Most chemicals can be identified by a warning or hazard symbol on their packaging.
Under Classification, Labelling and Packaging (or CLP) Regulations, hazardous products must have a label with a signal word, either “warning” or “danger”.
If the packaging has a hazard symbol, like the one you will find on household bleach, then it is classed as a hazardous substance. If there is no hazard symbol, for example, on household washing-up liquid, then you do not have to consider it under COSHH.
The hazard symbols alert us to the presence of a hazardous chemical and help us to identify that the chemicals we are using might cause harm to people or the environment.
Can you guess what the hazards are for each symbol?
Have a guess then flip the cards to see the answer…
You may also see square warning labels with orange backgrounds. These are European hazard symbols which you may find on older products.
The red outlined symbols are the new symbols which have been replacing the orange older ones since 2009.
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