12 Oct RGS Labels helping Self Adhesive Label customers within the Chemical Industry
RGS Labels are very much aware that the Traditional COSHH Symbols are changing : Many of us will be familiar with the age old orange and black hazardous substance symbols – they have been around for years and are instantly recognisable to all. They are found on everything from basic cleaning products to acids and has been with us since 1967 when the Dangerous Substances Directive (67/548/EEC) was passed.
Below is a diagram demonstrating the old symbols and also the New Hazard Symbols.
International symbols replaced the European symbols in 2009. Some of them are similar to the European symbols but there is no single word describing the hazard. The most noticeable feature is the change in the labelling symbols: instead of the hazard symbols with black printing on orange-yellow rectangles that have been used to date, now nine hazard pictograms with black symbols on a white background with red-rimmed rhombuses are used to provide warnings
The new international hazard symbols and warning and precautionary phrases that must be used on labels which will eventually replace the danger signs, risk and safety phrases. There will be a transitional period as these are gradually phased in. The changes have already completed for substances and by June 2015 for mixtures and preparations.
New COSHH symbols
In order from top left to bottom right the symbols are:
- Dangerous to the environment
- Toxic
- Gas under pressure
- Corrosive
- Explosive
- Flammable
- Caution – used for less serious health hazards like skin irritation
- Oxidising
- Longer term health hazards such as carcinogenicity and respiratory sensitisation