Chemical Hazard Labels

April 2nd, 2013

Hazard Labels

• Provide a quick guide into the dangers and acute hazards of chemicals – Not be used in lieu of reading MSDS

• Different classification schemes– Should be able to recognize symbols from all of

them. • Can prevent disasters and accidents if used

properly

How many of these do you know?

Your hair may spontaneously combust?

A guard just sawsomething wrong?

Killer starfish in the area?

Old COSHH Symbols

New GHS Symbols

NFPA Warning Diamond

Diborane

Flammability

Health Reactivity

Specific Hazards

Blue Health Section0: Poses no known health hazard (water)1: Exposure causes irritation or could result in residual injury (acetone)2: Intense of continued exposure could cause incapacitation or possible residual injury (Et2O)3: Short exposure could cause serious temporary or moderate residual injury (chlorine)4: Very short exposure could cause death or major residual injury (CO, HCN)

Red Fire Section

0: Materials will not burn under typical conditions (CO2)1: Materials that require considerable preheating before ignition and combustion (mineral oil) Flash Point (FP) > 93.4oC 2: Must be moderately heated or exposed to high ambient temps (diesel fuel) FP > 38oC3. Liquids and solids that can be ignited under almost all ambient conditions (gasoline) FP > 23oC4: Will rapidly or completely vaporize at normal atomospheric pressure and temperature or will burn readily (acetylene) FP < 23oC

Yellow Reactivity Section

0: Normally stable, even under fire exposure and does not react with water (He)1: Normally stable but unstable at elevated temperatures and pressures (propene)2: Undergoes violent chemical changes at high temp. or pressure, reacts violently with water (sodium)3: Capable of detonation or explosive decomposition but require initiating source, reacts explosively with water, or when severely shocked (ammonium nitrate)4: Readily capable of detonation or explosive decomposition at normal temp. and pressures (nitroglycerin)

White Specific Hazard Section

OX: Oxidizer (hydrogen peroxide)SA: Simple asphyxiant gas (argon)W: Reacts with water in an unusual or dangerous manner (cesium)ACID: Acidic (HCl)ALK: Alkaline (KOH)COR: Corrosive (dimethyl sulfate)RAD: Radioactive (uranium)BIO: Biological Hazard (smallpox)POI: Poisonous (Strychnine)

Summary of NFPA Warning Diamond

Other Useful Symbols to Know

Radioactive Biohazard Chemical Weapons