ECHA Issues a Guide for Users of Chemicals in the Workplace

Written By: Atanu Das on Tuesday, August 23, 2016

The ECHA document outlines Classification, Labels, Packaging, Information Checks and Legislation related to EU workplace chemical handling.

The intent of the document is to clarify the potential miscommunication that may exist when suppliers classify the same chemical for example: 

When faced with this issue, ECHA says:

If you get different classification information from different suppliers for the same substance or mixture, you need to check that they are actually the same chemical. Perhaps they have different impurities or ingredients, or are in a different physical form and this explains the difference in classification. If the chemical is the same, contact your suppliers and encourage them to adopt a common classification. If your suppliers do not agree on the classification you can:

• Take a precautionary approach and adopt the most stringent classification,

or

• Adopt the classification you are most confident of. For example, this could be the classification that is most consistent with the toxicological information in the safety data sheet. You can also look at the classification information on ECHA’s website. You need to have sufficient competence to make this decision and document it,

or

• Ask for advice. The CLP Helpdesk of your national competent authority, your national enforcement agency or your trade association may be able to help, But don’t expect them to classify the chemical for you!

or

• Classify the chemical yourself. This option is seldom taken by users of chemicals in the workplace. It must be done by a competent person and based on reliable evidence. If the classification is different to that of all your suppliers, you have to report your classification to ECHA.

Further topics on CLP can be found inthe document link.