Hazard statements form part of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS). They are intended to form a set of standardized phrases about the hazards of chemical substances and mixtures that can be translated into different languages. As such, they serve the same purpose as the well-known R-phrases, which they are intended to replace.
Hazard statements are one of the key elements for the labelling of containers under the GHS, along with:
an identification of the product;one or more hazard pictograms (where necessary)a signal word – either Danger or Warning – where necessaryprecautionary statements, indicating how the product should be handled to minimize risks to the user (as well as to other people and the general environment)the identity of the supplier (who might be a manufacturer or importer)Each hazard statement is designated a code, starting with the letter H and followed by three digits. Statements which correspond to related hazards are grouped together by code number, so the numbering is not consecutive. The code is used for reference purposes, for example to help with translations, but it is the actual phrase which should appear on labels and safety data sheets.
H200: Unstable explosiveH201: Explosive; mass explosion hazardH202: Explosive; severe projection hazardH203: Explosive; fire, blast or projection hazardH204: Fire or projection hazardH205: May mass explode in fireH220: Extremely flammable gasH221: Flammable gasH222: Extremely flammable aerosolH223: Flammable aerosolH224: Extremely flammable liquid and vapourH225: Highly flammable liquid and vapourH226: Flammable liquid and vapourH227: Combustible liquidH228: Flammable solidH229: Pressurized container: may burst if heatedH230: May react explosively even in the absence of airH231: May react explosively even in the absence of air at elevated pressure and/or temperatureH240: Heating may cause an explosionH241: Heating may cause a fire or explosionH242: Heating may cause a fireH250: Catches fire spontaneously if exposed to airH251: Self-heating; may catch fireH252: Self-heating in large quantities; may catch fireH260: In contact with water releases flammable gases which may ignite spontaneouslyH261: In contact with water releases flammable gasH270: May cause or intensify fire; oxidizerH271: May cause fire or explosion; strong oxidizerH272: May intensify fire; oxidizerH280: Contains gas under pressure; may explode if heatedH281: Contains refrigerated gas; may cause cryogenic burns or injuryH290: May be corrosive to metalsH300: Fatal if swallowedH301: Toxic if swallowedH302: Harmful if swallowedH303: May be harmful if swallowedH304: May be fatal if swallowed and enters airwaysH305: May be harmful if swallowed and enters airwaysH310: Fatal in contact with skinH311: Toxic in contact with skinH312: Harmful in contact with skinH313: May be harmful in contact with skinH314: Causes severe skin burns and eye damageH315: Causes skin irritationH316: Causes mild skin irritationH317: May cause an allergic skin reactionH318: Causes serious eye damageH319: Causes serious eye irritationH320: Causes eye irritationH330: Fatal if inhaledH331: Toxic if inhaledH332: Harmful if inhaledH333: May be harmful if inhaledH334: May cause allergy or asthma symptoms or breathing difficulties if inhaledH335: May cause respiratory irritationH336: May cause drowsiness or dizzinessH340: May cause genetic defectsH341: Suspected of causing genetic defectsH350: May cause cancerH351: Suspected of causing cancerH360: May damage fertility or the unborn childH361: Suspected of damaging fertility or the unborn childH361d: Suspected of damaging the unborn childH362: May cause harm to breast-fed childrenH370: Causes damage to organsH371: May cause damage to organsH372: Causes damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposureH373: May cause damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposureH400: Very toxic to aquatic lifeH401: Toxic to aquatic lifeH402: Harmful to aquatic lifeH410: Very toxic to aquatic life with long-lasting effectsH411: Toxic to aquatic life with long-lasting effectsH412: Harmful to aquatic life with long-lasting effectsH413: May cause long-lasting harmful effects to aquatic lifeH420: Harms public health and the environment by destroying ozone in the upper atmosphereThe European Union has implemented the GHS through the CLP Regulation. Nevertheless, the older system based on the Dangerous Substances Directive wase used in parallel until June 2015. Some R-phrases which do not have simple equivalents under the GHS have been retained under the CLP Regulation: the numbering mirrors the number of the previous R-phrase.
EUH001: Explosive when dryEUH006: Explosive with or without contact with airEUH014: Reacts violently with waterEUH018: In use may form flammable/explosive vapour-air mixtureEUH019: May form explosive peroxidesEUH044: Risk of explosion if heated under confinementEUH029: Contact with water liberates toxic gasEUH031: Contact with acids liberates toxic gasEUH032: Contact with acids liberates very toxic gasEUH066: Repeated exposure may cause skin dryness or crackingEUH070: Toxic by eye contactEUH071: Corrosive to the respiratory tractEUH059: Hazardous to the ozone layer, superseded by GHS Class 5.1 in the second adaptation to technical progress of CLP.Some other hazard statements intended for use in very specific circumstances have also been retained under the CLP Regulation. Note that, in this case, the numbering of the EU specific hazard statements can coincide with GHS hazard statements if the "EU" prefix is not included.
EUH201: Contains lead. Should not be used on surfaces liable to be chewed or sucked by children.EUH201A: Warning! Contains lead.EUH202: Cyanoacrylate. Danger. Bonds skin and eyes in seconds. Keep out of the reach of children.EUH203: Contains chromium(VI). May produce an allergic reaction.EUH204: Contains isocyanates. May produce an allergic reaction.EUH205: Contains epoxy constituents. May produce an allergic reaction.EUH206: Warning! Do not use together with other products. May release dangerous gases (chlorine).EUH207: Warning! Contains cadmium. Dangerous fumes are formed during use. See information supplied by the manufacturer. Comply with the safety instructions.EUH208: Contains <name of sensitising substance>. May produce an allergic reaction.EUH209: Can become highly flammable in use.EUH209A: Can become flammable in use.EUH210: Safety data sheet available on request.EUH401: To avoid risks to human health and the environment, comply with the instructions for use.The GHS was adopted in Australia from 1 January 2012 and becomes mandatory in States and Territories that have adopted the harmonised Work Health and Safety laws (other than Victoria and Western Australia) as of 1 January 2017. The National Code of Practice for the Preparation of Safety Data Sheets for Hazardous Chemicals includes 12 Australian-specific GHS Hazard Statements, as follows:
AUH001: Explosive when dryAUH006: Explosive with or without contact with airAUH014: Reacts violently with waterAUH018: In use, may form flammable/explosive vapour-air mixtureAUH019: May form explosive peroxidesAUH044: Risk of explosion if heated under confinementAUH029: Contact with water liberates toxic gasAUH031: Contact with acids liberates toxic gasAUH032: Contact with acids liberates very toxic gasAUH066: Repeated exposure may cause skin dryness or crackingAUH070: Toxic by eye contactAUH071: Corrosive to the respiratory tractNew Zealand
As of March 2009, the relevant New Zealand regulations under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 do not specify the exact wording required for hazard statements. However, the New Zealand classification system includes three categories of environmental hazard which are not included in the GHS Rev.2:
Ecotoxicity to soil environmentEcotoxicity to terrestrial vertebratesEcotoxicity to terrestrial invertebratesThese are classes 9.2–9.4 respectively of the New Zealand classification scheme, and are divided into subclasses according to the degree of hazard. Substances in subclass 9.2D ("Substances that are slightly harmful in the soil environment") do not require a hazard statement, while substances in the other subclasses require an indication of the general degree of hazard and general type of hazard.
