"Decode the Signs, Prevent the Hazards!
A Visual Guide to
Chemical Safety Pictograms"
FLAME
“These chemicals burn or can release gases that burn.”
Organic
peroxides
Emits
Flammable Flammable
Gas
HAZARDS
Self- Pyrophoric
heating
Self-
reactive
FLAME OVER CIRCLE
“These chemicals give off oxygen and can make a fire spread.”
HAZARD Oxidizers
“Oxidizers are hazardous materials that can increase the risk
of fire or explosion.”
EXPLODING BOMB
“These chemicals can explode.”
EXPLOSIVES
HAZARDS
SELF -
REACTIVE
ORGANIC
PEROXIDE
GAS CYLINDER
“Gases and liquids under pressure can explode.”
“This pictogram is used for both pressurized gases
and liquefied gases such as liquid nitrogen.”
GASES UNDER
HAZARD
PRESSURE
CORROSION
“These chemicals cause permanent damage to skin or eyes.”
“These chemicals destroy metals.”
SKIN
CORROSION/
BURNS
HAZARDS
EYE CORROSIVE
DAMAGE TO METALS
HEALTH HAZARDS
“These chemicals cause serious health problems.”
“Some problems show up immediately, but some
may show up much later.”
CARCINOGEN
ASPIRATION MUTAGENI-
TOXICITY CITY
HAZARDS
TARGET REPRODUC-
ORGAN TIVE
TOXICITY TOXICITY
RESPIRATORY
SENSITIZER
SKULL & CROSS-BONE
“These chemicals are poisons that quickly cause
sickness or death.”
“A toxin may attack one or more parts of the body,
such as the liver, kidneys, nerves, lungs, skin, eyes,
or bone.”
HAZARD
ACUTE TOXICITY
(FATAL OR TOXIC)
EXCLAMATION MARK
“These chemicals cause health problems. Usually less toxic
than chemicals labelled with the Health Hazard or Skull and
Cross-bone pictograms.”
“This pictogram is also used for chemicals that can destroy
the ozone layer.”
HAZARDS
Acute Toxicity
Irritant (skin (harmful)
and eye) Skin
Sensitizer
Hazardous to Narcotic
Ozone Layer Respiratory Tract Effects
Irritant
ENVIRONMENT
“These chemicals are dangerous if they get
into rivers, lakes or oceans.”
AQUATIC
HAZARD TOXICITY
GHS Hazard Pictogram Codes (Globally
Harmonized System)
Pictogram Hazard Category GHS Code (Hazard Class)
Explosive : GHS01 (Class 1: Explosives)
Flammable: GHS02 (Class 2, 3, 4: Flammable gases, liquids, solids)
Oxidizing: GHS03 (Class 5: Oxidizers and organic peroxides)
Gases Under Pressure: GHS04 (Class 2: Compressed, liquefied, or dissolved gases)
Corrosive: GHS05 (Class 8: Corrosive to skin, eyes, and metals)
Acute Toxicity: GHS06 (Class 6: Highly toxic substances)
Harmful / Irritant: GHS07 (Class 6: Irritants, sensitizers, acute toxicity)
Serious Health Hazard: GHS08 (Class 6: Carcinogens, mutagens, reproductive toxins)
Environmental Hazard: GHS09 (Class 9: Harmful to aquatic life)
UN Hazard Class Codes (United Nations
Transport Codes)
NFPA Hazard Codes (National Fire
Protection Association)
“The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) uses a
color-coded diamond to identify the hazards of a material.
This system is called NFPA 704 and is also known as the
NFPA Hazard Diamond.”
ADR & IMDG Codes (Transport
Regulations)
“ADR and IMDG are regulations that govern the transport of dangerous
goods by road and sea, respectively.”
• International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road
• International Maritime Dangerous Goods Transport Code
Summary of Key Safety & Hazard Codes
GHS Codes (GHS01 - GHS09) → For labelling & classification
UN Codes (Class 1 - Class 9) → For transport & handling
NFPA Codes (0-4) → Quick hazard identification
ADR & IMDG Codes → For road & sea transportation
"Knowing the hazard symbols isn’t an
option—it’s a necessity."
