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The CLP Regulation requires all hazardous substances to be labeled with the 9 hazard pictograms from the UN’s Globally Harmonized System. In this blog article, we provide a high-level view of the hazardous substance groups, their hazard characteristics and examples.
The German Hazardous Substances Regulation (GefStoffV) and German Major Incident Regulation (StörfallV) inform all work involving hazardous substances. The StörfallV imposes certain conditions on large-scale users of hazardous substances. Both regulations require certain precautions to be taken to protect human health and the environment. The substances are listed and explained below.
(Pictogram: skull and crossbones)
Even in very small quantities, these substances can cause acute damage to health and be fatal if inhaled, swallowed or absorbed through the skin.
Even in small quantities, these substances can cause acute damage to health and be fatal if inhaled, swallowed or absorbed through the skin.
(Pictogram: health hazard)
Substances that pose serious health hazards can cause chronic health damage to organs, for example.
All hazardous substances that can cause cancer, alter genetic material or impair reproduction must also be marked with the “health hazard” symbol.
(Pictogram: exploding bomb)
Explosive hazardous substances can explode by impact, friction, heating, fire or other ignition sources.
(Pictogram: flame)
Flammable substances can be ignited by an ignition source at a temperature as low as 23 °C with a boiling point not exceeding 35 °C. Since these substances are already gaseous or evaporate at low temperatures, there is a risk of explosion when mixed with air and exposed to a nearby ignition source, such as a lit cigarette.
This class includes all liquid substances that can be ignited by an ignition source below 23 °C and whose boiling point is above 35 °C.
Substances that can be ignited by an ignition source at temperatures of 23 °C and above are classified as flammable liquids. Liquids that can only be ignited at a temperature of more than 60 °C no longer belong to this group.
(Pictogram: flame above a circle)
Oxidizing substances are not usually flammable on their own. However, they can considerably increase fire hazards and the severity of an existing fire when brought into contact with flammable substances.
Substances are considered harmful to the environment if they or their conversion products are acutely or chronically hazardous to water. These hazardous substances must be marked with the “environmental hazard” GHS pictogram.
(Pictogram: corrosive)
These hazardous substances are corrosive, i.e. they can attack and destroy surfaces or living tissue. Corrosives include acids, bases and compounds that have an alkaline or acidic reaction with water. These hazardous substances can be organic or inorganic, solid, liquid or gaseous. Corrosive gases can damage the airways and lungs even in low concentrations. Liquids are particularly dangerous if they get into eyes or onto skin and attack the tissue.
(Pictogram: exclamation mark)
Substances bearing this label irritate the skin and mucous membranes on single or repeated contact. This can cause inflammation of the affected areas.
An exclamation mark is also used to label harmful substances that can cause acute health damage if swallowed, inhaled or absorbed through the skin.
(Pictogram: gas cylinder)
This is a new hazard class for compressed, liquefied, cryogenic or dissolved gas. The pressure must be more than 200 kPa.
Hazardous substances must not only be marked with GHS pictograms; they must also be listed in a hazardous substances list. To learn how to prepare a risk assessment with an exposure register, see the article “Assessing the risk of hazardous substances”.
Note: Some of the examples cited for individual classes of hazardous substances actually require multiple pictograms.
Proper labeling is only one aspect of safe hazardous substance handling. You can read about the others in our checklist, “10 questions you should ask about how hazardous substances are handled at your company”.
With this checklist, you will have all hazardous substances under control! (German only)
Airborne hazardous substances at the workplace can have health consequences for you and your workforce. That is why the risk has to be regularly measured.
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