Standardised symbols

Exploding bomb

Marks chemicals that can explode.

A spherical bomb bursting, with fragments and radiating lines thrown outward from the point of rupture.

Applies to. Section 2.1 Unstable explosives; Explosives of Divisions 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4. Section 2.8 Self reactive substances and mixtures, Types A, B. Section 2.15 Organic peroxides, Types A, B.

Compulsory in. European Union — Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP), Annex V · United States — 29 CFR 1910.1200 (Hazard Communication Standard)

Flame

Marks chemicals that catch fire easily, ignite on their own, or give off flammable gas.

A single flame with a wavy outline, rising from a horizontal line at the base.

Applies to. Section 2.2 Flammable gases, hazard categories 1A, 1B. Section 2.3 Aerosols, hazard categories 1, 2. Section 2.6 Flammable liquids, hazard categories 1, 2, 3. Section 2.7 Flammable solids, hazard categories 1, 2. Section 2.8 Self-reactive substances and mixtures, Types B, C, D, E, F. Section 2.9 Pyrophoric liquids, hazard category 1. Section 2.10 Pyrophoric solids, hazard category 1. Section 2.11 Self-heating substances and mixtures, hazard categories 1, 2. Section 2.12 Substances and mixtures, which in contact with water, emit flammable gases, hazard categories 1, 2, 3. Section 2.15 Organic peroxides, Types B, C, D, E, F. Section 2.17 Desensitised explosives, hazard categories 1, 2, 3, 4.

Compulsory in. European Union — Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP), Annex V · United States — 29 CFR 1910.1200 (Hazard Communication Standard)

Flame over circle

Marks chemicals that feed a fire by supplying oxygen, making other materials burn harder.

A flame with a wavy outline rising above a plain circle that sits on a horizontal line.

Applies to. Section 2.4 Oxidising gases, hazard category 1. Section 2.13 Oxidising liquids, hazard categories 1, 2, 3. Section 2.14 Oxidising solids, hazard categories 1, 2, 3.

Compulsory in. European Union — Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP), Annex V · United States — 29 CFR 1910.1200 (Hazard Communication Standard)

Gas cylinder

Marks contents held under pressure, which can burst or release violently.

An upright cylindrical gas bottle with a rounded shoulder and a narrow neck valve, shown in side view.

Applies to. Section 2.5 Gases under pressure: Compressed gases; Liquefied gases; Refrigerated liquefied gases; Dissolved gases.

Compulsory in. European Union — Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP), Annex V · United States — 29 CFR 1910.1200 (Hazard Communication Standard)

Corrosion

Marks chemicals that eat into skin, eyes or metal on contact.

Two streams pouring from tilted test tubes, one onto a flat surface and one onto a human hand, each producing a bitten-away notch beneath.

Applies to. Section 2.16 Corrosive to metals, hazard category 1. Section 3.2 Skin corrosion, hazard category 1 and sub-categories 1A, 1B, 1C. Section 3.3 Serious eye damage, hazard category 1.

Compulsory in. European Union — Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP), Annex V · United States — 29 CFR 1910.1200 (Hazard Communication Standard)

Skull and crossbones

Marks chemicals that can kill or seriously poison after a single short exposure.

A human skull facing forward above two long bones crossed in an X behind it.

Applies to. Section 3.1 Acute toxicity (oral, dermal, inhalation), hazard categories 1, 2, 3.

Compulsory in. European Union — Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP), Annex V · United States — 29 CFR 1910.1200 (Hazard Communication Standard)

Exclamation mark

Marks chemicals that irritate skin, eyes or airways, or are harmful but not deadly in a single exposure.

An exclamation mark: a tapering vertical stroke above a separate dot.

Applies to. Section 3.1 Acute toxicity (oral, dermal, inhalation), hazard category 4. Section 3.2 Skin irritation, hazard category 2. Section 3.3 Eye irritation, hazard category 2. Section 3.4 Skin sensitisation, hazard categories 1, 1A, 1B. Section 3.8 Specific Target Organ Toxicity - Single exposure, hazard category 3: Respiratory tract irritation; Narcotic effects. Section 5.1 Hazardous to the ozone layer, hazard category 1 (Part 4, Additional hazards).

Compulsory in. European Union — Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP), Annex V · United States — 29 CFR 1910.1200 (Hazard Communication Standard)

Health hazard

Marks chemicals that cause serious longer-term harm - cancer, genetic damage, harm to fertility or an unborn child, or damage to specific organs.

A human torso in outline, seen from the front, with a white eight-pointed starburst overlaid on the chest.

Applies to. Section 3.4 Respiratory sensitisation, hazard categories 1, 1A, 1B. Section 3.5 Germ cell mutagenicity, hazard categories 1A, 1B, 2. Section 3.6 Carcinogenicity, hazard categories 1A, 1B, 2. Section 3.7 Reproductive toxicity, hazard categories 1A, 1B, 2. Section 3.8 Specific Target Organ Toxicity - Single exposure, hazard categories 1, 2. Section 3.9 Specific Target Organ Toxicity - Repeated exposure, hazard categories 1, 2. Section 3.10 Aspiration hazard, hazard category 1.

Compulsory in. European Union — Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP), Annex V · United States — 29 CFR 1910.1200 (Hazard Communication Standard)

Environment

Marks chemicals that poison rivers, lakes and sea life.

A dead fish lying on its side above a horizontal water line, beside a leafless tree.

Applies to. Section 4.1 Hazardous to the aquatic environment - Acute hazard category: Acute 1; Long-term hazard categories: Chronic 1, Chronic 2.

Compulsory in. European Union — Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP), Annex V · United States — 29 CFR 1910.1200 (Hazard Communication Standard)

United States. Non-mandatory in the United States. The OSHA QuickCard prints '(non-mandatory)' beside the Environment pictogram; under CLP Annex V Part 3 it is required for Aquatic Acute 1 and Chronic 1-2. The same mark, the same meaning, compulsory on one side of the Atlantic and optional on the other.