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Free Online Hazmat/Hazchem Guide
Free Hazmat (Hazardous Materials)/HazChem (Hazardous Chemicals) Guide containing information on Supply Labels, Hazard Warning Panels, Hazard Warning Diamonds, Emergency Action Codes and more
GHS Labels
Hazard Warning Panel
Emergency Action Codes (EAC)
International Operations (ADR)
Blank Plates
Hazard Identification Number (HIN)
Hazard Warning Diamonds
Supply Labelling
Hazchem Scale Cards
Helping you manage chemical safety
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This handy-sized reference guide gives you information on:
- GHS Labels
- Hazchem Warning Panels, Emergency Action Codes, ADR 2011
- Hazard Identification Numbers (HIN)
- Hazard Warning Diamonds and Supply Labelling
PLEASE NOTE: Following feedback from our customers, our laminated Hazchem Scale Cards now fold more easily.
The Hazard Warning Panel
Emergency Action Codes (EAC)
The EAC provides information on:
- the fire extinguishing media to be used
- the level of PPE required
- whether the spillage should be contained or may be diluted
- whether there is a possibility of violent reaction
- whether the substance poses a Public Safety Hazard
| 1 | COARSE SPRAY | 3 | FOAM |
| 2 | FINE SPRAY | 4 | DRY AGENT |
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P
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V
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LTS
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DILUTE
SPILLAGE |
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R
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S
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V
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BA & FIRE KIT
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T
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W
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V
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LTS
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CONTAIN
SPILLAGE |
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X
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Y
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V
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BA & FIRE KIT
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Z
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E
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PUBLIC SAFETY HAZARD
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K E Y |
V
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Can be violently or even explosively reactive | |
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LTS
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Liquid tight chemical protective clothing used in combination with BA (Breathing Apparatus) | ||
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DILUTE
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Spillages may be washed to drains with large quantities of water. However due care must be taken to avoid unnecessary pollution of watercourses. For further information contact the Environment Agency or Scottish Environmental Protection Agency. | ||
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CONTAIN
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Prevent the spillage from entering drains and watercourses using any means available. | ||
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DRY
AGENT |
Water MUST NOT be allowed to come into contact with the substance. | ||
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E
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People should be warned to stay indoors with all doors and windows closed but evacuation may need to be considered. Consult Control, Police and product expert. |
Further Advice
More detailed advice on interpreting EAC is given in The Dangerous Goods Emergency Action Code List 2011 which you can buy as a book from TSO (ISBN 9780117541054) or download free
International Operations (ADR)
The ADR Hazard Identification Number (HIN, also known as the Kemler Code) is usually found in the UK on vehicles which are on international journeys. UK registered vehicles on domestic journeys should use the EAC. The HIN differs in its approach from the EAC, giving advice on the nature of the hazard presented by the goods as opposed to the actions to be taken when dealing with them.
Blank Plates
Orange plate without any numbers indicates vehicle carrying dangerous load (drums, packages, etc.) or multi-load tanker.
The Hazard Identification Number (HIN)
The hazard identification number consists of two or three figures. In general the figures indicate the following hazards:
2 Emission of gas due to pressure or to chemical reaction
3 Flammability of Liquids
4 Flammability of solid or self-heating liquid
5 Oxidising (fire-intensifying) effect
6 Toxic or risk of infection
7 Radioactivity
8 Corrosivity
9 Risk of spontaneous violent reaction
NOTE:
Doubling of a figure indicates intensification of that particular hazard.
If the HIN is prefixed with an "X" this indicates the substance will react dangerously with water. For such substances, water may only be used by approval of experts.
Where the hazard associated with a substance can be adequately indicated by a single figure, this is followed by a zero.
The following combinations have special meanings - refer to Hazchem List or control:
22 Refrigerated liquefied gas, asphyxiant
323 Flammable liquid which reacts with water, emitting flammable gases
333 Pyrophoric liquid
362 Flammable liquid, toxic, which reacts with water, emitting flammable gases
382 Flammable liquid corrosive, which reacts with water, emitting flammable gases
423 Solid, flammable solid or self-heating solid which reacts with water, emitting flammable gases
432 Spontaneously flammable (pyrophoric) solid which reacts with water, emitting flammable gases
44 Flammable solid, in the molten state at an elevated temperature
446 Flammable solid, toxic, in the molten state at an elevated temperature
462 Toxic solid which reacts with water, emitting flammable gases
482 Corrosive solid which reacts with water, emitting flammable gases
539 Flammable organic peroxide
606 Infectious substance
623 Toxic liquid which reacts with water, emitting flammable gases
642 Toxic solid, which reacts with water, emitting flammable gases
823 Corrosive liquid which reacts with water, emitting flammable gases
842 Corrosive solid which reacts with water, emitting flammable gases
90 Environmentally hazardous substance; miscellaneous dangerous substance
99 Miscellaneous dangerous substance carried at an elevated temperature
Hazard Warning Diamonds
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Class 1 |
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Class 2 |
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Class 3 |
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Class 4.1 |
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Class 4.2 |
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Class 4.3 |
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Class 5.1 |
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Class 5.2 |
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Class 6.1 |
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Class 6.2 |
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Class 7 |
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Class 8 |
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Elevated Temperature |
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Class 9 |
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Environmentally hazardous / |
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Supply Labelling
CHIP
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Explosive |
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Oxidising |
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Toxic / Very Toxic |
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Dangerous for the Environment |
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Highly / Extremely Flammable |
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Corrosive |
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Harmful / Irritant |
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Supply labelling uses the same, or similar symbols to those seen on the Hazard warning diamonds used for transport labelling. However, as well as being a different shape and colour, different criteria are used to assign the risks. So, something classified as "Toxic" (Class 6.1) for transport may only be classified as "Harmful" for supply. Equally, something classed as "Toxic" (skull and cross-bones) for supply, such as a carcinogenic substance, may not be classified as hazardous for transport at all.
Equally, a particular substance may have different classifications for each system. Solvents may be classed as "Flammable" (Class 3) for transport, but "Harmful" or "Toxic" (equating to class 6.1) for supply. The reasons for this are the different types of risk exhibited in different situations. The end user, dealing with small quantities on a frequent basis over long time-periods, is at greater risk from any harmful/toxic effects due to contact with the product than from its flammable characteristics. The Emergency Services, however, will be dealing with a "one-off" situation which is not supposed to happen ever, involving several drums or tankerloads of the product, where the flammability hazard far outweighs the effects of contact with the product.
Classification can therefore be more intricate than it first appears; if you need any advice or guidance, see the Consultancy pages on this website.
GHS Labels
GHS is the internationally agreed Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals. GHS aims to improve the health and safety of workers, consumers and the environment by ensuring consistent hazard communication on the chemicals being used.
In the EU, GHS has been implemented through the CLP Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008.
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Explosive/ |
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Pressurised gases/ |
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Flammable/ |
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Oxidising |
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Corrosive/ |
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Acutely Toxic |
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Health hazard/ |
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Harmful/ |
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Hazardous to the environment |
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