Safe Work Australia has published new guidance to help businesses navigate the transition to GHS 7.

Australia will begin a two-year transition to the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals Revision 7 (GHS 7) on 1 January 2021.

To help businesses understand the changes required under GHS 7, Safe Work Australia has published a dedicated GHS 7 web page and suite of information sheets. These information sheets provide details about classification and labelling requirements for workplace hazardous chemicals, and the duties of manufacturers, importers, suppliers and end users.

Special arrangements from 1 July 2020 to 1 January 2021
The transition to GHS 7 was due to start on 1 July 2020; however, it was delayed due to the impact of COVID-19 on Australian businesses.

To ensure that businesses who had started to implement GHS 7 are not disadvantaged, work health and safety (WHS) regulators are allowing importers and manufacturers to classify and label chemicals in accordance with GHS 7 from 1 July 2020 to 1 January 2021, ahead of the official transitional period.

Suppliers and end users can also supply and use GHS 3 or GHS 7 labelled chemicals during this period.

For more information about transition arrangements visit the Safe Work Australia Website or contact your WHS regulator for more information about the arrangements in your area.

Source: Safe Work Australia, 31 August 2020