Health Hazard: The health hazard symbol features a silhouette of a human torso with a six-pointed shape on the person’s chest. If you see this symbol on something, it means that coming into contact with the chemical itself could cause either acute or chronic health problems. For example, this would include toxins that affect your respiratory function or are known to cause cancer.
Flame: The flame symbol means that a substance presents a possible fire hazard. It could be that the substance is just flammable, or it may give off flammable gas. This would also include substances that could ignite on their own when exposed to either water or air, as well as other types of fire-related dangers.
Exclamation Mark: An exclamation point suggests urgency, which is why it’s used to label substances that would immediately cause a person harm if they came into contact with the substance. On the mild end of the spectrum, it could irritate their skin or eyes. On the more extreme end, it could be fatally toxic.
Gas Cylinder: The gas cylinder pictogram is used to label gasses under pressure. A gas is considered under pressure if it is at 29 pounds per square inch or more. The gas could be dissolved, compressed or liquefied. You should always exercise caution around pressurized gas cylinders since a puncture or leak could cause an explosion or negative health effects.
Corrosion: The pictogram symbolizing corrosion shows a substance being poured onto a person’s hand (on the right) and what looks like a metal pipe (on the left). In both cases, the liquid carves out a hole. As this warning sign suggests, corrosive substances can cause damage to metal and can burn skin.
Exploding Bomb: Explosive materials are labeled with a picture that looks like an exploding bomb. Explosives include materials that are highly unstable, self-reactive (meaning they don’t need to be exposed to air to go off) and organic peroxides. These materials are extremely dangerous.
Flame Over Circle: Oxidizers are chemical compounds that release oxygen when they react with another substance. Oxidizers are chemicals that facilitate burning or make fires burn hotter and longer. This symbol warns that the substance inside is an oxidizer, which could cause a fire.
Environment: This pictogram looks like an upturned fish on the shore next to a tree. If you see this sign on a chemical, it means that chemical is toxic to aquatic life. Of the nine Hazard Communication Standard/GHS signs, this is the only one that is optional, so you may not always see it on every chemical that is known to hurt fish or other aquatic life.
Skull and Crossbones: The skull and crossbones is an iconic image that most people strongly associate with the concept of toxicity or poison. But what does this symbol mean exactly? In this case, it indicates toxicity. In other words, if a person swallowed or inhaled even a small amount of the chemical, or if it got on their skin, it could prove fatal.
