ويستند النظام المنسق عالمياً إلى الخطر وكذلك إلى التعرض لذلك الخطر وبذلك فهو يختلف باختلاف الحالة.
GHS was based on the intrinsic properties of the chemicals and described hazard rather than risk, which depended on both the hazard and the exposure to that hazard and therefore varied depending on the situation.