OKI urges GHS compliance

Developed by the United Nations as a way to bring into agreement the chemical regulations and standards of different countries, GHS is an international approach to hazard communication, providing standardized criteria for the classification of chemical hazards, as well as a standardized approach to label elements and safety data sheets.

Speaking at the SafeCom 2014 Chemical Compliance Conference, which took place at St John’s Hotel in Solihull, UK, OKI business development manager Dave Willcox said a last minute rush to update and integrate software and deploy suitable printers could cause confusion, with those failing to meet the deadline putting their business at risk.

Willcox said: ‘Many organisations who need a flexible and varied solution – for example, those transporting multiple hazards in a single cargo – are confused about which software and printers to buy. Consequently, they are postponing their decision until nearer the time and may have to rush to meet the compliance date.’

OKI’s GHS-compliant, four-color printers can print labels up to A3 size from any compliant chemical labeling software. Labels can be personalised with logos or other branding. They are also described as a ‘highly practical choice’, as they can also be used for other print jobs such as material safety data sheets.

Willcox added: ‘There’s no need for these companies to make a major investment in a large thermal transfer device for example that can only print labels of a certain size and nothing else. We can suggest a flexible and far more affordable alternative which is full-compliant with all GHS demands.’