The label must include:
Full, common name of the chemical – do not use abbreviations, chemical formulas or nomenclature – note: you can use the name from the SDS ex. EDTA Labels must be written in English.
Please see the Additional Labeling requirements for other helpful information.
Hazard (caution, danger, flammable, corrosive, etc.), or appropriate GHS pictogram (this can be found on the stock container
Note: if no hazard exists – you do not have to put “no hazard”
Example of Labels:
Images in the resources that need to be extracted
Additional labeling requirements:
- Stock containers (direct from the manufacturer) do not need to be labeled, as long as the manufacturer label remains clearly legible
- Labels should be replaced whenever they fade, peel, or otherwise deteriorate so as to become difficult to read
- In the event that labels must be created, the labels should be durable, legible, and must be firmly affixed to the container(s)
- A variety of materials can be used to label chemicals – actual labels, chemically resistant labels, tape etc.
- Sample vials/tubes – if the tubes are too small to put labels on them and if they are held in a rack or a box – please label the container they are in (examples: microfuge & NMR tubes)
- Lab synthesized chemicals – please put the anticipated hazard(s), date prepared and the name of the person that made the chemical – last name at minimum
- Make sure to put the hazard word or symbol for the chemical (Flammable, Corrosive, Toxic etc.) and not the NFPA fire diamond information Buffers can be labeled by their common name – ex. SDS
- Water should be labeled “Water” not H2O – no chemical formulas
Peroxide forming chemicals must be labeled with the date the container was received, the date the container was opened, and the date the container must be disposed – Not longer than 1 year
The irritant symbol does not denote hazard, only warning – this symbol is generally used on powders and indicates that it will only cause irritation of handled improperly – they do not need to be labeled
Diluted Solutions from Hazardous Materials
If the solution that you are creating is not from a certified manufacturer and does not have an SDS to show that the hazards are no longer present in the solution – then you must continue to label the hazards of the mixture components to provide a margin of safety for workers
Unwanted Materials Labeling:
- Lab personnel must label every potentially hazardous material container that is unwanted and generated in a lab with the words “unwanted material”. There should not be any variations to this primary wording.
- The unwanted materials label must be affixed, attached or written on the container as soon as material starts to be accumulated into it. Labels can be downloaded and printed from http:// oehs.utah.edu/resource-center/forms or printed from the EHS Safety Administrative Management (SAM) system while in accumulation. At a minimum, the label will detail the contents of the container, communicate the hazard associated with the container, and give the accumulation start date.
Resources
Chemical Container Labeling
