Control Banding for the Environment

Key Takeaways

Many chemicals that harm workers also harm the environment. Toxic substances can damage plants, wildlife and ecosystems, and many persist in the environment for years.
Control banding matches controls to the level of risk. It gives organizations a systematic way to protect workers and the environment without unlimited time, budget or technical expertise.
The same controls protect both. Elimination, substitution, using less product, controlling how it is applied, personal protective equipment and secondary containment all reduce exposure and environmental releases.
Some GHS health hazard classes signal environmental risk too. Acute toxicity, skin corrosion and irritation, respiratory sensitization, germ cell mutagenicity and carcinogenicity are the main ones to watch.

How do chemical health hazards for humans relate to the environment?

Chemical health hazards for humans and the environment are similar. One of the main similarities is that both humans and the environment can be negatively affected by exposure to toxic chemicals. Exposure to chemicals in humans can cause respiratory problems, skin irritation, cancer, and other detrimental health effects, while environmental releases can lead to the diminished growth rate and death of plants, wildlife, and ecosystems. Additionally, many chemicals persist in the environment for years, leading to long-term health and environmental impacts. Preventing exposure is important for humans and the environment, as early recognition can avoid severe damage.

How is control banding used to protect humans and the environment from chemicals?

Control banding is a strategy used to protect humans and the environment from the potential hazards associated with exposure to harmful chemicals. It involves identifying a range of controls that are proportional to the risk level associated with a particular chemical or exposure scenario.

By implementing control banding strategies, employers and regulators can ensure that workers are adequately protected and that environmental contamination is minimized. For example, a control banding strategy for handling hazardous chemicals might involve eliminating the source of exposure, substituting less hazardous chemicals, reducing the amount of product used or controlling the application, and using personal protective equipment and secondary containment.

By providing a systematic approach to managing risk, control banding helps organizations balance the need for hazard control with the constraints of limited time financial resources, and technical knowledge. It also enhances workers’ safety and protects the environment by preventing hazardous chemicals from moving into the food chain and ecological systems where it can adversely affect non-target species and the general environment.

Controls that protect workers and the environment: a quick reference

Control	How it protects workers	How it protects the environment
Elimination	Removes the source of exposure entirely	Nothing is left to be released, spilled or disposed of
Substitution	Replaces a chemical with a less hazardous one	Lowers the harm if a release does happen
Using less product	Reduces the amount workers can be exposed to	Reduces the amount that can reach soil, water and air
Controlling the application	Keeps the chemical where it is meant to be used	Limits drift, runoff and overspray
Personal protective equipment	Protects the worker’s skin, eyes and lungs	Not a protection for the environment on its own
Secondary containment	Keeps spills away from the work area	Captures leaks and spills before they reach drains, soil or water

Which GHS Health Hazard Class of Chemicals also Negatively Affects the Environment?

Chemicals classified as GHS Acute Toxicity Category 1-3 and GHS Chronic Health Hazard Category 1-3 can negatively affect both human health and the environment.

These health hazard categories include chemicals that fall under the following hazard classes:

Acute Toxicity

This hazard class includes chemicals that can cause harm to human health through ingestion, inhalation, or skin contact in a short period of time. Prolonged exposure to such chemicals can also pose a risk to the environment, including contamination of soil and water resources.

Skin Corrosion/Irritation

Chemicals that fall under this hazard class can cause serious damage to the skin or eyes. When such chemicals are released into the environment, they can lead to environmental pollution and contamination.

Respiratory Sensitization

Chemicals that cause respiratory sensitization can trigger allergic reactions and respiratory distress in individuals who are exposed. These chemicals can also cause harm to the environment through inhalation and contamination of air quality.

Germ Cell Mutagenicity

Chemicals in this hazard class can cause changes to genetic material in cells, which can lead to genetic mutations and cancer. These chemicals can also cause harm to the environment by contaminating soil and water sources.

Carcinogenicity

Chemicals that are classified in this hazard category can cause cancer and other long-term health problems. Prolonged exposure to such chemicals can also result in pollution and environmental contamination.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do chemical hazards to humans relate to hazards to the environment?

Both humans and the environment can be harmed by exposure to toxic chemicals. In people, exposure can cause respiratory problems, skin irritation, cancer and other health effects; in the environment, releases can slow the growth of plants and wildlife or kill them, and many chemicals persist for years.

What is control banding?

Control banding is a strategy that groups chemicals or exposure scenarios by risk level and assigns a range of controls proportional to that risk. It gives organizations a systematic way to manage chemical hazards when time, budget and technical expertise are limited.

How does control banding protect the environment?

The controls control banding points to, such as eliminating the source, substituting a less hazardous chemical, reducing the amount used and using secondary containment, also keep hazardous chemicals out of soil, water, the food chain and ecological systems.

Which GHS hazard classes affect both human health and the environment?

Chemicals in the acute toxicity, skin corrosion and irritation, respiratory sensitization, germ cell mutagenicity and carcinogenicity hazard classes can harm both human health and the environment, particularly those classified in Category 1 to 3.

Does WHMIS include environmental hazard classes?

No. The GHS defines a separate environmental hazards group, but Canada did not adopt it in WHMIS. Suppliers may still list environmental hazards on labels and safety data sheets, which is allowed under WHMIS.

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