The Globally Harmonized System (GHS) is an agreed-upon set of rules managed by the United Nations. The system has several objectives:

• Classifying all health, environmental and chemical hazards.
• Ensuring presented information falls within international standards.
• Ensuring this system remains the same across UN nations.

However, as you can imagine, putting together such a comprehensive system across borders with separate laws, industries and cultures pose a challenge.

Below, we’ll breakdown what GHS labels are, as well explain its recent history.

What are GHS Labels?

GHS labels are simply labels which fall in line with the GHS’s requirements. They provide a brief overview of the hazard, how to deal with it and the steps to take afterwards.

We’ve discussed this in-depth with our blog: What Is A GHS Label and Why Is It Used?

When was GHS Introduced?

The Globally Harmonized System was officially introduced in 2003. However, this was the result of a long battle to get such a system introduced, which began in Rio in 1992.

In 1992, the Brazilian city hosted an event called the Earth Summit. There, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) – responsible for setting international labour standards – and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) – responsible for stimulating world trade - collaborated.

By taking aboard the concerns from multiple international governments and key stakeholders, they were able to put the foundation in place to create a “globally harmonized hazard classification and compatible labelling system”. The motivation for this was two-fold:

• To improve international safety standards.
• To remove safety hurdles in trade.

The aim was to get the system up and running by 2000, but organisers ran into issues and the need for expansion. In 1999, the GHS system was incorporated into the Committee of Experts on Transport of Dangerous Goods.

2002 saw the creation of an implementation plan after much back-and-forth. Then, after review, implementation was ready for 2003.  

Since then, modernisation of GHS has occurred in line with new standards and requirements from the market; it essentially exists as a living document, usually iterated upon every two years.

What was the Impact of GHS?

The GHS had a number of immediate benefits, including:

• Improving the consistency of information supplied to employees.
• Providing the first international standardised approach to chemicals, hazards and data.
• Making the use of datasheets to log accidents and risks the standard.
• Enabling workers to understand signs and labels across cultural and language barriers.

Underpinning this was a greater awareness of personal safety around chemicals and other hazards, which naturally weaved into the improvement we’ve seen in health and safety standards since the millennium.

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According to the HSE, employers must supply and address first aid provisions in the workplace. This includes:

• Management of direct first aid such as equipment, kits and rooms.
• Training first aiders.
• Setting up a first aid protocol.
• Making first aid arrangements.

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The quality assurance process is dependent upon having the right equipment in place. Without having the right balance of tracking, software and equipment, maintaining a high level of quality across the business becomes increasingly difficult. From wider-reaching technology to minute-level tools, each part of a quality control procedure is equally important.

Without quality control labels, stickers and tapes, it becomes difficult to begin the initial stage of quality assurance (QA). By highlighting problematic stock, businesses can more readily identify the qualities of their exports.

Quality control (QC) tapes, in particular, are excellent at communicating the qualities of stock, as well as highlighting them for inspection. Below, discover what quality control tapes are, what they do and how to use them.

What Are Quality Control Tapes

Quality control tapes communicate a simple message in a clear, legible fashion. They are self-adhesive tapes, usually in a red-and-white colourway. In total, they can communicate the following:

• Fragile goods
• QC and QA accepted goods
• Items awaiting inspection
• Damaged items

While this may seem small, identifying goods in this way helps QA departments to read the status of stock easier. This leads to a smoother process for everyone while reducing the probability that customers receive defected or damaged goods.

When and How to Use Quality Control Tapes

So, when should quality control tapes be used? Ideally, you should use tapes at key stages in an export’s journey:

• During inspection: tapes should be applied to boxes during an inspection if they are defective or damaged.
• During picking and packing: before export, tapes should be applied to goods which are seen as damaged or defective during the export process and stored away.
• During stock takes: it is easier to combine inspection with regular stock takes. Goods identified as faulty during this stage can be labelled with the tape.
• Following accidents: if an employee accidentally breaks or damages an item, then mark it with a quality control tape.

Overall, it depends on your organisation. By using them at these key stages, it can make the QA department’s job easier, especially when complemented by a proper recording procedure.

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An employer’s responsibilities don’t end when an employee leaves the premises. Nothing has made this fact more evident than the coronavirus pandemic, which has seen swathes of the working population quickly switch to working from home.

Employers quickly realised their responsibilities for their staff didn’t begin and end in the office. Several issues came to the fore, namely:

• How can employers manage workplace stress outside of the office?
• How can they manage workloads?
• How can they ensure ergonomic best practice is followed?
• Is their current health and safety procedure still suitable?

Thankfully, a number of working from home guidelines were available to follow from the HSE and the Government. While for many we’re in the final stretch of working from home, the precedent of the last few months is set to change working behaviour for others. Continuing to stay at home for the long-term is certainly an option for some.

To ensure you’re keeping your employees safe going forward, discover how much responsibility an employer has for their staff when they are working from home.

What are the Working From Home Guidelines?

Legally, employers must ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of their employees, even at home.

Individual guidance varies depending on the workplace, but the majority of work from home guidelines can apply to any industry.

Namely, the most important sections of the working from home guidelines are as follows:

• Ask employees to carry out their own risk assessments and relay back any issues. This sounds larger than it is – it’s essentially ensuring employees have a comfortable working environment.
• Respond to this risk assessment information to the best of your ability.
• Stay abreast of government guidance.
• Make reasonable adjustments for disabled employees.
• Regularly keep in touch with employees to manage mental health and make any reasonable adjustments for those who are struggling.

Just because employees are at home doesn’t mean they’re free of risk or an employer’s responsibility.

Health & Safety: Managing Stress and Mental Health at Home

Most modern workplaces should have mental health procedures already in place, but this may not be sufficient for at-home working.

An increase in workload, worries around the current coronavirus response and disconnection from peers can understandably lead to an increase in stress and, therefore, an impact on mental health.

Employers must be proactive when it comes to this issue. Procedures should be put in place to recognise signs of stress early and to act on them.

Ultimately, the best health and safety policy when it comes to mental health is to be flexible. This should include:

• Supporting a flexible work/life balance.
• Mimicking in-office social events and check-ins. Maintaining company culture can have positive knock-on effects.
• Creating action plans for workers who are suffering with their mental health.
• Encouraging employees to turn to additional support should they need it.

DSE Equipment and At-Home Ergonomics

An employer should provide the equipment needed for an employee to work from home. This can be everything from IT equipment to desk chairs to headsets – essentially, anything your staff had in the office should be provided for at-home work.

This applies to workplace ergonomics, too. An employer must provide ergonomically safe Display Screen Equipment (DSE) such as keyboards and mice to prevent long-term injuries from poor posture, eye fatigue or muscle degradation.

To complement this, employers should encourage employees to create a comfortable working environment and take time for regular breaks, exercise and light.

Read more about ergonomics with our in-depth blog: Labels and Ergonomics: Using General Signs To Improve Performance.

Prepare for a Return to Work With our Safety Signs

Overall, by listening to workers, following risk assessments and giving them the equipment they need, you are fulfilling your responsibility to workers at home.

The transition to working from home won’t end with coronavirus, so prepare for these policies to be used in the long-term.

However, plans are already being put in place across the country to return to the office, too, so you need to be ready for any eventuality.

To prepare for a return to the office, be sure to check out our range of safety signs. We also have a selection of social distancing signs for those returning to the office in bubbles.

Electrical safety in the workplace is becoming an increasing concern. As workplaces modernise, so does their reliance on electrical equipment. Now, every workplace needs some form of electrical hazards and control measures, from posters to labels to training.

If you are an employer, you need to know how to avoid electrical hazards in your workplace. Below, we list some of the most common electrical hazards in the workplace and put your knowledge to the test on how best to avoid them. Simply pick which answer you think fits best and find out how much you really know.

Problem: PAT Testing

All electrical appliances in the workplace must be PAT tested with a PAT test label. However, what does a PAT test look at?

1. Insulation resistance, polarity and continuity.
2. The voltage.
3. The quality of wiring.
4. How dangerous an appliance is.

Problem: High-Voltage Wiring

Let’s say a workplace uses high-voltage wiring which employees pass by nearly every day. What precautions should an employer take? How far should these precautions go? Should an employer:

1. Tell employees to avoid the high-voltage wiring and inform them of the dangers.
2. Display voltage markers around the area.
3. Display voltage markers and electric warning labels near appliances, as well as deliver training.
4. Do nothing – the odds of someone getting hurt is pretty low anyway.
5. Use Wiring Regulations (BS 7671) labels

Problem: Fuse Ratings

Fuse ratings are central to safety, with many appliances requiring a fuse rating label. However, do you know why fuse ratings are important?

1. They’re not – it’s just stuff for electricians to fuss over.
2. They help to identify the type of electrical appliance being used, as well as information on grounding, voltages and currents to help with maintenance.
3. They refer to how powerful an appliance is.
4. They refer to how long an electrical appliance will last.

Problem: Inspections

A low-voltage appliance in the workplace requires inspection every few years. How do you ensure this is done on time and is it an employer’s responsibility? Do you:

1. Make a note of it in an inspection spreadsheet. You’ll remember to check it on time. Promise.
2. Pass the responsibility onto the person who uses the appliance the most – they’re more likely to remember.
3. Stick a load of warning labels on there.
4. Use an installation inspection label as well as appropriate paperwork.

Problem: Electric Shocks

Many workplaces, despite the best efforts of employers and safety legislation, still carry a risk of electric shocks occurring. To anticipate these accidents in advance, how should a workplace prepare?

1. Train members of the team to be first-aid responders, and ensure every member knows the risks of electricity.
2. Establish emergency procedures in case electric shocks occur.
3. Utilise electric shock notices and other health & safety posters to keep employees reminded of the risks.
4. Allow for regular inspections of equipment and procedures to keep employees as safe as possible.
5. All of the above.

Put Your Electric Hazard Knowledge Into Practice

Overall, employers and businesses need to stay adrift of electrical best practice. All workplaces deal with electricity in some way, and the more you know about it, the better you can protect your employees.

Learning how to prevent electrical hazards in the workplace isn’t optional. Put your new-found knowledge into practice with our electrical hazard labels today.

Correct answers –

1) A. Got this wrong? The brush up on your knowledge here: How to Conduct a PAT Test

2) C. Incorrect answer? Read more here: Voltage Labels: Prevent Electric Shocks

3) B. Read more: Don't Be Shocked! The Importance of Electric Shock Notices

4) D. Further information: The Importance of Electrical Inspection Labels

5) E. Further reading: Electric Shock Notices: Be Safe Around High-Voltage Hazards!