Hazardous Materials

Hazard Communcation

The Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) provides a common and coherent approach to classifying chemicals and communicating hazard information on labels and safety data sheets. TAMIU's Hazard Communication Program provides information to students, faculty and staff on these chemical hazards and appropriate protective measures and includes further information on the these requirements including:

Chemical Labeling
Pictograms
Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
Employee Training

Chemical Labeling

The HCS requires that information about chemical hazards be conveyed on labels using quick visual notations to alert the user, providing immediate recognition of the hazards. Labels must also provide instructions on how to handle the chemical so that chemical users are informed about how to protect themselves.

The label provides information to the workers on the specific hazardous chemical. While labels provide important information for anyone who handles, uses, stores, and transports hazardous chemicals, they are limited by design in the amount of information they can provide. Safety Data Sheets (SDSs), which must accompany hazardous chemicals, are the more complete resource for details regarding hazardous chemicals.

Pictograms

The HCS requires pictograms on labels to alert users of the chemical hazards to which they may be exposed. Each pictogram consists of a symbol on a white background framed within a red border and represents a distinct hazard(s). The pictogram on the label is determined by the chemical hazard classification.

GHS Pictograms and Associated Hazards
Compressed Gas Cylinder	Corrosion	Environment	Exploding Bomb	Flame

Gases under pressure	Skin corrosion/burns Eye damage Corrosive to metals	Aquatic toxicity	Explosives Self-Reactives Organic Peroxides	Flammables Pyrophorics Self-Heating Emits Flammable Gas Self-Reactives Organic Peroxides

Health Hazard	Flame Over Circle	Exclamation Mark	Skull & Crossbones

Carcinogen Mutagenicity Reproductive Toxicity Respiratory Sensitizer Target Organ Toxicity Aspiration Toxicity	Oxidizers	Irritant (skin and eye) Skin Sensitizer Acute Toxicity (harmful) Narcotic Effects Respiratory Tract Irritant Hazardous to Ozone Layer	Acute Toxicity (fatal/toxic)