This document provides information about hazard symbols used to identify hazardous chemicals and materials. It discusses several common hazard symbols such as corrosive, flammable, toxic, oxidizer, and radioactive. It also describes two systems for classifying hazards: HMIS which rates health, flammability and reactivity on a scale of 0 to 4, and NFPA which uses a diamond shape to indicate the degree of hazards. The document emphasizes that hazard symbols are not a replacement for reading safety data sheets and only provide quick recognition of acute hazards.

1. Sophia Marie D. Verdeflor Grade 9-1 STEP July 21, 2014
Assignment in Consumer Chemistry
CHEMICAL SYMBOLS

4. HAZARDOUS CHEMICAL INFORMATION
Hazard Symbols
For recognition purposes, the hazard symbols in the catalog are
from Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), part 172
(DOT), yet the criteria used for assigning hazard symbols is primarily
from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard
Z129.1 for Hazardous Industrial Chemicals Precautionary
Labeling. The hazard symbols in the catalog are provided only as a
guide for quick recognition of the acute hazards associated with our
chemicals. They are not to be used in lieu of reading the Material
Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) nor do they necessarily reflect correct
DOT markings. Please refer to 49CFR for correct DOT markings.
Corrosive: These substances destroy living
tissue and equipment upon contact.
Caution! Do not breathe vapors; avoid
contact with skin and eyes.
Flammable: Designates those items which
are:
a. Flammable Liquids - Caution! Flash point
below 141F (60.5C).
b. Flammable Solids - Caution! Keep away
from open fires, sources of heat and sparks.
c. Combustible Material - Caution! Flash
point greater than 141F but less than 200F
(or greater than 60.5C but less than 90C).
Keep away from open flames, sources of
heat and sparks.
Note: Most combustible materials sold by
Spectrum are not subject to DOT Hazardous
Materials Regulations per 29CFR 173.150.
Keep Away From Food: Store away from
foodstuffs. Toxic or poisonous materials
which are hazardous to health when inhaled,
swallowed or when they come in contact
with the skin. May even lead to death.
Danger! Avoid contact with the human body
and immediately consult a physician in case
of contact.
Oxidizer: Oxidizing substances can
ignite flammable and combustible
material or worsen existing fire and
thus make fire fighting more difficult.
Caution! Keep away from flammable,
combustible and spontaneously
combustible materials.
Poisonous Substances: Very hazardous
to health when inhaled, swallowed or
when they come in contact with the
skin. May even lead to death. Danger!
Avoid contact with the human body
and immediately contact a physician in
case of contact.
Radioactive: This symbol designates
those substances which have
measurable radioactivity. Caution!
Avoid exposure.

5. HMIS Information
The Hazardous Materials Identification System (HMIS) was developed by the National Paint and Coating
Association to be a visual system using colors and numbers to communicate risk information. It was
designed to be as compatible as possible with hazard communication systems such as ANSI, NIOSH and
others used by industry. The information is communicated through a numerical rating for Health,
Flammability and Reactivity. The numerical ratings range from 0 to 4: a rating of "0" represents little or
no hazard potential, while a "4" rating indicates an extremely high degree of hazard potential. Where
possible, we have made every effort to include the HMIS values for each catalog entry and we believe
them to be accurate at the time of printing. For more details regarding the HMIS, please contact the
NPCA. We also offer a Hazard Identification System wall chart.
Spill Cleanup Kit Icons
A principal element of good laboratory safety practice is to have spill kits close at hand for the cleanup
of hazardous materials. To make ordering the appropriate spill kits easier, we have included icons to
identify which spill kits are appropriate for specific chemicals.
Acid Spill Kit: For neutralizing and
absorbing laboratory spills of acids.
Mercury Spill Kit: A special kit for the cleanup
of mercury spills.
Caustic Spill Kit: For neutralizing and
absorbing laboratory spills of caustics.
Solvent Spill Kit: For the safer cleanup of
solvents, pesticides, herbicides and
flammables.
Key to National Fire Protection Association 704 Ratings
The N.F.P.A. warning diamond is shown for many of the items in this catalog. This widely used
information system clearly defines Health, Fire and Reactivity hazards as well as some specific product
hazards. Numbers in the diamond range designate (from 4 for the greatest to 0 for the least) degree of
hazard. The letter "U" indicates unknown danger. We chose to indicate only the water reactive (W)
special hazard because it supplements the hazard information already identified.
IMPORTANT: The absence of an NFPA number or warning should not be interpreted as an indication of
safety. NFPA information is not available for many items in this catalog!

6. 4Materials which on very short
exposure could cause death or
major residual injury even
though prompt medical
treatment was given.
4 Materials which will rapidly or
completely vaporize at
atmospheric pressure and
normal ambient temperature,
or which are readily dispersed
in air and which will burn
readily.
4Materials which in themselves
are readily capable of
detonation or of explosive
decomposition or reaction at
normal temperatures and
pressures.
3Materials which on short
exposure could cause serious
temporary or residual injury
even through prompt medical
treatment was given.
3 Liquids and solids that can be
ignited under almost all
ambient temperature
conditions.
3Materials which in themselves
are capable of detonation or of
explosive reaction but require a
strong initiating source or
which must be heated under
confinement before initiation
or which react explosively with
water.
2Materials which on intense or
continued exposure could
cause serious temporary
incapacitation or possible
residual injury unless prompt
medical treatment was given.
2 Materials that must be
moderately heated or exposed
to relatively high ambient
temperatures before ignition
can occur.
2Materials which in themselves
are normally unstable and
readily undergo violent
chemical change but do not
detonate. Also materials which
may react violently with water
or which may form potentially
explosive mixtures with water.
1Materials which on exposure
could cause serious temporary
incapacitation or possible
residual injury even if medical
treatment is given.
1 Materials that must be
preheated before ignition can
occur.
1Materials which in themselves
are normally stable, but which
can become unstable at
elevated temperatures and
pressures or which may react
with water with some release
of energy, but not violently.
0Materials which on exposure
under fire conditions would
offer no hazard beyond that of
ordinary combustible material.
0 Materials that will not burn. 0Materials which in themselves
are normally stable, even under
fire exposure conditions, and
which are not reactive with
water.

7. Hazard symbols are recognizable symbols designed to warn about hazardous materials, locations, or
objects, including electric currents, poisons, and other things. The use of hazard symbols is often
regulated by law and directed by standards organizations. Hazard symbols may appear with different
colors, backgrounds, borders and supplemental information in order to specify the type of hazard.
The skull and crossbones, a common symbol for poison and other sources
of lethal danger.
Types of hazard symbols
Name hazard symbol Symbol Unicode Image
General caution ☡ U+2621
Toxic sign ☠ U+2620
Ionizing Radiation sign ☢ U+2622
Radiation danger - high level sources sign ? ?

8. Non-ionizing radiation sign ? ?
Biohazard sign ☣ U+2623
Warning sign ⚠ U+26A0
High voltage sign ⚡ U+26A1
Chemical weapon symbol ? ?
Laser hazard sign ? ?
More hazard signs can be found on the list of DIN 4844-2 warning signs

9. Poison sign
Main article: Skull and crossbones (poison)
Skull and crossbones
The skull-and-crossbones symbol (☠), consisting of a human skull and two bones crossed together
behind the skull, is today generally used as a warning of danger, particularly in regard to poisonous
substances.
Radioactive trefoil symbol
International
radioactive trefoil
symbol
The yellow and
magenta radioactive
trefoil used in the US

10. The early radioactive
trefoil (1946)
The ISO 21482 high
level sealed source
radiation symbol