Chemical labeling
The United Nations has published a classification system called the GHS (Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals). It contains highly detailed information on how to classify and label chemicals according to their properties and hazards.
The European Union adopted this system, with a few additions, in the form of the Chemical Labelling and Packaging (CLP) Regulation. Anyone selling chemicals within Europe is required to abide by this regulation, which also applies to Iceland.
CLP is intended to facilitate the global chemical trade by standardising the information and labelling that manufacturers are required to include with the chemicals they sell.
Information about chemical hazards is communicated through signal words, hazard and precautionary statements, pictograms and safety data sheets. Check this information carefully!
In accordance with CLP, each chemical must be accompanied by a special document called a safety data sheet (SDS). The SDS includes information on the hazards of the chemical, how to protect against these hazards and how to respond in case of an accident. An SDS is divided into 16 sections, which must all be present and in the correct order, no matter what chemical it is or who the manufacturer is.
The sections are as follows:
- Section 1: Identification. This section identifies the chemical or mixture and the manufacturer.
- Section 2: Hazard(s) identification
- Section 3: Composition / information on ingredients
- Section 4: First-aid measures
- Section 5: Fire-fighting measures
- Section 6: Accidental release measures
- Section 7: Handling and storage
- Section 8: Exposure controls / personal protection
- Section 9: Physical and chemical properties
- Section 10: Stability and reactivity
- Section 11: Toxicological information
- Section 12: Ecological information
- Section 13: Disposal considerations
- Section 14: Transport information
- Section 15: Regulatory information
- Section 16: Other information
SDSs replace MSDSs (Material Safety Data Sheets), which many people will be familiar with. The difference is that there are stricter rules regarding a standardised format for SDSs than for MSDSs. All sheets now contain the same sections in the same order. Previously it was the manufacturers who determined how to present the information and in what order.
There are two signal words: Warning and Danger. These are intended to indicate the general level of hazard of a chemical or mixture.
Hazard statements have a unique code made up of one letter and three digits.
- A) First comes the letter H, which stands for hazard or hazard statement.
- B) Next comes a digit indicating the hazard class to which the substance belongs.
- 2 - Physical hazards, e.g. explosion or fire hazard
- 3 - Health hazards, e.g. toxic or carcinogenic
- 4 - Environmental hazards, e.g. harmful to aquatic life or destroys the ozone
- C) Next come two digits for further categorisation. E.g. 200-210 are explosive substances and 220-230 are flammable substances.
- D) Each code is linked to a standardised statement describing the hazard, e.g. the statement for H315 is: Causes skin irritation, and for H317: May cause an allergic skin reaction.
In addition to the individual statements, there are several made up of more than one statement. This is indicated with a + sign, for example H300 + H310 + H330, which is made up of three statements and means "Fatal if swallowed, in contact with skin or if inhaled", to give a rather dramatic example.
Please note that the code is used for reference purposes only and is not part of the hazard statement and should not be used in place of the statement.
Precautionary statements have a unique code made up of one letter and three digits.
- A) First comes the letter P, which stands for precautionary or precautionary statement.
- B) Next comes a digit indicating the type of precautionary statement.
- 1 – General
- 2 – Prevention
- 3 - Response (to an accident, first aid)
- 4 – Storage
- 5 – Disposal
- C) Next come two digits for further categorisation.
- D) Each code refers to a standardised precautionary statement.
Please note that the code is used for reference purposes only and is not part of the precautionary statement and should not be used in place of the statement.
Pictograms are symbols that identify chemical hazards. Pictograms are clear, distinct and easy to understand.
- Unstable explosives May explode if exposed to shock, heat or another external influence.
- Self-reactive substances and mixtures.
- Organic peroxides
- Gunpowder, dynamite
- Flammable, self-igniting, pyrophoric or combustible substances: gases, vapours, liquids or solids.
- Self-heating substances Linseed oil and other organic oils.
- Organic peroxides can emit flammable gases if they come into contact with water.
- Sodium, magnesium and metal powder
- Oxidising substances. Can cause combustion of other materials without a flame or spark.
- Can also intensify fires and cause explosions.
- Peroxide, ammonium nitrate, chlorine, oxygen
- Gas under pressure. May be compressed, liquefied, refrigerated or dissolved.
- Cylinders may explode if exposed to increased heat or pressure. The gas may leak and spread, burn or explode, or cause poisoning, asphyxiation or cold burns, depending on the properties of the gas.
- Nitrogen, carbon dioxide, propane gas, etc.
- Causes skin corrosion and serious eye damage. When handling corrosive substances, you must take particular care to protect your eyes and have an emergency eyewash station nearby.
- These chemicals are also corrosive to metals.
- Hydrochloric acid, sulphuric acid, nitric acid, caustic soda
- Highly toxic, whether through oral, inhalation or dermal exposure.
- Chlorine, hydrogen cyanide, methanol, hydrofluoric acid.
- Toxic, whether through oral, inhalation or dermal exposure.
- Irritates or sensitises skin. Irritates eyes. Irritates respiratory tract. Narcotic effects.
- Sensitises respiratory tract. Causes mutations in germ cells.
- Carcinogenic.
- Toxic to specific target organs
- Causes acute hazards to the aquatic environment and ecosystems.
- Causes chronic hazards to the aquatic environment.
Click here to view the latest version of the GHS system on the UNECE website