Navigating the intricate world of chemical safety can be a daunting task, but understanding GHS pictograms is essential for ensuring the well-being of those who handle hazardous materials.

From factory floors to research labs, the right GHS pictograms are not just a regulatory requirement — they are guardians of safety, providing crucial information at a glance.

In this guide, we’ll demystify the process of choosing the appropriate pictograms for GHS labeling, ensuring your compliance and the safety of your workplace is never compromised.

What Are GHS Pictograms

If you’re familiar with GHS labeling, you may have come across the term “pictogram” among the other elements of GHS labels. But what exactly are GHS pictograms? And why are they so important?

GHS pictograms are standardized symbols used to convey information about hazardous chemicals on labels and safety data sheets (SDS). They were developed by the United Nations as part of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) to improve communication and understanding of chemical hazards across borders.

There are a total of nine GHS pictograms, each representing a different hazard category. These categories include:

  • Chemical/physical risk
  • Health risk
  • Environmental risk

Chemical/Physical Risk

The GHS pictograms that fall under chemical/physical risk are the most recognizable and commonly used. They indicate the potential hazards associated with a chemical’s physical properties, such as flammability, explosiveness, and more. 

Flame

The flame pictogram identifies substances that can catch fire and burn easily. This includes hazards like:

  • Flammable liquids, solids, and gases
  • Self-reactive substances and mixtures
  • Pyrophoric substances and mixtures
  • Organic peroxides
Explosive

This pictogram of an exploding bomb warns of chemical substances or mixtures that are explosive.

It identifies hazards such as:

  • Explosives
  • Self-reactive substances
  • Organic peroxides
Oxidizing

The oxidizing pictogram depicts a flame over a circle and indicates substances that can cause or contribute to combustion, even without an ignition source.

Gas Cylinder

The gas cylinder pictogram represents gasses under pressure that can explode or cause other hazards if not handled properly.

Corrosive

The corrosion pictogram warns of substances that can cause serious damage to skin, eyes, and other materials due to their corrosive properties.

Health Risk

The GHS pictograms labeled as health risks inform users about the potential dangers to personal health when handling hazardous chemicals.

Health Hazard

This pictogram indicates long-term or chronic health hazards associated with exposure to a hazardous substance. These include:

  • Carcinogenic substances
  • Reproductive toxicity
  • Mutagenicity
  • Respiratory sensitization
  • Target organ toxicity
  • Aspiration toxicity
Corrosive

In addition to being a chemical/physical risk, corrosives are also a health risk.

Acute Toxic

The acute toxic pictogram depicts an exclamation mark and identifies these hazards:

  • Acute toxicity through ingestion, inhalation, or skin absorption
  • Narcotic effects
  • Respiratory tract irritation or infection
  • Skin and eye irritant
  • Skin sensitizer
Severe Toxic

The severe toxic pictogram depicts a skull and crossbones and identifies more severe hazards than those listed under acute toxicity that are fatal or toxic.

Environmental Risk

These GHS pictograms warn users of the potential hazards to the environment when handling certain chemicals. The environmental pictogram is not mandated in the United States, as the revised OSHA standard states that environmental risks are the responsibility of the Environmental Protection Agency.

Aquatic Toxicity

The aquatic toxicity pictogram depicts a fish and water to represent substances that can cause harm to aquatic life.

Choosing the Right GHS Pictogram

Each GHS pictogram serves as a visual warning to help users identify potential hazards associated with the use of hazardous chemicals. It is essential to choose the correct pictogram to accurately convey these hazards and ensure the safety of workers and the environment.

When selecting a GHS pictogram, be sure to consider the following factors:

  • The classification of the chemical based on its physical, health, and environmental hazards.
  • The intended audience for the chemical, such as workers, consumers, or emergency responders.
  • The required pictogram(s) based on the regulatory standards in your country or region.
  • Any additional information or warnings that may need to be communicated through supplementary labeling or safety data sheets (SDS).

By understanding the function and meaning of each GHS pictogram, you can effectively communicate the potential hazards associated with hazardous chemicals and promote safe handling and disposal practices. If you have questions about GHS pictograms, reach out to the team at Smith Corona for help!