Adoption of the SGA model in Argentina
In April 2015, through SRT Resolution Nº 801/2015, the SGA was declared mandatory for Employers in Argentina and its application is only intended for the field of labor.
The Superintendence of Labor Risks, is the competent authority to carry out the implementation. This Resolution is base don what is stipulated in the “Purple Book”. Said Resolution establishes responsibilities for both Employers and Self-Insured Employers, as well as for Occupational Risk Insurers.
Through SRT Resolution Nº 3359/2015, the deadline for the entry into force for the implementation of the SGA that was originally stipulated for October 15, 2015, has been extended and divided into two, namely: April 15, 2016 for substances and Janurary 1, 2017 for mixtures.
Subsequently, the Superintendency of Occupational Risks (SRT) sent out SRT Resolution Nº 155/201t6, by means of which the deadlines for the entry into force for of the Globally Harmonized System of classification and labeling of chemical products (of Resolution Nº 801/15).
In that Resolution published in the Official Gazette it was established that for substances and mixtures not listed in the resolutions of SRT Nº 310/03 (Substances and Carcinogenic Agents), Nº 497/03 (biphenyls polychlorates) and the products not mentioned in the Resolution SRT Nº 743/03 (Major Industrial Accidents) the implementation od the SGA/GHS in the workplace came into force on January 1, 2017 for the substances and on June 1, 2017 for the mixtures.
The scope of application is that of the establishments in which the coverage established by law 24.557 and its complementary regulations apply.
Joint Provisions 3/2017 and 6/2017 of the Technical Management and the Prevention Management of the SRT establish that both areas will be made available National Service of Health and Agri-Food Quality (SeNaSa) to complement the labeling of phytosanitary products and fertilizers with the standards inclued in the SGA/GHS.
What is called “establishment”?
It is the “technical or execution unit, where tasks of any nature are carried out with the presence of natural persons”. Article 4, Chapter 1, Title I of Decree 351/79).
