Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) and Environmental Management of Community Product Industry : A Case Study of Herb-Based Products in Koh Takien Village, Muang District, Chanthaburi Province

Abstract

The purposes of this quasi-experimental research were: (1) to explore the chemicals used as ingredients in the community products of herb-based product group, classify and communicate chemical hazard in the products by labelling of chemicals and preparing Safety Data Sheet according to GHS: (2) compare the knowledge and behavior of herb-based product group’s member before and after training session; and (3) compare the environmental management of herb-based product group in the use of chemicals before and after training session. The studied samples selected by purposive sampling were the community products including Butterfly Pea flower herbal shampoo and Lemon Tea dishwashing liquid and 34 herbbased product group’s members in Chanthaburi Province. The data were collected from questionnaires, observation and training manual before and after training session. The analytical statistics were frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and dependent t-test. The results of the research were that: (1) chemicals used as main ingredients in Butterfly Pea flower herbal shampoo and Lemon Tea dishwashing liquid were Sodium Linear Alkylbenzene Sulphonate and Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate which classification of hazardous chemicals showed health hazards; (2) the knowledge of hazardous chemical communication’s mean score after training session was significantly higher than before training session (p<0.001) and working with the chemical’s mean scores from questionnaires and observation after training session were higher than before training session; and (5) after training session, level of environmental improvement score was higher than before training session.