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Hazardous Substances - COSHH Regulations - Hazard Symbols


Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002

New International Hazard Symbols

Aquatic environment hazardAcute toxicityCompressed gasCorrosiveExplosiveFlamableHealth hazardOxidizingRespiratory hazard



The International symbols will replace the European symbols in 2009.
Some of them are similar to the current symbols but there is no
single word describing the hazard

 

 

Black and Orange European Symbols

Symbol

Abbreviation

Hazard

Description of hazard

(Physicochemical)

explosive

E

explosive

Chemicals that explode.

oxidising

O

oxidising

Chemicals that react exothermically with other chemicals.

extremely flammable

F+

extremely flammable

Chemicals that have an extremely low flash point and boiling point, and gases that catch fire in contact with air.

highly flammable

F

highly flammable

Chemicals that may catch fire in contact with air, only need brief contact with an ignition source, have a very low flash point or evolve highly flammable gases in contact with water.

(Health)

very toxic

T+

very toxic

Chemicals that at very low levels cause damage to health.

toxic

T

toxic

Chemicals that at low levels cause damage to health.

carcinogen

Carc Cat 1

category 1 carcinogens

Chemicals that may cause cancer or increase its incidence.

carcinogen 1

Carc Cat 2

category 2 carcinogens

carcinogen 2

Carc Cat 3

category 3 carcinogens

mutagen

Muta Cat 1

category 1 mutagens

Chemicals that induce heritable genetic defects or increase their incidence.

mutagen 1

Muta Cat 2

category 2 mutagens

mutagen 2

Muta Cat 3

category 3 mutagens

toxic

Repr Cat 1

category 1 reproductive toxins

Chemicals that produce or increase the incidence of non-heritable effects in progeny and/or an impairment in reproductive functions or capacity.

toxic

Repr Cat 2

category 2 reproductive toxins

harmful

Repr Cat 3

category 3 reproductive toxins

harmful

Xn

harmful

Chemicals that may cause damage to health.

corrosive

C

corrosive

Chemicals that may destroy living tissue on contact.

irritant

Xi

irritant

Chemicals that may cause inflammation to the skin or other mucous membranes.

(Environmental)

dangerous for the environment

N

dangerous for the environment

Chemicals that may present an immediate or delayed danger to one or more components of the environment

Contact us to help you conduct a full risk assessment of your premises

Hazardous Substances
Legionnaires Disease

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Control of Substances Hazardous to Health