A Guide to Choosing Your GHS Signal Word

If dealing with hazardous chemicals is a regular part of your workday, you or someone in your company is likely responsible for producing GHS labels. That means you know you’ve got to include a signal word. While this may sound like a simple task, you’ve probably found that it’s a little more complicated than meets the eye.

Signal words must be chosen carefully, as they serve as a first warning to anyone who comes into contact with the chemical. They are also an important part of GHS labeling requirements, and getting them wrong could result in serious consequences.

But what exactly are they and how do you choose the right one for your product? To help you navigate this process, we’ve put together a guide to choosing signal words that will ensure your labels are accurate and GHS-compliant.

If you’re familiar with GHS labels, you already know about the required elements like hazard statements and precautionary statements. While these provide important information, they are not always the first thing that catches a person’s attention. That’s where signal words come in.

Signal words are meant to quickly communicate the level of hazard associated with a particular chemical.

The Globally Harmonized System (GHS) of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals has established certain signal words to indicate the level of severity associated with a chemical. 

These standardized words are used on labels and Safety Data Sheets (SDS) to quickly convey important information about the chemical hazards posed by a particular substance. They serve as an introduction to the more detailed information found on the label.

There are two signal words to choose from:

• “Danger” 
• “Warning”

Both words are intended to convey a sense of urgency, but they have different meanings. Let’s take a closer look at each one.

The signal word “danger” is used for more severe hazards that can cause serious injury or death. For instance, flammable gasses, extremely toxic substances, and combustible liquids are some of the hazardous materials that require careful handling and storage.

It is crucial to take proper precautions and follow safety guidelines when dealing with these potentially dangerous substances.

“Danger” includes physical hazards such as:

• Flammability
• Corrosivity
• Oxidizers
• Compressed gasses
• Self-reactive substances and mixtures
• Pyrophoric liquids, solids, or gasses
• Organic peroxides

In addition to physical hazards, the “danger” signal word is also used for certain health hazards such as:

• Acute toxicity (oral, dermal, inhalation)
• Carcinogenicity
• Respiratory sensitization
• Germ cell mutagenicity

Including this word in your label helps to immediately grab the attention of anyone handling the chemical and indicates that special precautions need to be taken.

On the other hand, the signal word “warning” is used for less severe hazards that may still cause some harm or irritation. These include physical hazards such as:

• Skin or eye irritants
• Skin sensitizer
• Hazardous to the aquatic environment

In terms of health hazards, the “warning” signal word is used for:

• Acute toxicity (oral, dermal, inhalation)
• Skin corrosion/irritation
• Serious eye damage/eye irritation

Having a “warning” signal word on your label indicates that the chemical may require some caution when handling, but it is not as dangerous as those labeled with “danger”.

Even though there may be multiple hazards, there should be only one signal word on the label, no matter how many hazards a chemical may have.

If one of the hazards warrants a “Danger” signal word and another warrants the signal word “Warning,” then only “Danger” should appear on the label.

This is to avoid confusion and ensure that the most critical hazard is highlighted.

Therefore, it is important for manufacturers and suppliers to accurately assess the hazards of a chemical and choose the appropriate signal word for effective labeling.

So, how do you decide which signal word to use on your GHS label? 

The signal word plays a crucial role in chemical classification. It is determined by the GHS hazard class, which considers the physical and health hazards of a chemical. Once classified, the right signal word is chosen based on the severity of its hazards.

Understanding the intricacies of signal words is key to safety when handling chemicals. 

Be sure to remember:

• The distinction between ‘danger’ and ‘warning’
• The rule of using a single signal word even with multiple hazards
• The method of selecting the appropriate word based on hazard severity.

These factors together serve as an essential guide to choosing the correct signal word.

This knowledge is invaluable for manufacturers, suppliers, and users alike, ensuring caution is taken and potential harm is minimized. So, always pay attention to the signal word on a chemical label and take appropriate safety measures accordingly.

If you have questions about GHS requirements, reach out to the friendly team at Smith Corona for help.