16.5. Full Text of Hazard Statements
This section provides the complete text of all hazard statements (H-statements) referenced by code elsewhere in the Safety Data Sheet. This ensures that users fully understand the specific hazards associated with the substance or mixture, even if they are not familiar with the standardized coding system used in GHS and related regulations.
Purpose and Importance
Including the full text of hazard statements in a Safety Data Sheet serves several important functions:
Clarity
Ensures that users who may not be familiar with hazard codes can understand the specific hazards associated with the substance or mixture.
Compliance
Meets regulatory requirements for providing complete hazard information in the SDS, as mandated by GHS and various national regulations.
Risk Communication
Facilitates effective communication of hazards throughout the supply chain, supporting informed risk management decisions.
Reference
Provides a convenient reference point for users who encounter hazard codes in different sections of the SDS or on product labels.
Regulatory Requirements
According to the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) and regulations such as REACH in the EU and HazCom in the US, Safety Data Sheets must include the full text of all hazard statements that apply to the substance or mixture. If hazard statements are abbreviated or referenced by code in other sections of the SDS, the complete text must be provided in Section 16.
Hazard Statement System
Hazard statements are standardized phrases that describe the nature and severity of hazards associated with chemicals. They are assigned unique alphanumeric codes for easy reference:
GHS hazard statements are assigned codes beginning with "H" followed by three digits:
- H2xx: Physical hazards (200-299)
- H3xx: Health hazards (300-399)
- H4xx: Environmental hazards (400-499)
For example, H225 indicates "Highly flammable liquid and vapor" (a physical hazard).
EU-specific hazard statements (EUH statements) supplement the GHS system with additional hazard information required in the European Union:
- EUH0xx: Supplemental hazard information (001-099)
- EUH2xx: Additional EU-specific physical and chemical properties (201-299)
- EUH4xx: Additional EU-specific environmental properties (401-499)
For example, EUH066 indicates "Repeated exposure may cause skin dryness or cracking."
Combined hazard statements merge two or more standard statements when they apply to the same hazard:
- H300 + H310: "Fatal if swallowed or in contact with skin"
- H302 + H312: "Harmful if swallowed or in contact with skin"
- H370 + H372: "Causes damage to organs and causes damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure"
Combined statements streamline hazard communication when multiple exposure routes present similar hazards.
While not hazard statements, precautionary statements (P-statements) are often included in Section 16 for completeness:
- P1xx: General precautionary statements (100-199)
- P2xx: Prevention precautionary statements (200-299)
- P3xx: Response precautionary statements (300-399)
- P4xx: Storage precautionary statements (400-499)
- P5xx: Disposal precautionary statements (500-599)
For example, P280 indicates "Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection."
Common Hazard Statements
Physical Hazards (H200-H299)
| Code | Hazard Statement | Hazard Class and Category |
|---|---|---|
| H220 | Extremely flammable gas | Flammable Gases, Category 1A |
| H225 | Highly flammable liquid and vapor | Flammable Liquids, Category 2 |
| H226 | Flammable liquid and vapor | Flammable Liquids, Category 3 |
| H228 | Flammable solid | Flammable Solids, Category 1, 2 |
| H240 | Heating may cause an explosion | Self-Reactive Substances and Mixtures, Type A; Organic Peroxides, Type A |
| H242 | Heating may cause a fire | Self-Reactive Substances and Mixtures, Types C, D, E, F; Organic Peroxides, Types C, D, E, F |
| H250 | Catches fire spontaneously if exposed to air | Pyrophoric Liquids, Category 1; Pyrophoric Solids, Category 1 |
| H260 | In contact with water releases flammable gases which may ignite spontaneously | Substances and Mixtures Which in Contact with Water Emit Flammable Gases, Category 1 |
| H272 | May intensify fire; oxidizer | Oxidizing Liquids, Category 2, 3; Oxidizing Solids, Category 2, 3 |
| H280 | Contains gas under pressure; may explode if heated | Gases Under Pressure: Compressed gas, Liquefied gas, Dissolved gas |
| H290 | May be corrosive to metals | Corrosive to Metals, Category 1 |
Health Hazards (H300-H399)
| Code | Hazard Statement | Hazard Class and Category |
|---|---|---|
| H300 | Fatal if swallowed | Acute Toxicity (oral), Category 1, 2 |
| H301 | Toxic if swallowed | Acute Toxicity (oral), Category 3 |
| H302 | Harmful if swallowed | Acute Toxicity (oral), Category 4 |
| H304 | May be fatal if swallowed and enters airways | Aspiration Hazard, Category 1 |
| H311 | Toxic in contact with skin | Acute Toxicity (dermal), Category 3 |
| H314 | Causes severe skin burns and eye damage | Skin Corrosion/Irritation, Category 1, 1A, 1B, 1C |
| H315 | Causes skin irritation | Skin Corrosion/Irritation, Category 2 |
| H317 | May cause an allergic skin reaction | Skin Sensitization, Category 1, 1A, 1B |
| H318 | Causes serious eye damage | Serious Eye Damage/Eye Irritation, Category 1 |
| H319 | Causes serious eye irritation | Serious Eye Damage/Eye Irritation, Category 2, 2A |
| H330 | Fatal if inhaled | Acute Toxicity (inhalation), Category 1, 2 |
| H335 | May cause respiratory irritation | Specific Target Organ Toxicity - Single Exposure, Category 3 (Respiratory tract irritation) |
| H336 | May cause drowsiness or dizziness | Specific Target Organ Toxicity - Single Exposure, Category 3 (Narcotic effects) |
| H340 | May cause genetic defects | Germ Cell Mutagenicity, Category 1A, 1B |
| H350 | May cause cancer | Carcinogenicity, Category 1A, 1B |
| H351 | Suspected of causing cancer | Carcinogenicity, Category 2 |
| H360 | May damage fertility or the unborn child | Reproductive Toxicity, Category 1A, 1B |
| H370 | Causes damage to organs | Specific Target Organ Toxicity - Single Exposure, Category 1 |
| H372 | Causes damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure | Specific Target Organ Toxicity - Repeated Exposure, Category 1 |
| H373 | May cause damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure | Specific Target Organ Toxicity - Repeated Exposure, Category 2 |
Environmental Hazards (H400-H499)
| Code | Hazard Statement | Hazard Class and Category |
|---|---|---|
| H400 | Very toxic to aquatic life | Hazardous to the Aquatic Environment - Acute Hazard, Category 1 |
| H410 | Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects | Hazardous to the Aquatic Environment - Chronic Hazard, Category 1 |
| H411 | Toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects | Hazardous to the Aquatic Environment - Chronic Hazard, Category 2 |
| H412 | Harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects | Hazardous to the Aquatic Environment - Chronic Hazard, Category 3 |
| H413 | May cause long lasting harmful effects to aquatic life | Hazardous to the Aquatic Environment - Chronic Hazard, Category 4 |
| H420 | Harms public health and the environment by destroying ozone in the upper atmosphere | Hazardous to the Ozone Layer, Category 1 |
EU-Specific Hazard Statements (EUH)
| Code | Hazard Statement | Application |
|---|---|---|
| EUH001 | Explosive when dry | For explosive substances and mixtures placed on the market wetted with water or alcohols or diluted with other chemicals to suppress their explosive properties |
| EUH014 | Reacts violently with water | For substances and mixtures that react violently with water, such as acetyl chloride, alkali metals, titanium tetrachloride |
| EUH029 | Contact with water liberates toxic gas | For substances and mixtures which in contact with water or damp air, evolve gases classified for acute toxicity in category 1, 2 or 3 |
| EUH031 | Contact with acids liberates toxic gas | For substances and mixtures which react with acids to evolve gases classified for acute toxicity in category 3 |
| EUH032 | Contact with acids liberates very toxic gas | For substances and mixtures which react with acids to evolve gases classified for acute toxicity in category 1 or 2 |
| EUH066 | Repeated exposure may cause skin dryness or cracking | For substances and mixtures which may cause concern as a result of skin dryness, flaking or cracking but which do not meet the criteria for skin irritancy |
| EUH070 | Toxic by eye contact | For substances or mixtures where an eye irritation test has resulted in overt signs of systemic toxicity or mortality among the animals tested |
| EUH071 | Corrosive to the respiratory tract | For substances or mixtures in addition to classification for inhalation toxicity, if data is available that indicates the mechanism of toxicity was corrosivity |
| EUH208 | Contains (name of sensitizing substance). May produce an allergic reaction | For mixtures containing a sensitizing substance at a concentration between 0.1% and the concentration limit for classification |
| EUH210 | Safety data sheet available on request | For mixtures not classified as hazardous but containing at least one substance posing human health or environmental hazards above specified concentration limits |
| EUH211 | Warning! Hazardous respirable droplets may be formed when sprayed. Do not breathe spray or mist | For liquid mixtures containing titanium dioxide where the substance is classified as carcinogen category 2 by inhalation |
Example of Section 16.5 Content
16.5 Full Text of Hazard Statements
The following hazard statements are referenced in this Safety Data Sheet:
Physical Hazards:
H225: Highly flammable liquid and vapor
H226: Flammable liquid and vapor
H242: Heating may cause a fire
H290: May be corrosive to metals
Health Hazards:
H301: Toxic if swallowed
H302: Harmful if swallowed
H311: Toxic in contact with skin
H314: Causes severe skin burns and eye damage
H315: Causes skin irritation
H317: May cause an allergic skin reaction
H318: Causes serious eye damage
H319: Causes serious eye irritation
H335: May cause respiratory irritation
H336: May cause drowsiness or dizziness
H351: Suspected of causing cancer
H372: Causes damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure
Environmental Hazards:
H400: Very toxic to aquatic life
H410: Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects
H411: Toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects
EU-Specific Hazard Statements:
EUH066: Repeated exposure may cause skin dryness or cracking
EUH208: Contains (name of sensitizing substance). May produce an allergic reaction
Common Issues with Hazard Statements in SDSs
When preparing or reviewing Section 16.5 of an SDS, be aware of these common issues:
- Missing hazard statements that are referenced elsewhere in the SDS
- Inconsistency between hazard statements in Section 16.5 and those in Section 2
- Outdated hazard statements that do not reflect current GHS revisions
- Inclusion of hazard statements that are not relevant to the substance or mixture
- Failure to include EU-specific hazard statements (EUH statements) when applicable
- Incorrect translation of hazard statements in multilingual SDSs
- Typographical errors that change the meaning of hazard statements
Best Practices for Section 16.5
- Include the full text of all hazard statements referenced by code elsewhere in the SDS
- Ensure consistency between hazard statements in Section 16.5 and those in Section 2
- Use the exact wording of hazard statements as specified in the applicable regulations
- Organize hazard statements by category (physical, health, environmental) for clarity
- Include EU-specific hazard statements (EUH statements) when applicable
- Update hazard statements when regulations or classifications change
- Consider including precautionary statements (P-statements) for completeness
- Ensure accurate translation of hazard statements in multilingual SDSs
Important: The full text of hazard statements is a critical component of hazard communication in a Safety Data Sheet. It ensures that all users, regardless of their familiarity with hazard codes, can understand the specific hazards associated with the substance or mixture. Regular review and updates are necessary to maintain accuracy and compliance with current regulations.