, Corrosion, Oxidizing Flame, Gas Cylinder, Environmental Hazard, Skull & Crossbones (fatal), Exclamation Mark, Health Hazard and Flammable.

Where do I get the required information for my label?

There are requirements that you must include on your label such as pictograms, warning statements, etc. All of that information comes from your chemical's Safety Data Sheet (SDS). Typically, a third-party organization is used to determine the content of the chemicals and provide you with an SDS. 

Review Appendix C of OSHA's ruling for more information on the specific details you'll need to include. 

Is there a specific GHS label material that I will be required to use?

If your container is being used in the US only, you do not need to comply with a specific material requirement. The only requirement is that the label is legible for users for the lifetime of the label. If you're exporting the chemical, the GHS label must be BS5609 certified. 

We recommend a durable label material and ink that will stay legible and in tact during harsh conditions.

Can I leave the red pictogram diamonds blank? 

No. You either need to use a label template with the exact number of pictogram diamonds you'll need or you'll need to completely black out the unnecessary pictogram with black ink. If you're printing your labels on-demand with an Epson color printer, this will not be an issue. 

The next deadline for GHS labeling compliance is less than a year away! Starting June 1st, 2015 all manufacturers and distributors of chemicals will be required to comply with the Globally Harmonized System of Classification. 

Since the final ruling was announced by OSHA, we've been researching options for customers because we knew this change would affect everyone from manufacturers to day-to-day chemical users. In fact, we had to make changes to the chemical bottles we use in our plant.

At Weber, we use an EPSON C3500 Inkjet Label Printer to print our GHS labels for small chemical bottles. Because most users will only need to print a few at a time and may require variable printing, our labeling product team introduced solutions for in-house GHS label printing. 

To learn more about GHS Labeling, download our new 13-page eBook that includes the basics you need to know plus some of the best solutions to comply with GHS labeling. 

Download our Guide to GHS Labeling 

By now you've probably heard that OSHA is requiring updates to the Hazard Communication Standard label to comply with the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) label. As we've mentioned before, the challenge for chemical manufacturers and distributors will be the multi-color requirements of the GHS label.

In the past, your label manufacturer would print thousands of your labels with a template of the HCS label. Using your thermal-transfer or direct-thermal printer, you would then imprint the variable product information required by your industry. With the new GHS labeling format the red diamonds cannot be left blank in a template form, they essentially become part of your variable information.

We've talked about using an Epson ColorWorks in an earlier blog. This allows a manufacturer to print large drum and pail sized labels with durable materials and ink. But an interesting issue came to light on our own manufacturing floor: the relabeling of small chemical bottles used on our label presses.

If your manufacturing facility is like ours and you need GHS labels on small bottles around the plant, try what's worked for us. All of our small chemical bottles are labeled by our Safety Team using the Epson ColorWorks C3500 Inkjet Label Printer. We're able to print all of the necessary GHS safety information using durable inks and materials that won't run when they come into contact with the chemicals.

This is an affordable printer that will fit nicely into your manufacturing process. Take a tour of the Epson ColorWorks C3500 with our Vertical Markets manager, Paul Johnson.

Don't forget the GHS mandate deadlines are approaching! Keep in mind these importants dates for GHS labeling.

• June 1, 2015: Deadline for manufacturers to start using new GHS labels
• December 1, 2015: Deadline for product distributors to begin using new GHS labels
• June 1, 2016: Deadline for updated alternative workplace labeling and hazard communication program

 If you're experiencing challenges with GHS regulations, get a free audit from our GHS experts to learn if you're complying properly. 

Using the Epson CW-C6000 Series Color Label Printers for Chemical Compliance Labeling

One of the best ways to bring GHS labeling in-house is to use one of the Epson CW-C6000 Series color inkjet label printers. These printers make creating and printing your GHS label easy and cost-effective.

Available in either 4" wide labels (C6000A or C6000P) or 8" wide labels (C6500A or C6500P).

The C6000A and C6500A have integrated automatic label cutters that cut the labels to the correct length after printing. The C6000P and C6500P have integrated peelers that present the label with the liner removed so the operator can instantly apply the label.

The printer, ink and label material are now available for purchase on Go-Label.com.

These label printers use pigmented inks for increased durability. They are chemical and water resistant and can stand up to the use and abuse that comes with chemical containers.

Engineered for mission-critical applications, the reliable printers speed through labels at up to 5-inches per second. The printers enable industrial and commercial organizations to produce high volume color labels for production use.

These printers are perfect for labeling small batches of chemical containers or when you need unique for every container. Just print your label one at a time. The text, graphics and images are clean and crisp. And they will stay that way.

Here is a closer look at a typical chemical label we use as an example. Printing this label requires multiple colors for the logo, pictograms and transportation pictograms.

Big changes are coming for regulated chemical labels.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) officially adopted a ruling that changes its Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) to match the guidelines of the Globally Harmonized System (GHS).

This new labeling system sets out to reduce confusion, create a standard process and educate users.

Current Compliant Labels

In 1994, OSHA mandated that containers with hazardous chemicals must be labeled with a product identifier and hazard statements appropriate for each hazardous chemical.

For years Weber customers were able to use blank thermal-transfer labels or direct-thermal labels to print this product and hazard information.

Other companies ordered pre-printed color labels using the Hazardous Materials Identification System (HMIS) boxes and then imprinted specific safety information on-site. They were able to variably-imprint their individual products' Health, Flammability, Reactivity and Personal Protection ratings.

But starting in 2015, those elements alone will no longer be compliant with OSHA. Manufacturers will be able to continue to use the HMIS information on their labels, but they also will be required to include more specific elements that are in the GHS guidelines.