The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) developed a hazard labeling system using diamond-shaped labels to indicate the health, flammability, and reactivity risks of chemicals. Each label section uses a number from 0-4 to rate the risk, with 4 being the most dangerous. Special symbols in the bottom section identify additional hazards like poisons, corrosives, or materials that react with water.

1. Lab Safety
Hazard Label

2. The National Fire Protection Association
(NFPA) has developed a system to indicate
the health, flammability, and reactivity
hazards of chemicals. In addition, a special
precaution symbol may be used.

3. Hazard Labels
• The NFPA’s hazard labels are shaped like
diamonds. The top section reveals the
flammability of a substance. The left section
indicates a substance’s health hazards. The
right section tells how reactive a substance is
with other substances.

4. Flammability
Health
Reactive
Special Hazard Information

5. Hazard Label

6. Hazard Label
4- Extreme Hazard
3- Serious Hazard
2- Moderate Hazard
1- Slight Hazard
0- Minimal Hazard

7. • Numbers ranging from 0 to 4 are
recorded in each of the top three
diamonds to indicate how dangerous a
substance is. A four is the most
dangerous, while zero is the least
dangerous.
• The bottom section is for special
hazard information. It may be empty,
but some symbols that can appear in
this section are:

8. Poison
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9. Corrosive
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10. Reacts with water
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11. Lasers being used
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12. Goggles needed
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13. Biohazard
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14. Radioactive
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15. Flammable
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16. Cancer Causing
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17. Electric Shock Warning
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18. safety.science.tamu.edu
Reacts with oxygen to form
compounds such as oxides.
Why might this be dangerous?

19. Explosion Hazard
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