NFPA Labeling Guide (pdf) - WHOI Environmental Health & Safety
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NFPA Labeling Guide Introduction The NFPA 704 standard protects the health and safety of individuals who respond to fire and chemical emergencies in facilities or storage locations where the hazards of materials are not readily apparent or known. The standard addresses the health, flammability, instability and related hazards that are presented by short-term, acute exposure to a material during a fire, spill or other emergency-related condition. NFPA 704 is a simple, recognizable and easily understood marking system that provides a general idea of the severity of the hazards of a material. The standard applies to industrial, commercial and institutional facilities that manufacture, process, use or store hazardous materials. Hazard Symbols A system of categories, colors and numbers was created to provide basic hazard information. It enables firefighters and other emergency personnel to easily decide whether or not to evacuate an area or proceed with emergency control operations. The three principal categories of identification are Health, Flammability and Instability. A numerical range of “0 to 4” indicates the severity of the hazard. A “4” indicates the most severe and a “0” indicates a minimal hazard. The information is presented in a color and spatial arrangement of the numerical ratings: Health Hazard, blue, at the 9 o’clock position; Flammability Rating, red, at the 12 o’clock position; and the Instability Rating, yellow, at the 3 o’clock position. Alternately, the square-on-point field is permitted to be any contrast of color. If this is the case, then the numbers themselves must be colored coded. The fourth space at the 6 o’clock position is reserved for indicating unusual reactivity with water. It is designated by the letter “W” with a line through the center. No special color is associated with this symbol. If the space isn’t needed to indicate reactivity with water, only then can the space be used to indicate other unusual hazards. For example, materials that possess oxidizing properties are identified by the letters “OX”. What Needs To Be On a Label Chemical manufacturers or distributors must provide the following information on chemicals that leave their facility: Identity of the hazardous chemical(s), appropriate hazard warnings, and name and address of the chemical manufacturer, importer or other responsible party. [29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(i)] The employer shall ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace is labeled, tagged or marked with the following information: Identity of the hazardous chemical(s) contained therein and appropriate hazard warnings. [29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(5)] Please ensure the entire label is complete.
Transcript of NFPA Labeling Guide (pdf) - WHOI Environmental Health & Safety
NFPA Labeling Guide
Introduction
The NFPA 704 standard protects the health and safety of individuals who respond to fire and chemical emergencies in facilities or storage locations where the hazards of materials are not readily apparent or known. The standard addresses the health, flammability, instability and related hazards that are presented by short-term, acute exposure to a material during a fire, spill or other emergency-related condition.
NFPA 704 is a simple, recognizable and easily understood marking system that provides a general idea of the severity of the hazards of a material. The standard applies to industrial, commercial and institutional facilities that manufacture, process, use or store hazardous materials.
Hazard Symbols
A system of categories, colors and numbers was created to provide basic hazard information. It enables firefighters and other emergency personnel to easily decide whether or not to evacuate an area or proceed with emergency control operations. The three principal categories of identification are Health, Flammability and Instability. A numerical range of “0 to 4” indicates the severity of the hazard. A “4” indicates the most severe and a “0” indicates a minimal hazard.
The information is presented in a color and spatial arrangement of the numerical ratings: Health Hazard, blue, at the 9 o’clock position; Flammability Rating, red, at the 12 o’clock position; and the Instability Rating, yellow, at the 3 o’clock position. Alternately, the square-on-point field is permitted to be any contrast of color. If this is the case, then the numbers themselves must be colored coded.
The fourth space at the 6 o’clock position is reserved for indicating unusual reactivity with water. It is designated by the letter “W” with a line through the center. No special color is associated with this symbol. If the space isn’t needed to indicate reactivity with water, only then can the space be used to indicate other unusual hazards. For example, materials that possess oxidizing properties are identified by the letters “OX”.
What Needs To Be On a Label
Chemical manufacturers or distributors must provide the following information on chemicals that leave their facility: Identity of the hazardous chemical(s), appropriate hazard warnings, and name and address of the chemical manufacturer, importer or other responsible party. [29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(i)]
The employer shall ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace is labeled, tagged or marked with the following information: Identity of the hazardous chemical(s) contained therein and appropriate hazard warnings. [29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(5)]
Please ensure the entire label is complete.
NFPA Labeling Guide
Health Hazard
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
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.
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
This section is used to denote special hazards. There are only two NFPA 704 approved symbols:
OX This denotes an oxidizer, a chemical which can greatly increase the rate of combustion/fire
Unusual reactivity with water. This indicates a potential hazard using water to fight a fire involving this material.
NFPA 704
HazCom 2012
Purpose Provides basic information for emergency personnel responding to a fire or spill and those planning for emergency response.
Informs workers about the hazards of chemicals in workplace under normal conditions of use and foreseeable emergencies.
Number System:NFPA Rating and OSHA’s Classification System
0-40-least hazardous4-most hazardous
1-41-most severe hazard4-least severe hazard • The Hazard category numbers are NOT required to be on labels but are required on SDSs in Section 2.
• Numbers are used to CLASSIFY hazards to determine what label information is required.
Information Provided on Label
• Health-Blue • Flammability-Red • Instability-Yellow • Special Hazards*-White
* OX Oxidizers W Water Reactives SA Simple Asphyxiants
• Product Identifier • Signal Word • Hazard Statement(s) • Pictogram(s) • Precautionary statement(s); and • Name address and phone number of responsible party.
Health Hazards on Label
Acute (short term) health hazards ONLY.Acute hazards are more typical for emergency response applications.Chronic health effects are not covered by NFPA 704.
Acute (short term) and chronic (long term) health hazards. Both acute and chronic health effects are relevant for employees working with chemicals day after day. Health hazards include acute hazards such as eye irritants, simple asphyxiants and skin corrosives as well as chronic hazards such as carcinogens.
Flammability/Physical Hazards on Label
NFPA divides flammability and instability hazards into two separate numbers on the label. Flammability in red section Instability in yellow section
A broad range of physical hazard classes are listed on the label including explosives, flammables, oxidizers, reactives, pyrophorics,combustible dusts and corrosives.
Where to get information to place on label
Rating system found in NFPA Fire Protection Guide to Hazardous Materials ORNFPA 704 Standard System for Identification of the Hazards of Materials for Emergency Response 2012 Edition. Tables 5.2, 6.2, 7.2 and Chapter 8 of NFPA 704
OSHA Hazard Communication Standard 29 CFR 1910.1200 (2012).1) Classify using Appendix A (Health Hazards) and Appendix B (Physical Hazards)2) Label using Appendix C
Other The hazard category numbers found in section 2 of the HC2012 compliant SDSs are NOT to be used to fill in the NFPA 704 diamond.
Supplemental information may also appear on the label such as any hazards not otherwise classified, and directions for use.
website www.nfpa.org/704 www.osha.gov ORwww.osha.gov/dsg/hazcom/index.html
Comparison of NFPA 704 and HazCom 2012 Labels
OS
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QUICK CARDTM
National Fire Protection Associationwww.nfpa.org (800) 344-3555
For more information:
The substance: “NOMIXUP 7042012”
To create an OSHA label per HazCom 2012:
Step 1: Perform the classification in accordance with Appendix A: Health Hazards & Appendix B Physical Hazards of 29 CFR 1910.1200 — this is where you find the criteria for each hazard class and hazard category.
Class: Flammable Gas, Category 1
Class: Carcinogen, Category 1B
Class: Specific Target Organ Toxicity (Single Exposure), Category 3
Class: Substances and Mixtures Which, in Contact with Water, Emit Flammable Gases, Category 3
Step 2: Gather labeling information (Pictograms, Signal Word, Hazard Statements) from Appendix C of 29 CFR 1910.1200 based on the chemical’s hazard class and category.
Step 3: Create the Label
To Create NFPA 704 label:
Step 1: Collect information on hazards from applicable sections of SDS. Some SDSs may provide the NFPA diamond symbol with hazard rating numbers filled in already. Note: Do NOT use the hazard category numbers given in section 2 of HazCom 2012 compliant SDS on 704 label!
If the diamond is not provided on the SDS you can obtain the information under the following sections of the SDS. Note that additional information may be provided in other sections of the SDS.
• Health hazard information under Section 11• Flammability information under Section 9• Instability information under Section 10• Special information under Section 9, 10, 11
Step 2: Obtain current edition copy of NFPA 704 or view on line at www.nfpa.org/704. Compare the criteria on the SDS sections as shown above with the criteria shown in Tables 5.2 (Health), 6.2 (Flammability), 7.2 (Instability) and 8.2 (Special Hazards).
Step 3: Place numbers for the degree of hazard associated with the criteria obtained in Step 2 in the correct quadrant of NFPA 704 placard.
OS
HA
36
78
-08
201
3
QUICK CARDTM
National Fire Protection Associationwww.nfpa.org (800) 344-3555
For more information:
