GHS and safety
Hazard statement (H statement)
Definition
A standard phrase with an H code that describes the nature and degree of a chemical's hazard.
Hazard statements have a code of H plus three digits. The first digit gives the type of hazard: H2xx physical hazards, H3xx health hazards and H4xx environmental hazards.
Examples:
- H225 Highly flammable liquid and vapour
- H302 Harmful if swallowed
- H314 Causes severe skin burns and eye damage
- H319 Causes serious eye irritation
- H410 Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects
Statements can be combined, for example H300+H310 Fatal if swallowed or in contact with skin. The EU adds its own supplemental EUH statements.
Related terms
- Precautionary statement (P statement)A standard phrase with a P code that tells users how to prevent or respond to a chemical hazard.
- EUH statementSupplemental hazard phrases used on labels in the European Union in addition to GHS H statements.
- Signal wordThe word Danger or Warning on a GHS label, showing the relative severity of the hazard.
- Safety data sheet (SDS)A 16 section document from the supplier describing a chemical's hazards, safe handling, emergency measures and transport.