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Chemical Safety Symbols

The document explains various chemical safety symbols and their meanings. Some key symbols include: poisonous (for toxic materials), corrosive (avoid skin contact), flammable (fire hazard), explosive (reacts violently), and oxidizing (promotes combustion). Proper precautions should be taken such as storing chemicals in flame-resistant cabinets, avoiding contact with skin or inhalation, and safe disposal of materials that are environmental hazards or marine pollutants. Understanding these symbols is important for safely transporting and handling chemicals in a lab.

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Mary Rose Mendoza
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250 views2 pages

Chemical Safety Symbols

The document explains various chemical safety symbols and their meanings. Some key symbols include: poisonous (for toxic materials), corrosive (avoid skin contact), flammable (fire hazard), explosive (reacts violently), and oxidizing (promotes combustion). Proper precautions should be taken such as storing chemicals in flame-resistant cabinets, avoiding contact with skin or inhalation, and safe disposal of materials that are environmental hazards or marine pollutants. Understanding these symbols is important for safely transporting and handling chemicals in a lab.

Uploaded by

Mary Rose Mendoza
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Chemical Safety Symbols Explained

Poisonous Stow away from


Self explanatory. Whereas most foodstuffs
chemicals are fairly dangerous Harmful material to be kept
if ingested or inhaled, many of away from edible material.
these are dangerous even on
contact.
Environmental hazard Dangerous when wet
Relatively rare with laboratory This generally means that it
chemicals (most of which pose will react fairly violently with
some environmental hazard if water.
not got rid of correctly), these
require particular care to be
taken on disposal.
Corrosive Flammable Gas
Avoid contact with the skin. Safety symbol used for the
Bear in mind that these can transport or storage of a
(under some circumstances) rust flammable gas.
chemical cupboards.

Explosive Non flammable gas


Again, fairly self-explanatory, Safety symbol used in the
though fairly seldom seen in the transport of non flammable
average lab. Bear in mind that (and hence often non
noise and movement can also hazardous, at least out in the
trigger explosion (not just open) gases.
sparks/flames!).
Flammable or extremely Organic Peroxide
flammable Chemical safety symbol used in
Chemicals to be stored in flame- the transport and storage of
resistant cupboards. Volatile organic peroxides.
solvents can be a particular
problem as they are prone to
spread around from unsealed
containers. This also covers
pyrophoric materials (that catch
fire spontaneously on exposure
to air).
Irritant or Harmful Corrosive
This symbol covers a wide Transport of corrosive materials
range of (sometimes relatively - again, avoid contact with the
minor) hazards - with skin.
precautions such as avoid
contact with the skin, do not
breathe, etc. - best to refer to
relevant data sheet for details.
Oxidising chemical Inhalation Hazard
Oxidising chemicals are Inhalation hazard
materials that spontaneously transport/storage symbol.
evolve oxygen at room
temperature or with slight
heating, or that promote
combustion. To be kept away
from flammable chemicals at all
costs!
Poisonous Gas Marine Pollutant
Used for transport of a Marine pollutant - do not
poisonous gas - on gas dispose of in sewer system.
cylinders, or sometimes as an
indicator on vehicles.

Miscellaneous danger Explosive


Catch-all symbol for all other Used in the transport of
dangers (usually specified in the explosive materials.
space).

Poison Spontaneously
More general symbol for the Combustible
transport of poisonous materials Spontaneously combustible
(not necessarily a gas). material (treat with great
caution!...).

Flammable Solid Flammable Liquid


Flammable solid. Used in the transport of
flammable liquids.

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