Dangerous Substances: The legal framework
Frequently asked questions concerning the legal implications of handling dangerous substances in the workplace
- What are the differences between Safety and Health law on dangerous substance in EU Member States?
- Where can I find EU Law on chemicals?
- What are REACH and the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals?
- Where can I find scientific background information on substances?
- What is CLP?
- Why has a new regulation on classification and labelling (CLP) been introduced?
- What are the main changes that I will notice because of CLP?
- Does CLP only address human health risks?
- What are the H codes and how can I compare them to the familiar R-phrases?
- What are these new pictograms that I see on the labels?
- What is the meaning of the ‘signal word’ that I see on a new safety data sheet?
- Where can I find all signal words, hazard statements and precautionary statements?
- When can I expect to see new labels or changed safety data sheets according to CLP?
- What are the changes in the safety data sheets based on CLP?
- Will I also see changes in the transport labels due to CLP?
- Do I have to do additional things because of CLP?
- Do we need to learn new pictograms, statements and labels?
- Why do some of the products that I use not have a label with signal words, hazard statements and precautionary statements?
- When can I expect to receive a new safety data sheet for a substance or a product based on CLP?
- How will the new classification and labelling rules influence the risk assessment?
- Can I still use risk assessment tools that categorise hazards based on the old risk phrases to assess the risks in my workplace?
- Can CLP result in a need to change the risk management for products that I have already used in the past?
- Do I have to substitute certain products because of CLP or will certain products no longer be available?
- Do I need to change the label and packaging of my product?
- Do I need to change the safety data sheet of my product?
- Where do I obtain information needed to make changes to the classification, labelling, packaging and safety data sheet according to CLP?
- When do I need to send my customers a new Safety Data Sheet?
- What is REACH?
- Which parts of REACH are relevant for occupational safety and health at my company
- What information requirements and rights do REACH and workplace legislation provide?
- What activities that I perform under occupational safety and health legislation may be influenced by REACH?
- What new information will I get due to REACH?
- The supplier of a chemical has provided an exposure scenario that describes my use. Is risk assessment under the occupational safety and health legislation required?
- Does REACH provide specific guidance on the safe use of chemicals for vulnerable groups in the workplace (e.g. pregnant women, young workers, workers with pre-existing medical conditions)?
- What are the links between REACH and other legislation relevant for the safe use of chemical substances?
- What is the relation between REACH and CLP?
- Is REACH applicable to all chemical substances?
- What kind of uses are exempted from specific REACH provisions?
- What is the effect of an exemption for a substance or a use under REACH on the information that I will receive as a user of a chemical substance or product?
- What are the differences between REACH and workplace legislation?
- Is the risk assessment done by manufacturers and importers under REACH the same as the risk assessment I need to do under workplace legislation?
- Do the requirements of REACH change the workplace requirements regarding substitution of hazardous substances?
- I see OELs, DNELs and DMELs in safety data sheets. What are they and what is the difference?
- Do I need to redo all my risk assessments because of REACH?
- How do I check whether my situation fits the REACH exposure scenario?
- What if my risk assessment and the exposure scenario from REACH do not match?
- If the risk management measures in the exposure scenario of REACH are not appropriate, what to do?
- When do I (as a downstream user) need to make a chemical safety assessment according to REACH and what do I do with it?
- Do derived no-effect levels replace the existing occupational exposure limits?
- If there is a derived no effect level and an occupational exposure limit, which one should be used?
- Next to H Statement, I also see EUH Statements in the safety data sheet. What are these?
- What are the P codes on the safety data sheet?
