Hazardous substances are often classified if they are dangerous and have the potential to harm people. There are different types of hazards and each dangerous goods that contains a hazard has packaging that includes a diamond shaped sign with a different color in the middle. Each color represents a different hazard.
Hazardous substances can be:
All flammable hazards are shown with a red diamond as red symbolizes heat, fire and danger. Anything that could be oxidizing is represented with a yellow diamond and substances that are flammable has an orange diamond as this is a mixture of flammable hazards and oxidizing hazards which create fire and red and yellow together make orange. Anything that is non-flammable and non-toxic has a green diamond.
The GHS is an organization which is responsible for the labeling standards and classification of hazardous substances. GHS stands for Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals and their rules are used around the world on the packaging of hazardous products.
Having a worldwide classification is necessary to ensure the safety of everyone and means that the dangers of any product are understood by everyone; even when they are traded and sent around the world.
The GHS is responsible for designing the labels used all over the world to classify hazards. They decide if a word should be included on the sign and what type of picture should be shown. The picture must be recognizable internationally and it will usually be combined with a word that most people will understand.
Hazardous substances can be:
- Toxic
- Flammable
- Explosive
- Allergenic
- Radioactive
- Bio-hazardous
- Oxidizing
- Corrosive
- Asphyxiating
- Pathogenic
All flammable hazards are shown with a red diamond as red symbolizes heat, fire and danger. Anything that could be oxidizing is represented with a yellow diamond and substances that are flammable has an orange diamond as this is a mixture of flammable hazards and oxidizing hazards which create fire and red and yellow together make orange. Anything that is non-flammable and non-toxic has a green diamond.
The GHS is an organization which is responsible for the labeling standards and classification of hazardous substances. GHS stands for Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals and their rules are used around the world on the packaging of hazardous products.
Having a worldwide classification is necessary to ensure the safety of everyone and means that the dangers of any product are understood by everyone; even when they are traded and sent around the world.
The GHS is responsible for designing the labels used all over the world to classify hazards. They decide if a word should be included on the sign and what type of picture should be shown. The picture must be recognizable internationally and it will usually be combined with a word that most people will understand.