Chemical symbol changes
No doubt you are already familiar with the
orange and black hazardous substance
symbols, after all they have been around for
almost 50 years! You find them on items such
as household cleaning products right up to
very hazardous acids. They have been around
since 1967 when the Dangerous Substances
Directive (67/548/EEC) was passed.
From 2009 the European symbols are being replaced by international symbols
due to the law on chemical classification and labelling being changed. You will
see that many of the pictures within the symbols, now called pictograms, are
the same, but all of them are now a
diamond shape and there is no text to
describe the hazard. You will also
note that the hazard symbols are no
longer black printing on orange
squares, but that there are now nine
hazard pictograms with black symbols
on a white background trimmed with
a red-rimmed rhombus. There are
also three completely new
pictograms.
The Classification, Labelling and Packaging Regulation (CLP) adopts the United
Nations’ new Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of
Chemicals (GHS) across all European Union countries. It has had a long
transitional period from 20 January 2009, but it applies in full from 1 June
2015. This means that the old Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging
for supply) Regulations (CHIP) and, therefore the symbols, will be revoked on
packaging. From 1 June 2015 chemical suppliers must comply with the CLP
Regulation.
Therefore, if you use chemicals at work you should:
•
•
•
Provide your employees with adequate information, instruction and
training with regard to the changes, if you are an employer
Follow the advice provided on the new labels and, where appropriate, in
Safety Data Sheets. When a product is ‘dangerous for supply’, by law,
the supplier must provide you with a safety data sheet. Although,
medicines, pesticides and cosmetic products have different legislation and
don’t have safety data sheets
Look out for the changes, check that you are doing what is needed in
order to use the chemical safety and, if you are an employer, warn your
employees about the changes
•
Speak to your chemical suppliers if you don’t understand the changes or
have any questions
The implementation of GHS has already started and will run in parallel with the
old CHIP system until the implementation of GHS into safety data sheets, which
is to be completed by 1 June 2017. As a result you will find some chemicals
still using the old CHIP system for safety data sheets and some using the new
GHS system.
Also remember that other laws apply when using chemicals at work in order to
ensure that employees are protected ie Control of Substances Hazardous to
Health (COSHH). Therefore, if the old CHIP symbols are in your COSHH
assessments these should be reviewed to display the new pictograms. If you
would like one of our revised COSHH templates, please register via the ‘Free
Download’ section on the homepage of our website and we will send you one.
New
Pictogram
Number
Hazard Class (CLP)
GHS-01
Explosive - Self-reactive substances
and organic peroxides that may cause
explosion when heated
Old ‘CHIP’ Symbol
Explosive
GHS-02
Flammable gases, aerosols, liquids or
solids, such as:
• Self-reactive substances and
mixtures that may cause fire when
heated
• Pyrophoric liquids and solids that
may catch fire when in contact with
air
Highly/Extremely
Flammable
• Self-heating substances and
mixtures
• Substances and mixtures which in
contact with water emit flammable
gases
GHS-03
Oxidising gases, liquids and solids
which can cause or intensify fire and
explosion
Oxidising
New
Pictogram
Number
GHS-04
Hazard Class (CLP)
Compressed gas/Gas under pressure
may explode when heated
Old ‘CHIP’ Symbol
Currently no symbol
Refrigerated gas may cause cryogenic
burns or injuries
Dissolved gases
GHS-05
Corrosive to metals and can cause
severe skin burns and eye damage
Corrosive
GHS-06
Toxic/Very toxic – Handling a chemical
that is acutely toxic in contact with
skin, if inhaled or ingested, could be
fatal
Toxic/Very
Toxic
GHS-07
Harmful
Irritant/Harmful means acutely toxic.
Causes skin and eye irritation, skin
sensitisation, respiratory irritation,
has narcotic effects ie causes
drowsiness/dizziness and hazardous
to the ozone layer
Harmful/Irritant
GHS-08
Longer term health hazards with one
or more of the following:
• Respiratory sensitisation which may
cause allergy, asthma or breathing
difficulties when inhaled
• Causes germ cell mutagenicity
Currently no specific
symbol, use either
• Carcinogenicity
• Affects fertility and unborn child
• Toxicity to specific organs
• May be fatal or harmful if swallowed
or if it enters airways
GHS-09
Hazardous to the environment and
causes of aquatic toxicity
Dangerous to the
environment