Symbols of Danger: Understanding GHS Pictograms

Procrastination is a deadly disease. However, not complying with GHS standards can be deadlier to your business — especially if you’re dealing with chemical hazards.

Save your company from this double whammy! The deadline to be in full compliance with GHS standards is June 2016, but that doesn’t mean you won’t have to still conduct a GHS training, update labeling or edit your  Safety Data Sheet from time to time

Brush up on the universally-standardized GHS pictograms. These diamond-shaped symbols come in handy when you need to alert your workers of the chemical hazards they can be exposed to.

So what are you waiting for? The clock is ticking, so roll up your sleeves, and let’s go over these pictograms!

HEALTH HAZARD: Carcinogen, Mutagenicity, Reproductive Toxicity, Respiratory Sensitizer, Target Organ Toxicity, or Aspiration Toxicity	FLAME: Flammables, Pyrophorics, Self-Heating, Emits Flammable Gas, Self-Reactives, or Organic Peroxides	EXCLAMATION MARK: Irritant (skin and eye), Skin Sensitizer, Acute Toxicity, Narcotic Effects, Respiratory Tract Irritant, or Hazardous to Ozone Layer (Non-Mandatory)
GAS CYLINDER: Gases Under Pressure	CORROSION: Skin Corrosion/Burns, Eye Damage, or Corrosive to Metals	EXPLODING BOMB: Explosives, Self-Reactives, or Organic Peroxides
FLAME OVER CIRCLE: Oxidizers	ENVIRONMENT (Non-Mandatory): Aquatic Toxicity	SKULLS AND CROSSBONES: Acute Toxicity (fatal or toxic)

Come to think of it, if a picture says a thousand words, then GHS pictograms would have screamed “Danger!” a thousand times! But hey, they’re just doing their job (and that’s what you need them for anyway)! So now it’s your job to apply and share what you have learned, not just to comply with government standards, but to keep your workers safe as well.

Editor’s Note: How do you train your workers to know these pictograms by heart? Let us know in the comments section below!