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Compliance – Resource Bulletins are reference summaries of rules which govern the design of signs and related products. These bulletins are not legal advice,
and are not intended for use in legal proceedings or inspections. Please do your own research, and seek professional advice from your inspector, lawyer, or other
professional who is familiar with your specific situation on signage requirements, compliance or installation.
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HAZCHEM
Compliance – Resource Bulletin
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Hazchem Signs & Labels
Overview:
“Hazchem” is an acronym for “hazardous chemicals.” The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA)
defines a hazardous chemical as any chemical which can cause a physical or health hazard. Another acronym,
“hazmat,” stands for “hazardous materials,” and is synonymous with hazchem in regulations addressing the
hazards of chemicals in the workplace. (HCS 1910.1200.d)
Given the rather broad definition of hazchem, the presence of hazchem in the workplace is widespread. In
addition to requiring manufacturers of hazchem to label their products prior to shipment, OSHA also requires that
all employers notify workers of the hazard risks hazchem may pose in the workplace through training programs,
hazchem labels, and safety data sheets. The regulations detailing these communication standards are found in
the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS). They have been dubbed “Right to Know” regulations since
employees have the need and right to know which hazchem they are exposed to in the workplace.
(1910.1200.f.5-6)
The HCS has recently been revised to adopt the guidelines set forth for hazchem classification and labeling by
the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). The GHS is a global
initiative with the goal of having one safety standard for the global economy. Full implementation of the revised
HCS was to be completed by 6/1/2016. It is important that employers read the standard carefully to understand
how it impacts their particular workplace environment. (HCS1910.1200.b.1)
Resources:
OSHA HCS 2012: (Free) http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_
table=standards&p_id=10099
OSHA Hazard Communication FAQ: (Free http://www.osha.gov/dsg/hazcom/index.html
OSHA Guide to GHS: (Free) http://www.osha.gov/dsg/hazcom/side-by-side.html
NFPA 704: Standard System for
Identification of Hazards of Materials: ($$$)
http://www.nfpa.org/catalog/product.asp?pid=70407&query=70
407
Design of Hazchem Signs & Labels:
• WORKPLACE LABELS & SIGNS: Though OSHA allows employers to rely on the manufacturer’s
container labels to designate hazchem in the workplace, these labels are often complex and of such size
that it is difficult to quickly assess a hazard risk from a distance. Also, hazchem are often transferred to
other containers or tanks for storage in a facility, and those containers are required to be labeled
accordingly. For these reasons, employers often choose to label hazchem in their facility with a label that
is easily understood by their employees.
• NFPA BASED FORMAT: The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) was a pioneer in developing a
hazchem identification system when it introduced the NFPA 704 standard in 1990. Its original purpose

HAZCHEM
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(Hazchem Signs & Labels Continued)
was to identify the presence of hazchem in buildings so that firefighters could quickly identify the risks
they would face during an emergency. It uses a diamond symbol with four squares, each with a specific
color denoting a hazard category and also containing a number relaying the severity level of the hazard.
The hazard severities identified in the standard are only applicable for short term exposure to the
chemical. The NFPA “fire diamond” has proven to be a widely accepted standard because it is highly
visible and easily understood. Its popularity has led to the evolution of its basic format into the design of
product labels and signs used to mark hazchem in the workplace. Another trademarked standard
adopting many aspects of the NFPA 704 is the Hazardous Material Identification System (HMISTM),
available at JJ Keller. Hazchem signs have a similar function as HMISTM labels with slightly different
design.
• BASIC LAYOUT: In its simplest form, a hazchem labeling template may consist of four color coded
hazard categories and five numerical hazard severity levels. The categories may be displayed in the
NFPA diamond, a vertical bar format, or a combination of both. A category need not appear on the label
if the chemical has not been classified in that category by OSHA.
HAZARD CATEGORIES
Health Blue
Flammability Red
Reactivity Yellow
PPE White
Physical Hazard Orange
• Compliance Signs Hazchem Blanks
HAZARD SEVERITY
0 Minimal
1 Slight
2 Moderate
3 Serious
4 Severe

HAZCHEM
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• CHEMICAL IDENTITY: The label should display the name of the chemical, manufacturer, and date the
SDS was prepared. Though not required by OSHA, a SDS number may also be present. The SDS
number may be the manufacturer’s number identifying the chemical or one or more CAS numbers. A
CAS number is assigned by the Chemical Abstract Service to every known chemical. CAS numbers are
useful since some chemicals can be known by multiple names. Multiple CAS numbers may appear if the
SDS describes multiple chemicals.
• ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Though the color and numerical designations provide a quick recognition
of the inherent hazards of the chemical, it is common to see additional symbols and/or text descriptions
providing additional information about a category hazard. Examples such as:
o HEALTH HAZARDS: “reproductive toxin,” “corrosive,” “carcinogen.”
o FIRE HAZARD: “must be pre-heated to burn,” “will vaporize and ignite at normal temperature.”
o REACTIVITY: “not stable if heated,” “may detonate under normal conditions.”
o PHYSICAL HAZARD: “corrosive,” “oxidizer,” “compressed gas.”
o PPE (Personal protection equipment): Symbols or a check list indicating which PPE should be
worn when handling the chemical.

HAZCHEM
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• DETERMINING HAZARD RATINGS: While the system is basically simple in application, the hazard
evaluation should be performed by persons who are technically competent and experienced in the
interpretation of the hazard criteria as set forth in the HCS standard. If the chemical is not found there, the
ratings can often be determined by using the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) supplied by the manufacturer.
• GHS COMPLIANCE: Even with OSHA’s implementation of GHS standards for the labeling of hazchem in
the workplace, there is latitude in how the label is formatted. In addition to the use of the manufacturer’s
label, an alternative label or sign may be used as long as it conveys the name of the chemical and the
appropriate hazard warnings through words, pictures, symbols or a combination thereof, resulting in
general information regarding the hazard of the chemical. Alternative labeling systems, such as the
NFPA 704 format, may continue to be used as long as they do not display hazard warnings or pictograms
that conflict with the GHS. (1910.1200.f.5-6)
• NOTES:
o The design of hazchem labels discussed above pertains only to labels displayed in the
workplace. Manufacturers, importers, and shippers of hazchem must comply with different
design guidelines as specified in the revised HCS and the Department of Transportation (DOT)
Hazardous Material Regulations.
o During OSHA’s implementation of the GHS standard, it is the employer’s responsibility to assess
if a current hazchem label in use will be in compliance with the new standard. Full compliance for
workplace hazchem labeling was to be completed by 6/1/2016.
o Therefore, it is important that employers carefully read OSHA’s revised HCS so that they can
determine what steps they need to take in their particular workplace to be in compliance with the
regulation.
For Hazchem signs & labels please visit our store: http://www.compliancesigns.com

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