GHS hazard pictograms


Hazard pictograms form part of the international Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals. Two sets of pictograms are included within the GHS: one for the labelling of containers and for workplace hazard warnings, and a second for use during the transport of dangerous goods. Either one or the other is chosen, depending on the target audience, but the two are not used together. The two sets of pictograms use the same symbols for the same hazards, although certain symbols are not required for transport pictograms. Transport pictograms come in wider variety of colors and may contain additional information such as a subcategory number.
Hazard pictograms are one of the key elements for the labelling of containers under the GHS, along with:
The GHS chemical hazard pictograms are intended to provide the basis for or to replace national systems of hazard pictograms. It has still to be implemented by the European Union in 2009.
The GHS transport pictograms are the same as those recommended in the UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, widely implemented in national regulations such as the U.S. Federal Hazardous Materials Transportation Act and D.O.T. regulations at 49 C.F.R. 100–185.

Physical hazards pictograms

Usage

  • Flammable gases, category 1
  • Flammable aerosols, categories 1, 2
  • Flammable liquids, categories 1, 2, 3, 4
  • Flammable solids, categories 1, 2
  • Self-reactive substances and mixtures, types B, C, D, E, F
  • Pyrophoric liquids, category 1
  • Pyrophoric solids, category 1
  • Combustible solids, category 3
  • Combustible liquids, category 3
  • Self-heating substances and mixtures, categories 1, 2
  • Substances and mixtures, which in contact with water, emit flammable gases, categories 1, 2, 3
  • Organic peroxides, types B, C, D, E, F
GHS02: Flammable
  • Flammable gases, category 1
  • Flammable aerosols, categories 1, 2
  • Flammable liquids, categories 1, 2, 3, 4
  • Flammable solids, categories 1, 2
  • Self-reactive substances and mixtures, types B, C, D, E, F
  • Pyrophoric liquids, category 1
  • Pyrophoric solids, category 1
  • Combustible solids, category 3
  • Combustible liquids, category 3
  • Self-heating substances and mixtures, categories 1, 2
  • Substances and mixtures, which in contact with water, emit flammable gases, categories 1, 2, 3
  • Organic peroxides, types B, C, D, E, F

Usage

  • Oxidizing gases, category 1
  • Oxidizing liquids, categories 1, 2, 3
  • Oxidizing solids, categories 1, 2, 3
GHS03: Oxidizing
  • Oxidizing gases, category 1
  • Oxidizing liquids, categories 1, 2, 3
  • Oxidizing solids, categories 1, 2, 3

Usage

  • Compressed gases
  • Liquefied gases
  • Refrigerated liquefied gases
  • Dissolved gases
GHS04: Compressed Gas
  • Compressed gases
  • Liquefied gases
  • Refrigerated liquefied gases
  • Dissolved gases

    • Usage

    • Corrosive to metals, category 1
    GHS05: Corrosive
    • Corrosive to metals, category 1


    Usage

    • Explosives, divisions 1.5, 1.6
    • Flammable gases, category 2
    • Self-reactive substances and mixtures, type G
    • Organic peroxides, type G
    no pictogram required
  • Explosives, divisions 1.5, 1.6
  • Flammable gases, category 2
  • Self-reactive substances and mixtures, type G
  • Organic peroxides, type G

    • Health hazards pictograms

    Usage

    • Acute toxicity, category 4
    • Skin irritation, categories 2, 3
    • Eye irritation, category 2A
    • Skin sensitization, category 1
    • Specific target organ toxicity following single exposure, category 3
    • *Respiratory tract irritation
    • *Narcotic effects
    ;Not used
    • with the "skull and crossbones" pictogram
    • for skin or eye irritation if:
    • *the "corrosion" pictogram also appears
    • *the "health hazard" pictogram is used to indicate respiratory sensitization
    GHS07: Harmful
  • Acute toxicity, category 4
  • Skin irritation, categories 2, 3
  • Eye irritation, category 2A
  • Skin sensitization, category 1
  • Specific target organ toxicity following single exposure, category 3
  • *Respiratory tract irritation
  • *Narcotic effects
    • ;Not used
    • with the "skull and crossbones" pictogram
    • for skin or eye irritation if:
    • *the "corrosion" pictogram also appears
    • *the "health hazard" pictogram is used to indicate respiratory sensitization
    Usage

    • Respiratory sensitization, category 1
    • Germ cell mutagenicity, categories 1A, 1B, 2
    • Carcinogenicity, categories 1A, 1B, 2
    • Reproductive toxicity, categories 1A, 1B, 2
    • Specific target organ toxicity following single exposure, categories 1, 2
    • Specific target organ toxicity following repeated exposure, categories 1, 2
    • Aspiration hazard, categories 1, 2
    GHS08: Health hazard
  • Respiratory sensitization, category 1
  • Germ cell mutagenicity, categories 1A, 1B, 2
  • Carcinogenicity, categories 1A, 1B, 2
  • Reproductive toxicity, categories 1A, 1B, 2
  • Specific target organ toxicity following single exposure, categories 1, 2
  • Specific target organ toxicity following repeated exposure, categories 1, 2
  • Aspiration hazard, categories 1, 2
    • Usage

    • Acute toxicity, category 5
    • Eye irritation, category 2B
    • Reproductive toxicity – effects on or via lactation
    no pictogram required
  • Acute toxicity, category 5
  • Eye irritation, category 2B
  • Reproductive toxicity – effects on or via lactation

    • Physical and health hazard pictograms

    Usage

    • Explosives, divisions 1.5, 1.6
    • Flammable gases, category 2
    • Self-reactive substances and mixtures, type G
    • Organic peroxides, type G
    • Skin corrosion, categories 1A, 1B, 1C
    • Serious eye damage, category 1
    GHS05: Corrosive
  • Explosives, divisions 1.5, 1.6
  • Flammable gases, category 2
  • Self-reactive substances and mixtures, type G
  • Organic peroxides, type G
  • Skin corrosion, categories 1A, 1B, 1C
  • Serious eye damage, category 1

    • Environmental hazards pictograms

    Usage

    • Acute hazards to the aquatic environment, categories 2, 3
    • Chronic hazards to the aquatic environment, categories 3, 4
    no pictogram required
  • Acute hazards to the aquatic environment, categories 2, 3
  • Chronic hazards to the aquatic environment, categories 3, 4

    • Transport pictograms

    Class 1: Explosives

    Usage

    ;Explosives
    Substances and articles which are classified as explosives but which present no significant hazard
    ;Note
    The asterisk is replaced by the compatibility code
    Division 1.4
    ;Explosives
    Substances and articles which are classified as explosives but which present no significant hazard
    ;Note
    The asterisk is replaced by the compatibility code

    Usage

    ;Explosives
    Very insensitive substances which have a mass explosion hazard
    ;Note
    The asterisk is replaced by the compatibility code
    Division 1.5
    ;Explosives
    Very insensitive substances which have a mass explosion hazard
    ;Note
    The asterisk is replaced by the compatibility code

    Usage

    ;Explosives
    No hazard statement
    ;Note
    The asterisk is replaced by the compatibility code
    Division 1.6
    ;Explosives
    No hazard statement
    ;Note
    The asterisk is replaced by the compatibility code

    Class 2: Gases

    Usage

    ;Non-flammable non-toxic gases
    Gases which:
    • are asphyxiant – gases which dilute or replace the oxygen normally in the atmosphere; or
    • are oxidizing – gases which may, generally by providing oxygen, cause or contribute to the combustion of other material more than air does; or
    • do not come under the other divisions;
    Alternative sign
    Division 2.2
    ;Non-flammable non-toxic gases
    Gases which:
    • are asphyxiant – gases which dilute or replace the oxygen normally in the atmosphere; or
    • are oxidizing – gases which may, generally by providing oxygen, cause or contribute to the combustion of other material more than air does; or
    • do not come under the other divisions;
    Alternative sign

    Usage

    ;Toxic gases
    Gases which:
    • are known to be so toxic or corrosive to humans as to pose a hazard to health; or
    • are presumed to be toxic or corrosive to humans because they have an LC50 value equal to or less than 5000 ml/m3.
    Division 2.3 ;Toxic gases
    Gases which:
    • are known to be so toxic or corrosive to humans as to pose a hazard to health; or
    • are presumed to be toxic or corrosive to humans because they have an LC50 value equal to or less than 5000 ml/m3.

    Classes 3 and 4: Flammable liquids and solids

    Usage

    ;Flammable solids, self-reactive substances and solid desensitized explosives
    Solids which, under conditions encountered in transport, are readily combustible or may
    cause or contribute to fire through friction; self-reactive substances which are liable to
    undergo a strongly exothermic reaction; solid desensitized explosives which may explode
    if not diluted sufficiently
    Division 4.1
    ;Flammable solids, self-reactive substances and solid desensitized explosives
    Solids which, under conditions encountered in transport, are readily combustible or may
    cause or contribute to fire through friction; self-reactive substances which are liable to
    undergo a strongly exothermic reaction; solid desensitized explosives which may explode
    if not diluted sufficiently

    Usage

    ;Substances liable to spontaneous combustion
    Substances which are liable to spontaneous heating under normal conditions encountered
    in transport, or to heating up in contact with air, and being then liable to catch fire
    Division 4.2
    ;Substances liable to spontaneous combustion
    Substances which are liable to spontaneous heating under normal conditions encountered
    in transport, or to heating up in contact with air, and being then liable to catch fire

    Usage

    ;Substances which in contact with water emit flammable gases
    Substances which, by interaction with water, are liable to become spontaneously
    flammable or to give off flammable gases in dangerous quantities
    Alternative sign
    Division 4.3
    ;Substances which in contact with water emit flammable gases
    Substances which, by interaction with water, are liable to become spontaneously
    flammable or to give off flammable gases in dangerous quantities
    Alternative sign

    Other GHS transport classes

    Usage

    ;Organic peroxides
    Organic substances which contain the bivalent –O–O– structure and may be considered
    derivatives of hydrogen peroxide, where one or both of the hydrogen atoms have been
    replaced by organic radicals
    Alternative sign
    Division 5.2
    ;Organic peroxides
    Organic substances which contain the bivalent –O–O– structure and may be considered
    derivatives of hydrogen peroxide, where one or both of the hydrogen atoms have been
    replaced by organic radicals
    Alternative sign

    Usage

    ;Toxic substances
    Substances with an LD50 value ≤ 300 mg/kg or ≤ 1000 mg/kg or an LC50 value ≤ 4000 ml/m3
    Division 6.1
    ;Toxic substances
    Substances with an LD50 value ≤ 300 mg/kg or ≤ 1000 mg/kg or an LC50 value ≤ 4000 ml/m3

    Usage

    ;Corrosive substances
    Substances which:
    • cause full thickness destruction of intact skin tissue on exposure time of less than 4 hours; or
    • exhibit a corrosion rate of more than 6.25 mm per year on either steel or aluminium surfaces at 55 °C
    Class 8 ;Corrosive substances
    Substances which:
    • cause full thickness destruction of intact skin tissue on exposure time of less than 4 hours; or
    • exhibit a corrosion rate of more than 6.25 mm per year on either steel or aluminium surfaces at 55 °C

    Non-GHS transport pictograms

    The following pictograms are included in the UN Model Regulations but have not been incorporated into the GHS because of the nature of the hazards.