Improved chemical safety with new hazard classes in the CLP regulations
In April 2023, updates to the EU CLP regulation (classification, labelling, and packaging) came into force. The update introduced new classifications of chemicals, with a focus on endocrine-disrupting properties and environmental risks, including bioaccumulative properties and potential water pollution.
Classification and labelling is a key tool for reducing risk in chemical use. Over time, it encourages the replacement of the most hazardous substances with safer alternatives.
The new hazard classes include:
Endocrine disrupting properties: Chemicals that affect the endocrine system, potentially causing health issues such as birth defects and development disorders in humans and wildlife.
Persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic properties (PBT and vPvB): Substances that break down slowly in the environment and build up in organisms and food chains.
Persistent, mobile and toxic properties (PMT and vPvM): Substances that combine high persistence with mobility, spreading rapidly in the environment, often through waterways.
Code
H-phrases
EUH380
May cause endocrine disruption in humans
EUH381
Suspected of causing endocrine disruption in humans
EUH430
Can cause endocrine disruption in the environment
EUH431
Suspected of causing endocrine disruption in the environment
EUH440
Accumulates in the environment and living organisms, including humans
EUH441
Highly accumulates in the environment and living organisms, including humans
EUH450
Can cause long-term and diffuse pollution of water resources
EUH451
Can cause very long-term and diffuse pollution of water resources
Significance of the changes
The new hazard classes strengthen the regulation of substances with these properties, ensuring that hazardous chemicals are handled in the same way as other serious hazards. This may results in stricter requirements for companies and limitations on how these substances can be used. The changes will also influence related legislation, including rules on biocides, pesticides, cosmetics, and occupational health and safety.
New obligations for companies
Chemical suppliers are now required to review their chemicals and determine whether they fall under the new hazard classes. If so, they must update their registrations with the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and ensure that everyone in the supply chain receives up-to-date safety information. For new substances, the rules apply from May 1, 2025, while existing substances have until November 2026. There are also transition periods in place for mixtures.
The introduction of the new hazard classes is an important step in strengthening the protection of health and the environment from hazardous chemicals. ECHA is updating its guidance to reflect these changes, and companies can follow the process and access resources directly on the ECHA website.
What does this mean for your chemical management?
Your company should ensure it has a clear overview of whether any products fall under the new chemical classifications. Contact the suppliers of your chemical products for updated information, and keep track of changes to the safety data sheets, especially if your company uses automatic updates in the chemical inventory.
If products are covered by the new classifications, a new risk assessment must be carried out. This includes evaluating whether additional protective measures are required to ensure that the use and storage of the substances remain at an acceptable risk level, in line with your company’s safety criteria.
Written by Hans Kristian Brekken, chemist and product developer at Workplace Safety.
Hans Kristian Brekken er kjemiker og produktutvikler Workplace Safety.
Diisocyanates are hazardous chemicals: New training requirements
Diisocyanates are a group of hazardous chemicals used in paints, varnishes and adhesives. Workers can suffer serious damage to their health after being exposed to products containing these chemicals. The European chemicals regulation REACH has now introduced requirements for training in safe use.
Health challenges related to exposure
– “You can be exposed to diisocyanates through skin contact, inhalation or ingestion, and even small amounts can cause serious damage to your health,” explains Hans Kristian Brekken, a chemist with experience of laboratory work and HSE in the petroleum industry.
– What is dangerous about isocyanates is that they cannot be smelled until they are far above acceptable limit values. There is therefore a great risk of inhaling air containing the substance for a long time before you notice it yourself.
The most common symptoms of exposure are breathing problems, stuffy or runny nose, and irritating cough or nosebleeds. Some diisocyanates, such as TDI (Toulene diisocyanate), are also classified as carcinogenic.
– Exposure to diisocyanates is irritating and allergenic to the respiratory tract and can result in occupational asthma, which is one of the reasons why these chemicals have received so much attention. In Europe, many thousands of workers suffer from respiratory diseases every year because of this,” says Brekken.
New training requirements
Diisocyanates are found in a wide range of industrial products and the training requirement applies to several industries and occupational groups. By August 24, 2023, anyone using diisocyanates and diisocyanate-containing mixtures with a concentration of 0.1% (weight percentage) or more must have completed training in safe use. The Norwegian Labor Inspection Authority has set a number of requirements for the training and it must be documented.
– To ensure that employees receive good training, you should familiarize yourself with the requirements of the Labour Inspection Authority and work with experts in the occupational health service to adapt the training to the company’s needs, Brekken recommends.
Brekken is a product developer for the digital chemical inventory Workplace Safety and emphasises the importance of having an updated chemical inventory where you can easily look up safety data sheets.
– The substance register is an important tool for collecting and finding information about products containing diisocyanates. The safety data sheet contains information about the product’s properties and what measures must be taken to handle the product safely,” explains Brekken.
Chapter 3 of the safety data sheet lists the components that make up the composition of the product, and here you can find out if the product contains diisocyanates, but this requires some expertise.
– It can be challenging to find out if the components in chapter 3 include diisocyanates. I therefore recommend searching for the hazard statement EUH 204 in the chemical inventory, which will bring up all the safety data sheets that contain this hazard statement. EUH 204 tells you whether the product contains diisocyanates,” says Brekken.
A safe working environment with diisocyanates
When working with chemicals, there is a requirement to consider the substitution of hazardous substances. This means replacing chemicals that are harmful to health with safer alternatives. This can be demanding for chemical products with diisocyanates, because there are currently not many satisfactory alternatives.
When the use of hazardous chemicals in the workplace cannot be avoided, it is therefore important that the employer implements good safety procedures and checklists with safety measures that minimize exposure. The employer must ensure that the correct personal protective equipment is used and that the premises have ventilation systems that minimize the presence of diisocyanates in the working atmosphere.
– There will always be a risk associated with working with hazardous chemicals. When you don’t know how to handle different chemicals, or how to protect yourself, this risk increases considerably.
– The fact that documented competence in the safe handling of diisocyanates is now required of both employers and employees will mean a lot for the occupational health of those who work with this,” concludes Brekken.
Diisocyanates
Diisocyanates are a group of chemical substances containing two isocyanates.
Risk of inhalation and direct skin contact
Diisocyanates are sensitizing to respiratory tract and direct skin contact.
In case of respiratory exposure, diisocyanates can cause breathing difficulties and asthma symptoms.
Skin contact can cause skin allergies.
Exposure
The most common ways to be exposed to diisocyanates:
The most common ways to be exposed to diisocyanates:
When heat treating polyurethane plastics that can release diisocyanates to the working atmosphere.
