COSHH Symbols

If you are working with substances that are hazardous to health, whether you are involved in the manufacture, use, storage or disposal, you should be aware of the symbols that are displayed on the packaging.

Explosive (bomb)	Flammable (flame)	Oxidising (flame over circle)
Gases Under Pressure (gas cylinder)	Corrosive (corroding material and hand)	Toxic (skull and crossbones)
Long Term Health Hazard (hazard person)	Dangerous for the Environment (dead tree and fish)	Caution (exclamation mark)

Importance

These symbols are displayed on packaging will also be included on the safety data sheet you get when supplied with the substance. COSHH symbols give you a good indication of the main hazards associated with the substance.

Regulations.

These symbols are the new European symbols that have been implemented by European Regulation on the classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures (known as CLP regulation). These symbols replaced the Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulations (known as CHIP).

Questions.

1. What is the symbol for toxic?
2. What does the exclamation mark symbol represent?

Summary.

These symbols will help you to identify when a substance is hazardous, and the type of precautions needed. Under the CLP regulations you will also see a signal word either ‘warning’ or ‘danger’, to help alert you to a harmful substance.