On 29 March 2021, the Minister of the Department of Employment and Labour published the Regulations for Hazardous Chemical Agents (HCA) 2021 in Government Gazette (GG No.44348) under Government Notice No. R. 280 with an 18-month transition period. One of the primary objectives of the Regulations for Hazardous Chemical Agents is to incorporate the GHS and formally adopt it in South Africa. Importers, distributors, and manufacturers of hazardous chemicals are expected to implement the GHS. Furthermore, on 5 April 2024, the Minister gazetted Draft Regulations for Hazardous Chemical Agents Regulations Gazette 11687 no 50431 for public comment to be provided by 5 July 2024.
The key GHS elements in the Draft Regulations for Hazardous Chemical Agents include:
Once finalised, the new Regulations will repeal the previous HCA Regulations from March 29, 2021, and its amendment from April 29, 2022, as well as the Occupational Exposure for Silica Regulations from February 5, 2010. This will occur 18 months after the date of enforcement. Developed at the United Nations to be adopted as a worldwide programme, the GHS aims to develop a single, globally harmonised system to address the classification of chemicals and hazard communication, using labels as well as Safety Data Sheets (SDSs). This training provides an understanding of the importance and practical application of SDSs and labels on hazardous substances, using a combination of hazard statements, hazard symbols and hazard signal words.
