The Industry’s Favourite Reference Standards Packaging Just Got Better

Effective immediately, Restek (USA) will be transitioning away from NFPA* to universally recognised GHS labeling for our reference standards.

GHS, or the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals, is a set of provisions for hazard classification and communication developed by the United Nations. Its goal is to universally label products that can be opened, thus exposing users to the materials contained within, in a way that clearly identifies any potential safety concerns regardless of the user’s language, country, or background. Efforts to implement GHS labeling have begun around the globe; for the United States in particular, OSHA will require that products shipped after June 1, 2015, carry universally recognised GHS labeling to ensure safety regulation compliance.

In order to improve the safety communication included with Restek reference standards and ensure that we can provide uninterrupted service to our customers, Restek has already started phasing out our use of NFPA labeling. During the transition, Restek customers may receive a mix of GHS- and NFPA-labeled reference standards, but Restek's entire reference standard inventory will be converted to GHS labeling well in advance of the June 1, 2015 deadline. In the near future, Restek will also begin transitioning their wool, bulk packings for GC and LC columns, and other products to GHS labeling.

Restek has extensively studied the GHS system and OSHA’s requirements for using it to help their customers not only convert their own inventories properly, but also do so ahead of schedule. This change will not affect product composition or quality in any way; it is merely a change in labeling practices. Restek's goal is to make the transition to GHS labeling compliance as seamless as possible. Their new convenient GHS labels are bar coded with both catalogue and lot number, and they are also removable for easy transfer of standard information into lab notebooks.

The conversion to GHS may seem like a challenge to many labs, but relying on Restek’s safety compliance experts and using their reference standards is one way to make the transition easier.