An acute inflammation of the lining of the stomach and intestines. Symptoms include anorexia, nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain and weakness. Additional Info: Gastroenteritis has many causes such as bacteria (food poisoning), viruses, parasites, consumption of irritating food or drink, as well as stress. Treatment for the condition depends on the underlying cause. MSDS Relevance: Avoid ingestion of non-food substances. Eating food in places where toxic chemicals may be present (such as a laboratory), can cause accidental ingestion of toxic materials...as well as a huge OSHA or EPA penalty. Do not eat where hazardous chemicals are in use and always be sure to wash your hands before eating. See also: Gastric, Nausea. Gingivitis: Gingivitis is inflammation of the gum tissue. This is a reversible gum disease. Additional Info: Symptoms include gum bleeding without pain. As the disease progresses, pain, swelling, and loss of bone around the teeth may occur. Advanced gum disease can cause the loss of otherwise healthy teeth. Make sure you follow good oral hygiene (brushing and flossing regularly) and See: Your dentist on a regular basis. MSDS Relevance: Exposure to certain chemicals can cause inflammation of the gums. Avoid contact with these materials. See also: Dermal. Globally Harmonized System. Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals: The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) is an international consensus sytem for classifying and labeling hazardous chemicals. The GHS is designed to streamline the hazard assessment, labeling, and hazard communication requirements within and between the countries that adopt it by promoting common, consistent criteria for classifying chemicals according to their health, physical and environmental hazards, and to develop compatible labeling, material safety data sheets (MSDS's) and other information based on those classifications. GHS will resolve many, but not all, differences between MSDS's and labels between, for example, the US, Canada, and the European Union. Additional Info: In the US, OSHA can not adopt GHS principles without an act of Congress to authorize the changes. After years of discussion, the first step in this regulatory process was intiated with OSHA's publication of an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) on September 12, 2006. The final ruling can be read here. A 60 day comment period received over 100 written and electronic comments, which generally supported adoption and highlighted the need for harmonization. On September 30, 2009, OSHA published its proposed rulemaking to incorporate changes per the GHS (US Federal Register 74: 50279-50549). You can view this document in HTML on OSHA's web site or download it as PDF file from the US Government Printing Office. The Public Comment period ended December 29, 2009 and gathered several hundred written comments that are available here as a PDF (click on the section to the right labeled "Comments"). In understanding how the GHS will ultimately affect Hazard Communication in the US, it is important to remember that the GHS is a model standard and is not meant to be approved and implemented as written. For example, OSHA's HCS currently covers acute toxicity with respect to MSDSs. The GHS's coverage of acute toxicity is quite broad, covering consumer protection in addition to occupational concerns. As OSHA has no regulatory authority for consumer issues/products, the HCS will not be able to incorporate all the changes to acute toxicity that the GHS suggests. Now that the rulemaking process had been set in motion, it appears that US adoption of (parts of) the GHS is inevitable. There is no fixed timetable for this process, and it will likely be phased in over a period of years. As these changes are enacted, they will result in the first significant changes to MSDS's and labeling in the US since the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard's last update which took effect in March of 1994. A detailed comparison between the GHS and OSHA HCS systems is available on OSHA's web site. The major effects on MSDS's are discussed in the next section. Latest news: By June 1, 2015, all modified provisions of the new US regulations will be in force except that 1) distributors may continue to ship products labeled by manufacturers under the old system until Dec 1, 2015 and 2) The updated workplace labelling and HazCom program/training provisions take effect June 1, 2016. See: This OSHA Fact Sheet on the HazCom Standard Final Rule for more details. Note: OSHA is not the only US federal agency involved in implementing GHS. MSDS Relevance: As the GHS goes into force in the US, there will be significant changes to the labeling and MSDS requirements found under the existing OSHA HazCom Standard. First, the OSHA HazCom standard is performance-oriented. Under the current system, certain information has to appear on an MSDS, but there is no required format. GHS will require a standardized 16-part format which mirrors the ANSI format that OSHA has been recommending for some time. GHS adds some additional required content for Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and changes the way that some information is currently reported on MSDS's. For example, the GHS calls for including the recommended use of the chemical and restrictions on its use. GHS classifications of the substance/mixture and any regional information must be included. GHS labeling elements must be reproduced, either graphically or in text. For the first time, sheets will be required to list the CAS number of the hazardous components. Hazardous impurities must also be disclosed. Additional differences include accidental release measures for containment and cleanup as well as concise but complete toxicological and ecological information (such as ecotoxicity, bioaccumulation potential), mobility in soil, persistence, and degradability). Note, however, that OSHA has no authority over environmental issues, the domain of the EPA, so these parts will likely be recommended but not mandatory in the US. Likewise, the GHS requires transportation information such as the UN Number, proper shipping name, packing group, and more, but, again, OSHA has no authority over such matters (which fall under DOT). In short, some of the GHS changes will be mandatory when the HCS is revised, but some will not be! The criteria for MSDS component disclosure also differs between the two systems. The level of hazardous components can be given as ranges or concentrations under GHS, whereas the HCS specifies percentages. Under the current HCS, MSDS's are only updated when changes are made to the material or new hazards are discovered. The GHS recommends setting a specific time period (3-5 years) for review of the information, something that Canada already requires under WHMIS. Many of the health and physical hazard definitions differ between the HCS and GHS. Again, See: The detailed comparison between the GHS and OSHA HCS systems for more information. Remember, the GHS is a model standard, so it is not simply approved and implemented as written, so not all of its clauses will become part of US (or other countries') law. See also: ACGIH, ANSI, CFR, Hazard Statements, Precautionary Statements, Risk Phrases, Safety Phrases, UN/NA Numbers