Chemical hazard symbols

A very important chemical safety measure is informing users about the hazards of chemicals through symbols and phrases on the packaging labels and through additional comprehensive safety information. The skull and crossbones symbol is a well-known early example applied to poisons. 

Figure 2-1. Important hazards symbols. The hazard symbols, black on an orange background, are found on the labels of chemical containers, usually with additional information about the nature of the hazard.

Know the warning symbols for specific chemical hazards (Fig. 2.3). 

Symbols commonly used to show chemical hazards are ... 

Figure 3.1 Examples of chemical catalogue information and hazard symbols...

There are currently no official Swiss criteria fcv classification of substances as dangerous for the environment , although in due course the EC scheme is likely to be adc ted. Hence the EC classification and labelling can be used for Switzerland, except for the EC hazard symbol. There arc also no criteria fw classification and labelling of chemical products containing substances which are dangerous for the environment , although their evaluation will take account of the content of such environmentally hazardous substances. 

Laboratories may employ either in-house or contractor janitorial staff. The housekeeping staff needs initial training and routine re-training for areas that are off-limits for routine cleaning or trash disposal. An individual laboratory may have several trash receptacles to segregate normal trash, radioactive waste, and hazardous chemical waste. Housekeeping staff should be trained to recognize the various hazard symbols and placards and the appropriate response to each. 

But remember, in-house systems must not conflict with GHS. For example, under the HCS, labels of chemicals that present specific target organ toxicity hazards must display the health hazard symbol the skull and crossbones S5mibol is used only for certain acute... 

Labeling of dangerous chemicals (with hazard symbols, risk and safety phrases)... 

Figure App. 3.3 Chemical carcinogen hazard symbol. Usual colors black symbol on yellow or pale red background.

Substances Hazardous to Health, See also Toxic chemicals, 19, 138, 140 Substitution, 133 Sulphur, 30 Sulphur dioxide first aid, 280, 306 physical properties, 306 physiological properties, 69, 71, 304, 305 precautions, 305, 306 vapour pressure, 305 Suppression, 135 Surface area effects, 50, 199 Symbols for dangerous substances, 446, 452 Synthetic lubricants, 159 Synthetic resins, 172 Systemic poisons, 19, 77... 

A single unstable compound of known composition is placed in the main first volume and is located on the basis of its empirical molecular formula expressed in the Hill system used by Chemical Abstracts (C and H if present, then all other element symbols alphabetically). The use of this indexing basis permits a compound to be located if its structure can be drawn, irrespective of whether a valid name is known for it. A representation of the structure of each compound is given on the third bold title line while the name of the compound appears as the first bold title line. References to the information source are given, followed by a statement of the observed hazard, with any relevant explanation. Cross-reference to similar compounds, often in a group entry, completes the entry. See Trifluoroacetyl nitrite p. 244. 

All chemical substances have to be evaluated to decide if they are classified as dangerous according to the requirements of the DSD. These dangerous properties are communicated to the user by standardised labelling, which consists of a dangerous symbol, information on hazardous properties (risk, R phrases) and advice on safety (S phrases). 

When the NFPA diamond is used for container or vessel labeling, and the white (bottom) quadrant contains the W symbol, the material will react violently or explosively with water, and a chemical reactivity hazard obviously exists. However, if the W symbol is not present, the material may still be water reactive, but at a slower rate, since the pur-pose of the NFPA symbol is to alert emergency responders to significant, immediate water reactivity n. hazards. Water reactivity is often very rapid, but can j also be slow. The reaction may generate sufficient gas Twy to rupture a closed container or vessel. The reaction of f an organic material with water may be delayed due to reaction only occurring at the interface. 

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