A reader of this site looked up for information in IMDG Code for serious eye damage or eye irritation for classification of dangerous goods.
When we are classifying dangerous goods it is imperative that we must keep in mind who are our target audience.
IMDG Code classification of dangerous goods and related mandatory provisions such as packaging, marking, labelling, stowage, segregation, documentation etc is to enhance safety of life at sea and prevention of marine pollution.
40th amendment of IMDG Code has aligned the classification criteria with eighth revised edition of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals, published by the United Nations.
Does IMDG Code mention about eye damage or eye irritation?
In the general hazard properties of class 5.2 organic peroxides IMDG Code mentions “cause damage to the eyes”. Further it observes “contact of organic peroxides with the eyes is to be avoided. Some organic peroxides will cause serious injury to the cornea, even after brief contact, or will be corrosive to the skin.”
For class 8 corrosive substances properties and observations has “causes (severe) burns to skin, eyes and mucous membranes, evolving vapours irritating nose eyes, etc.
However “only hazard” is potential to cause serious eye damage or eye irritation is not taken into hazard classification criteria of IMDG Code.
Some of the hazards in IMDG Code is not covered by GHS and some of the hazards in GHS is not covered by IMDG Code.
Below a comparative table of classification in GHS & IMDG Code
| GHS | IMDG CODE |
|---|---|
| Unstable explosives | Not allowed for transport |
| Explosives Division 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6 | Class 1, Division 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6 |
| Flammable gases, Category 1 | Class 2, Division 2.1 |
| Flammable gases, Category 2 | Not dangerous |
| Flammable aerosols, Category 1, 2 | Class 2 |
| Oxidizing gases, Category 1 | Class 2, Division 2.2 |
| Gases under pressure | Class 2 |
| Flammable liquids, Category 1, 2, 3 | Class 3, Packing group I, II, III |
| Flammable liquids, Category 4 | Not dangerous |
| Flammable solids, Category 1, 2 | Class 4, Division 4.1, Packing group II, III |
| Self-reactive substances and mixtures, Type A | Class 4, Division 4.1, Type A Not allowed for transport |
| Self-reactive substances and mixtures, Type B, C, D, E, F, G | Class 4, Division 4.1, Type B, C, D, E, F, G |
| Pyrophoric liquids, Category 1 | Class 4, Division 4.2, Packing group I |
| Pyrophoric solids, Category 1 | Class 4, Division 4.2, Packing group I |
| Self-heating substances and mixtures, Category 1, 2 | Class 4, Division 4.2, Packing group II, III |
| Substances and mixtures which, in contact with water, emit flammable gases, Category 1, 2, 3 | Class 4, Division 4.3, Packing group I, II, III |
| Oxidizing liquids, Category 1, 2, 3 | Class 5, Division 5.1, Packing group I, II, III |
| Oxidizing solids, Category 1, 2, 3 | Class 5, Division 5.1, Packing group I, II, III |
| Organic peroxides, Type A | Type A Not allowed for transport |
| Organic peroxides, Type B, C, D, E, F, G | Class 5, Division 5.2, Type B, C, D, E, F, G |
| Corrosive to metals, Category 1 | Class 8, Packing group III |
| Acute toxicity, Category 1, 2, 3 | Class 6, Division 6.1, Packing group I, II, III |
| Acute toxicity, Category 4, 5 | Not dangerous |
| Skin corrosion/irritation, Category 1, Sub-category 1A, 1B, 1C | Class 8, Packing group I, II, III |
| Skin corrosion/irritation, Category 2, 3 | Not dangerous |
| Serious eye damage/eye irritation, Category 1, 2A, 2B | Not dangerous |
| Respiratory or skin sensitization, Category 1 | Not dangerous |
| Germ cell mutagenicity, Category 1A, 1B, 2 | Not dangerous |
| Carcinogenicity, Category 1A, 1B, 2 | Not dangerous |
| Reproductive toxicity, Category 1A, 1B, 2 | Not dangerous |
| Specific target organ toxicity single exposure, Category 1, 2, 3 | Not dangerous |
| Specific target organ toxicity repeated exposure, Category 1, 2 | Not dangerous |
| Aspiration hazard, Category 1, 2 | Not dangerous |
| Hazardous to the aquatic environment, Category acute 1, chronic 1, chronic 2 | Class 9 (Marine Pollutant) |
| Hazardous to the aquatic environment, Category acute 2, acute 3, chronic 3, chronic 4 | Not dangerous |
| Hazardous to the ozone layer | Not dangerous |
Hazard not covered by GHS & IMDG Code
| Hazards not covered by GHS but in IMDG Code | Hazards not covered by IMDG Code but in GHS |
|---|---|
| Infectious Substances | Eye damage/eye irritation |
| Radioactive Materials | Respiratory or skin sensitization, |
| Other dangerous substances (such as: elevated temperature substances, genetically modified microorganism, lithium batteries, etc.). | Germ cell mutagenicity Carcinogenicity Reproductive toxicity Hazardous to the ozone layer |
GHS Classification of serious eye damage, eye irritation
Serious eye damage refers to the production of tissue damage in the eye, or serious physical decay of vision, which is not fully reversible, occurring after exposure of the eye to a substance or mixture.
Eye irritation refers to the production of changes in the eye, which are fully reversible, occurring after the exposure of the eye to a substance or mixture.
Substances are allocated to one of the categories within this hazard class, Category 1 (serious eye damage) or Category 2 (eye irritation), as follows:
- (a) Category 1 (serious eye damage/irreversible effects on the eye): substances that have the potential to seriously damage the eyes
- (b) Category 2 (eye irritation/reversible effects on the eye):substances that have the potential to induce reversible eye irritation
A substance having only serious eye damage/eye irritation hazard must display below label elements in GHS
Class 8 label must not be displayed.
Click here to download GHS Revision 8
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