Hazard pictograms form part of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS). Two sets of pictogram

Pictogram

A pictograph, also called pictogram or pictogramme is an ideogram that conveys its meaning through its pictorial resemblance to a physical object. Pictographs are often used in writing and graphic systems in which the characters are to considerable extent pictorial in appearance.Pictography is a...

s are included within the GHS: one for the labelling of containers and for workplace hazard warnings, and a second for use during the transport of dangerous goods. Either one or the other is chosen, depending on the target audience, but the two are not used together. The two sets of pictograms use the same symbols for the same hazards, although certain symbols are not required for transport pictograms. Transport pictograms come in wider variety of colours and may contain additional information such as a subcategory number.

Hazard pictograms are one of the key elements for the labelling of containers under the GHS, along with:

• an identification of the product;
• a signal word – either DANGER or WARNING – where necessary
• hazard statements
  GHS hazard statements
  Hazard statements form part of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals . They are intended to form a set of standardized phrases about the hazards of chemical substances and mixtures that can be translated into different languages...
  
  , indicating the nature and degree of the risks posed by the product
• precautionary statements
  GHS precautionary statements
  Precautionary statements form part of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals . They are intended to form a set of standardized phrases giving advice about the correct handling of chemical substances and mixtures, which can be translated into different languages...
  
  , indicating how the product should be handled to minimize risks to the user (as well as to other people and the general environment)
• the identity of the supplier (who might be a manufacturer or importer)

The GHS hazard pictograms are intended to replace older systems of hazard pictograms, such as the European Union

European Union

The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...

 pictograms defined in the Dangerous Substances Directive or Canada's Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS). The transport pictograms are the same as those recommended in the UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods

UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods

The UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods are contained in two documents prepared by the Sub-Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods of the United Nations Economic and Social Council . They cover the transport of dangerous goods by all modes of transport except by...

, widely implemented in national regulations such as the U.S. Federal Hazardous Materials Transportation Law (49 U.S.C. 5101–5128) and D.O.T. regulations at 49 C.F.R. 100–185.

Physical hazards

		Usage
		Unstable explosives Explosives, divisions 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4 Self-reactive substances and mixtures, types A, B Organic peroxides, types A, B
Exploding bomb

		Usage
		Flammable gases, category 1 Flammable aerosols, categories 1, 2 Flammable liquids, categories 1, 2, 3 Flammable solids, categories 1, 2 Self-reactive substances and mixtures, types B, C, D, E, F Pyrophoric liquids, category 1 Pyrophoric solids, category 1 Self-heating substances and mixtures, categories 1, 2 Substances and mixtures, which in contact with water, emit flammable gases, categories 1, 2, 3 Organic peroxides, types B, C, D, E, F
Flame

		Usage
		Oxidizing gases, category 1 Oxidizing liquids, categories 1, 2, 3 Oxidizing solids, categories 1, 2, 3
Flame over circle

		Usage
		Compressed gases Liquefied gases Refrigerated liquefied gases Dissolved gases
Gas cylinder

		Usage
		Corrosive to metals, category 1
Corrosion

		Usage
		Explosives, divisions 1.5, 1.6 Flammable gases, category 2 Self-reactive substances and mixtures, type G Organic peroxides, type G
no pictogram required

Health hazards

		Usage
		Acute toxicity (oral, dermal, inhalation), categories 1, 2, 3
Skull and crossbones

		Usage
		Skin corrosion, categories 1A, 1B, 1C Serious eye damage, category 1
Corrosion

		Usage
		Acute toxicity (oral, dermal, inhalation), category 4 Skin irritation, categories 2, 3 Eye irritation, category 2A Skin sensitization, category 1 Specific target organ toxicity following single exposure, category 3 Respiratory tract irritation Narcotic effects Not used with the "skull and crossbones" pictogram for skin or eye irritation if: the "corrosion" pictogram also appears the "health hazard" pictogram is used to indicate respiratory sensitization
Exclamation mark

		Usage
		Respiratory sensitization, category 1 Germ cell mutagenicity, categories 1A, 1B, 2 Carcinogenicity, categories 1A, 1B, 2 Reproductive toxicity, categories 1A, 1B, 2 Specific target organ toxicity following single exposure, categories 1, 2 Specific target organ toxicity following repeated exposure, categories 1, 2 Aspiration hazard, categories 1, 2
Health hazard

		Usage
		Acute toxicity (oral, dermal, inhalation), category 5 Eye irritation, category 2B Reproductive toxicity – effects on or via lactation
no pictogram required

Environmental hazards

		Usage
		Acute hazards to the aquatic environment, category 1 Chronic hazards to the aquatic environment, categories 1, 2
Environment

		Usage
		Acute hazards to the aquatic environment, categories 2, 3 Chronic hazards to the aquatic environment, categories 3, 4
no pictogram required

Class 1: Explosives

		Usage
		Explosives Division 1.1: Substances and articles which have a mass explosion hazard Division 1.2: Substances and articles which have a projection hazard but not a mass explosion hazard Division 1.3: Substances and articles which have a fire hazard and either a minor blast hazard or a minor projection hazard or both, but not a mass explosion hazard Note The asterisks are replaced by the class number and compatibility code
Divisions 1.1–1.3

		Usage
		Explosives Substances and articles which are classified as explosives but which present no significant hazard Note The asterisk is replaced by the compatibility code
Division 1.4

		Usage
		Explosives Very insensitive substances which have a mass explosion hazard Note The asterisk is replaced by the compatibility code
Division 1.5

		Usage
		Explosives Extremely insensitive articles which do not have a mass explosion hazard Note The asterisk is replaced by the compatibility code
Division 1.6

Class 2: Gases

		Usage
		Flammable gases Gases which at 20 °C and a standard pressure of 101.3 kPa: are ignitable when in a mixture of 13 per cent or less by volume with air; or have a flammable range with air of at least 12 percentage points regardless of the lower flammable limit. Note The symbol, number and border line may be shown in white instead of black
Division 2.1

		Usage
		Non-flammable non-toxic gases Gases which: are asphyxiant – gases which dilute or replace the oxygen normally in the atmosphere; or are oxidizing – gases which may, generally by providing oxygen, cause or contribute to the combustion of other material more than air does; or do not come under the other divisions; Note The symbol, number and border line may be shown in white instead of black
Division 2.2

		Usage
		Toxic gases Gases which: are known to be so toxic or corrosive to humans as to pose a hazard to health; or are presumed to be toxic or corrosive to humans because they have an LC50 value equal to or less than 5000 ml/m3 (ppm).
Division 2.3

Classes 3 and 4: Flammable liquids and solids

		Usage
		Flammable liquids Liquids which have a flash point of less than 60 °C and which are capable of sustaining combustion Note The symbol, number and border line may be shown in white instead of black
Class 3

		Usage
		Flammable solids, self-reactive substances and solid desensitized explosives Solids which, under conditions encountered in transport, are readily combustible or may cause or contribute to fire through friction; self-reactive substances which are liable to undergo a strongly exothermic reaction; solid desensitized explosives which may explode if not diluted sufficiently
Division 4.1

		Usage
		Substances liable to spontaneous combustion Substances which are liable to spontaneous heating under normal conditions encountered in transport, or to heating up in contact with air, and being then liable to catch fire
Division 4.2

		Usage
		Substances which in contact with water emit flammable gases Substances which, by interaction with water, are liable to become spontaneously flammable or to give off flammable gases in dangerous quantities Note The symbol, number and border line may be shown in white instead of black
Division 4.3

Other GHS transport classes

		Usage
		Oxidizing substances Substances which, while in themselves not necessarily combustible, may, generally by yielding oxygen, cause, or contribute to, the combustion of other material
Division 5.1

		Usage
		Organic peroxides Organic substances which contain the bivalent –O–O– structure and may be considered derivatives of hydrogen peroxide, where one or both of the hydrogen atoms have been replaced by organic radicals Note The symbol and upper border line may be shown in white instead of black
Division 5.2

		Usage
		Toxic substances Substances with an LD50 value ≤ 300 mg/kg (oral) or ≤ 1000 mg/kg (dermal) or an LC50 value ≤ 4000 ml/m3 (inhalation of dusts or mists)
Division 6.1

		Usage
		Corrosive substances Substances which: cause full thickness destruction of intact skin tissue on exposure time of less than 4 hours; or exhibit a corrosion rate of more than 6.25 mm per year on either steel or aluminium surfaces at 55 °C
Class 8

Non-GHS transport pictograms

The following pictograms are included in the UN Model Regulations but have not been incorporated into the GHS because of the nature of the hazards

Class 6.2	Class 7				Class 9
Infectious substances	Radioactive material				Miscellaneous dangerous substances and articles

External links

• GHS pictogram gallery from the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe