CLP and Hazard Warning Labels
The safety of human life and the care of our environment are fundamental responsibilities. It is a moral and legal duty that we have. Hazard warning CLP labels and pictograms are mandatory to alert us to the presence of hazardous chemicals and dangerous goods. These labels have to be used on the following:
- Containers of hazardous chemicals.
- Any secondary packaging of these products.
- Vehicles containing pressurised cylinders or hazardous goods.
- Pallets and parcels containing the above
There are strict regulations around the design, size and the use of these labels. Find out more about them below.
Hazard warning pictograms are used to alert us to the presence of hazardous chemicals and dangerous or unstable goods. They are often referred to as GHS (Globally Harmonised System) Labels or CLP (Classification, Labelling & Packaging of substances and mixtures) Labels.
What is the difference between GHS Labels & CLP Labels?
The simplest way to understand it is that CLP is the implementation of the world standard of hazard warning labels (GHS) within the EU. See more at h2compliance.com
CLP warning signs are required to be shown on all Hazardous Products within the EU. CLP pictograms consist of a range of nine different symbols which conform to EU standards and comply with the GHS labelling standard. They are universally recognised pictogram
- The CLP Regulation was introduced in 2010 and it replaced the original orange & black symbols under the CHIP regulation, this brought the pictograms into line with the United Nations GHS labels.
- CLP Labels are required on every layer of the packaging of products containing dangerous substances. According to CLP Article 17, the following elements should be included on the labels…
- Name, address and telephone number of the supplier(s);
- The nominal quantity of the substance or mixture in the package where this is being made available to the general public unless this quantity is specified elsewhere on the package
- Product identifiers
- Hazard pictograms, where applicable
- The relevant signal word, where applicable
- Hazard statements, where applicable
- Appropriate precautionary statements where applicable
- A section for supplemental information, where applicable.
Hazard Warning Labels are also used in the transport of dangerous goods to warn people of the potential harm/risk of handling the parcels or consignments to themselves, others, and the environment. These labels are known as Transport Labels or ADR Labels.
Transport Labels are part of the Globally Harmonised System (GHS) and comply with the European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous goods by Road (ADR).
In summary, the most important aspect of hazard labelling is that hazardous goods are identified correctly by universally recognized warning signs and that the warning signs (pictograms) are the correct size and clearly marked so that they are easily categorised as hazardous by handlers and freight agents.
Most of these labels are supplied on a synthetic BS5609 approved material to ensure durability in extreme environments.
For more in-depth reading on dangerous goods, use the following link. https://www.unece.org/trans/danger/danger.html
