October 2021 Edition

ChemRegs Newsletter – October 2021

Ventilation and COVID 19

The HSE has updated their guidance on keeping workplaces safe with most COVID-19 restrictions now having been removed. The latest advice on keeping workplaces safe will help businesses assess the risks and continue to reduce COVID-19 transmission.

Adequate ventilation (including air conditioning) can help to reduce the risk of spreading coronavirus in workplaces. It reduces how much virus is in the air and helps reduce the risk from aerosol transmission.

Aerosol transmission can happen when someone breathes in small particles in the air (aerosols) after a person with the virus has been in the same enclosed area.

The risk from aerosols is greater in areas that are poorly ventilated.

Although ventilation reduces the risk from aerosols, it has minimal impact on:

  • Droplet transmission (from people being in close contact)
  • Contact transmission (touching surfaces)

Ventilation is likely to be adequate to minimise the risk of COVID-19 aerosol transmission if the rooms or spaces in building(s) are:

  • Used within the occupancy limits specified in the building design, and
  • Have a sufficient fresh air supply to meet the current minimum building standard. Advice can be got from a competent ventilation engineer or, as a precautionary approach, systems should be operated on the maximum air flow rate.

Other changes to achieve adequate ventilation include:

  • Open windows on both sides of buildings to create a crossflow of air. This introduces more fresh air than opening windows on one side of the building;
  • If desks are free-standing, move them slightly further away from the windows to maintain a comfortable working temperature;
  • Redesign the workspace so that workstations are spread out and the aerosol transmission risk is reduced;
  • Hold meetings in areas where there’s a larger ventilated space;
  • Use carbon dioxide (CO2) monitors in meeting rooms. These give a rough indication of whether natural ventilation from open windows is sufficient during meetings.

Other guidance on working safely is available from here https://www.hse.gov.uk/coronavirus/working-safely/index.htm

Other News

GHS Rev.9 (2021) available online

The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals 9th Edition (GHS Rev. 9, 2021 )is now available free online as a digital pdf download. The hardcopy of the official publication is available for purchase from the UN publications service.

At its tenth session (11 December 2020), the “Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods and on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals” adopted a set of amendments to the eighth revised edition of the GHS, which include :

  • The revision of chapter 2.1 (explosives) to better address their explosion hazard when they are not in their transport configuration;
  • The revision of decision logics;
  • The revision of the classification and labelling summary tables in Annex 1;
  • The revision and further rationalization of precautionary statements; and
  • The updating of references to OECD test guidelines for the testing of chemicals in annexes 9 and 10.

The ninth revised edition of the GHS takes account of these amendments.

The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) addresses classification of chemicals by types of hazard and proposes harmonized hazard communication elements, including labels and safety data sheets. It aims at ensuring that information on physical hazards and toxicity from chemicals be available in order to enhance the protection of human health and the environment during the handling, transport and use of these chemicals. The GHS also provides a basis for harmonization of rules and regulations on chemicals at national, regional and worldwide level, an important factor also for trade facilitation.

While governments, regional institutions and international organizations are the primary audiences for the GHS, it also contains sufficient context and guidance for those in industry who will ultimately be implementing the requirements which have been adopted.

In its Plan of Implementation adopted in Johannesburg on 4 September 2002, the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) encouraged countries to implement the GHS as soon as possible.

The first edition of the GHS, which was intended to serve as the initial basis for the global implementation of the system, was adopted in December 2002 and published in 2003. Since then, the GHS has been updated, revised and improved every two years as needs arise and experience is gained in its implementation.

GHS Rev. 9, 2021 can be downloaded from https://unece.org/sites/default/files/2021-09/GHS_Rev9E_0.pdf

GHS implementation

Information about the status of implementation of the GHS by country is available on the UN ECE website: https://unece.org/sites/default/files/2021-10/GHS%20implementation%20by%20country_2021-10-19.pdf

The UK has updated its GHS implementation status to take account of leaving the EU.

The UK implements the seventh revised edition of the GHS through the GB CLP Regulation while the GHS provisions on safety data sheets from the fifth revised edition of the GHS are implemented through Article 31 and Annex II of the United Kingdom REACH Regulations.

The GB CLP Regulation implements the GHS in the following sectors: workplace; environment; consumer; and the transport of non-dangerous goods.

New guide for classifying and labelling titanium dioxide

The classification and labelling requirements for titanium dioxide (TiO2) changed in February 2020. As of 1 October 2021, following Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/2017, new classification and labelling requirements enter into force.

The substance TiO2 must be classified as carcinogen if inhaled (Carc. 2, H351 (inhalation) when supplied on its own or in mixtures, where the substance or mixture contains 1 % or more of TiO2 particles with an aerodynamic diameter ≤10 μm. In addition, mixtures containing TiO2 must be labelled with the supplemental label element ‘Hazardous respirable dust may be formed when used. Do not breathe dust’ (EUH212).

Non-classified solid mixtures must also be labelled with the EUH212 supplemental labelling element if they contain at least 1 % of TiO2, regardless of their form, or particle size.

Liquid mixtures containing TiO2 do not require Carc. 2 classification. However, if they contain at least 1 % of TiO2 particles with an aerodynamic diameter ≤10 μm, then they need to be labelled with the supplemental label element ‘Hazardous respirable droplets may be formed when sprayed. Do not breathe spray or mist’ (EUH211).

The new guide helps companies and national authorities understand how mixtures containing titanium dioxide (TiO2) need to be classified and labelled following its classification as carcinogenic if inhaled.

It was developed in cooperation with the German competent authority (BAuA), the European Commission and the network of national helpdesks (HelpNet), prompted by the high number of helpdesk questions coming from both industry and authorities.

The guide is available from here https://echa.europa.eu/documents/10162/17240/guide_cnl_titanium_dioxide_en.pdf/d00695e4-e341-0a33-b0ac-bee35cb13867?t=1630666801979

For more information on anything in this Newsletter, please contact us at info@chemregs.co.uk

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