Type of chemicals Industrial chemicals
Pesticides
Consumer Chemicals
Dangerous Goods transported through air , rail , road , sea
Agency Responsible / Jurisdiction
Department of Occupational Safety and Health , Ministry of Human Resources
Department of Agriculture , Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry
Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry of Transport
Table 1 : List of responsible agencies according to sectors under GHS
Department of Occupational Safety and Health ( DOSH ) was mandated to lead the industrial workplace , to design and implement activities related to GHS .
GHS is an internationally agreed upon standard system of classification and hazard communications managed by the United Nations which addresses classification of chemicals by types of hazard and proposes harmonised hazard communication elements including labels and safety data sheets . It aims at ensuring that information on physical hazards and toxicity from chemicals are 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 facilitates trade among countries ( Unece , 2021 ).
OVERVIEW OF CURRENT SITUATION
DOSH embarked on drafting a new regulation entitled Occupational Safety and Health ( Classification , Labelling and Safety Data Sheet of Hazardous Chemicals ) ( CLASS ) Regulations in 2013 in order to fulfill her responsibility of implementing GHS at the place of work as defined under the Occupational Safety and Health Act ( OSHA ) 1994 . This promulgation is in line with the WSSD resolution and the task given by the NCCGHS . The CLASS Regulations are promulgated to replace the Occupational Safety and Health ( Classification , Packaging and Labelling of Hazardous Chemicals ) Regulations 1997 which was based on the European Union Directive for its classification . The hazards classifications as regulated under the CLASS Regulations 2013 are based on GHS Third Revised Edition 2009 .
The CLASS Regulations 2013 stipulate the duties of chemical suppliers to provide sufficient information on hazards of chemicals that they supply , so as to mitigate the risk of accidents happening in the workplace , thus providing a safe and healthy working environment and condition . The responsibilities of suppliers as stated in the CLASS Regulations are to classify hazardous chemicals , label and prepare Safety Data Sheets of hazardous chemicals , to do proper packaging and to submit chemicals inventory to the Authority . Suppliers are defined as persons who supply hazardous chemicals , and include principal suppliers ( that is , suppliers who formulate , manufacture , import , recycle or reformulate hazardous chemical chemicals ) and subsidiary suppliers ( that is , suppliers who repack , distribute or retail hazardous chemicals ) ( Department of Occupational Safety and Health , 2021 ).
Lack of clear , accessible , timely and appropriate information for sound management of chemicals in order to minimise their negative effects on human health and environment , has been recognised by many countries in the world . The Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management ( SAICM ) states that knowledge and information on chemicals are basic needs for decision-making for the sound management of chemicals ( WHO , 2018 ). Realising the importance of a national register for the sound management of chemicals , Malaysia included the provision of inventory submission in the CLASS regulations 2013 as a mandatory provision .
7