There are 5 things about GHS conversion that can make the process difficult: time, GHS requirements, workload, cost, and overall compliance. We don’t want you to get the wrong impression, though – GHS conversion can be easy if you do it the right way and use the right providers.
While there are significant obstacles to completing GHS SDS conversion, you shouldn’t let them get in the way of your path to total GHS compliance. Instead, you should see these realities as challenges and let them motivate you to move as soon as possible to convert your material safety data sheets. You should always be aware of the difficulties of conversion, but should remember the solutions to those problems along the way.
1. SDS authoring is an incredibly time-consuming process
…but it doesn’t have to be your time.
Although every sheet takes hours to move from its original material safety data sheet format to a completely GHS-compliant safety data sheet, if you use a conversion service like Quantum’s you won’t have to put in any of these hours on your own. By outsourcing the conversion and authoring process, you and your company can make it so you don’t have to put in any effort toward creating the new SDSs after you sign a contract and send in your current MSDSs. We also get your sheets back to you in 4 weeks or less per batch, guaranteed, so you can get to working with the new SDSs as soon as possible.
2. There is much more to GHS compliance than a format change
…but all you’ll need to know is how to read the new elements
The new GHS standard prescribes certain elements and classifications that were never included on any previous MSDS formats. The process of determining these is long and requires total knowledge of every step and every way to get to every possible outcome, but luckily you won’t have to deal with any of the specifics except those that you’ll need to incorporate the new GHS SDSs into your company. You won’t have to deal with the bridging principles or the hazard classification definitions or assign the level of hazard severity. All you will need to do when you use a conversion service is focus your energy on your daily workload and how to include the new GHS SDSs within that.
3. Converting MSDSs on your own may be more work than you can handle
…but you don’t have to do it on your own
Not only is MSDS to SDS conversion time consuming, but it also requires a sizeable amount of resources and manpower to complete in-house. For very large corporations, this may be the best option, but the majority of companies can’t weave SDS authoring into their daily operations without making major changes. Luckily, Quantum and other companies can offer you conversion services that remove the burden from your hands. You won’t have to make any changes if you go with a conversion service that can offer you a hands-off process, where you send us your MSDSs and we send you back the SDSs in whatever format will work best within your company.
4. The process will be expensive
…but that expense doesn’t have to happen all at once
Unfortunately, there’s not much we can do to lessen the actual cost of conversion besides offering you competitive pricing and working with you to help find an option that’s within your budget. To help you manage the cost, though, Quantum offers a payment plan that we can spread out across months so that you can afford conversion. We know you may not have what is likely to amount to thousands or tens of thousands of dollars up front, but we want to help you to manage that across many months. Your company’s financial needs can be met, and we want to help you meet them in the easiest way possible.
5. GHS compliance doesn’t end at SDSs
…but our services don’t end there either
Complete compliance is not just safety data sheets: it includes labels, label information, safety guidelines, and storage precautions. This all may seem overwhelming, since you’ve probably just started thinking about the sheets themselves, but we can help. Quantum can create the GHS hazard classification pictograms that are a key component of GHS hazard labels for you, and we can print all relevant label information. We compile information from the GHS about your chemical’s safety precautions and storage instructions. We provide all label elements for you, so that instead of buying preprinted labels you can print your own labels – as many or as few as you need, instead of a prescribed amount.
Although the GHS deadline is coming soon, there is no need to panic. While the realities of the process may seem disheartening, Quantum is here to help you get through it as easily and quickly as possible.
