Chemical Safety Symbols
Poisonous Self explanatory. Whereas most chemicals are fairly dangerous if ingested or inhaled, many of these are dangerous even on contact.
Stow away from foodstuffs Harmful material to be kept away from edible material.
Environmental haard !elatively rare with laboratory chemicals "most of which pose some environmental haard if not got rid of correctly#, these re$uire particular care to be taken on disposal.
%angerous when wet &his generally means that it will react fairly violently with water.
'orrosive (void (void contact with the skin. )ear in mind that these can "under some circumstances# rust chemical cupboards.
*lammable +as Safety symbol used for the transport or storage of a flammable gas.
Explosive (gain, fairly selfexplanatory, though fairly seldom seen in the average lab. )ear in mind that noise and movement can also trigger explosion "not -ust sparksflames/#. ﾧ
0on flammable gas Safety symbol used in the transport of non flammable "and hence often non haardous, at least out in the open# gases.
*lammable or extremely flammable 'hemicals to be stored in flameresistant cupboards. 1olatile solvents can be a particular problem as they are prone to spread around from unsealed containers. &his also covers pyrophoric materials "that catch fire spontaneously on exposure to air#. ﾧ
2rganic Peroxide 'hemical safety symbol used in the transport and storage of organic peroxides.
3rritant or Harmful &his symbol covers a wide range of "sometimes relatively minor# haards with precautions such as avoid contact with the skin, do not breathe, etc. best to refer to relevant data sheet for details.
'orrosive &ransport of corrosive materials again, avoid contact with the skin.
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2xidising chemical 2xidising chemicals are materials that spontaneously evolve oxygen at room temperature or with slight heating, or that promote combustion. &o be kept away from flammable chemicals at all costs/
3nhalation Haard 3nhalation haard transportstorage symbol.
Poisonous +as 4sed for transport of a poisonous gas on gas cylinders, or sometimes as an indicator on vehicles.
5arine Pollutant 5arine pollutant do not dispose of in sewer system.
5iscellaneous danger 'atchall symbol for all other dangers "usually specified in the space#. ﾧ
Explosive 4sed in the transport of explosive materials.
Poison 5ore general symbol for the transport of poisonous materials "not necessarily a gas#.
Spontaneously 'ombustible Spontaneously combustible material "treat with great caution/...#.
*lammable Solid *lammable solid.
*lammable 6i$uid 4sed in the transport of flammable li$uids.
Hazard Symbols A - COMPRESSED GAS
( compressed gas is a material which is a gas at normal room temperature "20 "20 C # and pressure but is packaged as a pressured gas, dissolved gas or gas li$uified by compression or refrigeration. &he haard from these materials, aside from their chemical nature, arises from sudden loss of integrity of the container. ( compressed gas cylinder is usually u sually $uite heavy and when ruptured can become a pro-ectile with the potential to cause significant damage. (cetylene and oxygen are examples of compressed gases. B - FAMMABE A!D COMB"S#$BE MA#ER$A
*lammable or combustible materials will ignite and continue to burn if exposed to a flame or source of ignition. 5aterials are classified as a flammable gas, flammable aerosol, flammable li$uid, combustible li$uid, flammable solid, or reactive flammable material. 5ethane, acetone, aniline, and lithium hydride are examples of flammable materials. C - O%$D$&$!G MA#ER$A
(n oxidiing material may or may not burn itself, but will release oxygen or another oxidiing substance, and thereby causes or contributes to the combustion of another material. 2one, chlorine, and nitrogen dioxide are oxidiing materials. &hese chemicals wil support a fire and are highly reactive.
D - PO$SO!O"S A!D $!FEC#$O"S MA#ER$A D'- Materials Ca(si)* $mmediate a)d Serio(s #o+ic Effects
&hese materials may be classified as toxic or very toxic based on o n information such as 6%78 or 6'78. Examples: Styrene, hydrogen hydrogen cyanide are very toxic substances.
D, - Materials Ca(si)* Other #o+ic Effects
( pure substance or mixture that may be any one of the following9 a carcinogen, teratogen, reproductive toxin, respiratory tract sensitier, irritant or chronic toxic haard. Examples: Asbestos causes cancer, cancer, ammonia is an irritant. irritant.
D - Biohazardo(s $)fectio(s Material
&his classification includes any organisms and the toxins produced by these organisms that have been shown to cause disease or are believed to cause disease in either humans or animals. *or example, a blood sample containing the Hepatitis ) virus is a biohaardous infectious material. 3t may cause hepatitis in persons exposed to it.
E - CORROS$.E MA#ER$A
'orrosive materials can attack "corrode# corrode# metals or cause permanent damage to human tissues such as the skin and eyes on contact. )urning, scarring, and blindness may result from skin or eye contact. 'orrosive materials may also cause metal containers or structural materials to become weak and eventually to leak or collapse. (mmonia, fluorine, and hydrochloric acid are exa mples of corrosive substances.
F - DA!GERO"S/ REAC#$.E MA#ER$A
%angerously reactive materials may undergo vigorous polymeriation, decomposition or condensation. &hey may react violently under co nditions of shock or an increase in pressure or temperature. &hey may also react vigorously with with water to release a toxic gas. 2one, hydraine, and benoyl peroxide are examples of dangerously reactive materials.
