LABORATORY
SAFETY
Chemical Hazard Label
What is a MSDS sheet?
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A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is designed to
provide both workers (students and staff at SHS) and
emergency personnel with the proper procedures for
handling or working with a particular substance
(chemical or element).
MSDS's include information such as physical data
(melting point, boiling point, flash point etc.), toxicity,
health effects, first aid, reactivity, storage, disposal,
protective equipment, and spill/leak procedures. These
are of particular use if a spill or other accident occurs.
NFPA CHEMICAL HAZARD LABEL
HEALTH
FLAMMABILITY
SPECIAL
REACTIVITY
(STABILITY)
NFPA CHEMICAL HAZARD LABEL
2
4
3
4
0
0
Least
Serious
4
Most
Serious
Flammable vapor which
burns readily
Substance is stable
Health Hazard
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4 Very short exposure could
cause death or serious residual
injury even though prompt
medical attention was given.
3 Short exposure could cause
serious temporary or residual
injury even though prompt
medical attention was given.
2 Intense or continued exposure
could cause temporary
incapacitation or possible
residual injury unless prompt
medical attention is given.
1 Exposure could cause irritation
but only minor residual injury
even if no treatment is given.
0 Exposure under fire conditions
would offer no hazard beyond
that of ordinary combustible
materials.
Flammability
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4 Will rapidly or completely
vaporize at normal
pressure and temperature,
or is readily dispersed in
air and will burn readily.
3 Liquids and solids that
can be ignited under
almost all ambient
conditions.
2 Must be moderately
heated or exposed to
relatively high temperature
before ignition can occur.
1 Must be preheated
before ignition can occur.
0 Materials that will not
burn.
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4 Readily capable of detonation or
of explosive decomposition or
reaction at normal temperatures
and pressures.
3 Capable of detonation or
explosive reaction, but requires a
strong initiating source or must be
heated under confinement before
initiation, or reacts explosively with
water.
2 Normally unstable and readily
undergo violent decomposition but
do not detonate. Also: may react
violently with water or may form
potentially explosive mixtures with
water.
1 Normally stable, but can become
unstable at elevated temperatures
and pressures or may react with
water with some release of energy,
but not violently.
0 Normally stable, even under fire
exposure conditions, and are not
reactive with water.
Special Hazards
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This section is used to denote
special hazards.
There are only three NFPA 704
approved symbols:
 OX This denotes an oxidizer, a
chemical which can greatly
increase the rate of
combustion/fire.
 SA This denotes gases which
are simple asphyxiants. The
only gases for which this symbol
is permitted are nitrogen,
helium, neon, argon, krypton,
and xenon.
 W The use of this hazard
symbol is optional.Unusual
reactivity with water. This
indicates a potential hazard
using water to fight a fire
involving this material. When a
compound is both waterreactive and an oxidizer, the W
symbol should go in this
quadrant and the OX warning is
placed immediately below the
NFPA diamond.
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Other
Symbols
Some organizations use other symbols, abbreviations, and words in the white Special
Hazards section. NFPA 704 permits the use of additional symbols, but they must be placed
outside of the NFPA diamond. The following symbols are not compliant with NFPA 704, but
we present them here in case you see them on an MSDS or container label.
ACID
This indicates that the material is an acid, a corrosive material that has a
pH lower than 7.0
ALK
This denotes an alkaline material, also called a base. These caustic
materials have a pH greater than 7.0
COR
This denotes a material that is corrosive (it could be either an acid or a
base).
This is a another symbol used for corrosive
The skull and crossbones is used to denote a poison or highly toxic
material. See also: CHIP Danger symbols
The international symbol for radioactivity is used to denote radioactive
hazards; radioactive materials are extremely hazardous when inhaled.
Indicates an explosive material. This symbol is somewhat redundant
because explosives are easily recognized by their Instability Rating.
NFPA CHEMICAL HAZARD LABEL
(Label for Diborane, B2H6)
Burns readily.
May
detonate
with heat or
ignition.
Severe
health
risk.
Avoid water.
Table Salt
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Table salt (NaCl) has a slight health but
no fire or reactivity danger
0
1
0
Xylene
Xylene (a flammable liquid) is a moderate
health and high fire danger, but a low
concern as far as reactivity.
3
2
0
Sodium Chromate
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Sodium Chromate has an extreme
health hazard, no fire hazard, and is
moderately reactive.
0
4
2
NFPA CHEMICAL HAZARD LABEL
Complete Label for Phosphine (phosphorus hydride, PH3)
MSDS
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Material Safety Data Sheet
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On file for all purchased chemicals.
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Includes all information shown on a
chemical label and more.
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Different formats are used by different
chemical companies.
MSDS