Hazardous substances are chemicals in which direct contact with them will expose human to series of hazard. Any danger of substances should be taken and arranged carefully before something unexpected occurs. Each of the chemical has its own hazard and risk. Therefore, to inform people about the hazard, people can label the substances with colour.
Label colour for this purpose mainly uses Hazardous Materials Identification System (HMIS) to label hazardous substances. The index of the label uses color to identify the type of hazard a chemical has. Many laboratories should use it, especially where amateur is in risk of using it just like in school with the chemicals that’s not allowed in high school. Moreover, it also uses number rating to identify the level of hazard and thr lethality of the substances. The main colours of the system are blue, red, yellow, and white. Here is the further details of hazardous substancescolour.
The blue colour indicates the health hazard of the substance. In the latest version of HMIS, the colour bar has two spaces. The first space has asterisk to indicate chronic health danger. While the other space is for the number indicator. As for the number indicator, it indicates the severity of health danger a substance posses. In order to be able to interpret the colour labe and the number it represents.
1. Number 0
The number 0 in blue color label shows the health risk of the substance to possess no significant effect to human. In other words, the numerical code 0 (zero) means the chemical does not contain any hazard that can harm human’s health or is safe.
2. Number 1
If the label shows number one beside the color mark, it shows the chemical to possess a possibility to cause irritation, reversible, and minor injuries. The hazard is considered as a light one as substances with this numerical code does not trigger life-threatening effect.
Also read: Chemicals in Joint Compound
3. Number 2
Substance with this numerical code in its blue label means the chemical can cause minor injury and temporary injury that may or may not reversible.
4. Number 3
Ths substance with label blue and has number 3 in it means the chemical can cause major injury. The injury is incurable unless an action is taken place to heal the injury, for example by taking the injured to hospital.
5. Number 4
This number shows the most lethal effect a substance can have to human health. If this number is attached to the blue label, it means it can cause serious injuries, terminal illness with permanent damage.
The red colour in a chemical label indicates the flammability of the substance. Flammability shows how the substance can ignite fire. It is important to detect which chemical is hazardous in causing fire as its burning can cause a whole lot of a lab disaster. It also has numbers to determine the level of flammability as shown below.
1. Number 0
The number 0 in the red-coloured label means the chemical is not flammable. Substance labeled with zero flammability for example is water.
2. Number 1
The substance labeled with number one in the red section means the chemical is slightly flammable. It needs preheat to ignite it with ignite point at 93 Celcius or 200 Fahrenheit.
3. Number 2
The number 2 in red label means the substance has the potential to ignite fire below 93 Celcius and above 38 Celcius. If the it gets exposed to heat, it may likely explode or cause fire.
4. Number 3
Just like in the blue label, number 3 in red label means higher risk to get it cause flame and burn its surroundings. It has heating point from around 23 Celcius to 38 Celcius. Since it can easily burn, it is best not to use fire near one.
5. Number 4
This number to indicate the most flammable substance such as spiritus and propane. Hence, it show whether a chemical is highly flammable and dangerous in general. The ignite point of this substance is high. It only takes low temperature to cause a flame from it. Indeed, we should be aware of the hazardous substances label colour
An orange label in a HMIS label is to show the reactivity of the substance. Reactiveness of a chemical can cause explosion or other reactions such as decomposition, form change, and many more. The numerical label in orang section is as described below.
1. Number 0
The zero number beside the orange label indicates the substance to be not reactive at all. It will not explode or spitting gas when mixed with other chemicals for example: helium.
2. Number 1
Chemicals labeled with this number is generally stable but can become physically hazardous if there is high temperature or pressure. Thus, it is best to keep them away from fire or pressured air.
3. Number 2
Number 2 chemicals are unstable ones that will react to temperature and pressure. However, it is hardly explosive. The reactivity may only cause change of form.
4. Number 3
The chemical labeled with number 3 in the orange label indicates unstable substances that can cause explosion in the presence of strong reactor only. Moreover, it is likely to change form or decompose when it is mixed with water or other chemicals, for example: ammonium nitrate. (Related to Sodium Nitrate Common Uses).
5. Number 4
As usual the number 4 shows for the most chemical with possible hazard. Meanwhile, in orange label, it means the chemical is highly reactive, most likely can cause explosion, and change form easily. When dealing with this kind of chemical, it is highly advisable not yo use it for any experiment unless it has the insulator to keep out the reactivity.
In HMIS system of labelling, the white color is to indicate what people need as personal protection as dealing with potential hazardous substances. It can be in the icon of mask, lab glove, certain tube and many more. Thus, if anyone happen to deal with hazardous chemical, they can prepare the protection needed.
People should take concern in the use of hazardous substances. Thus, any misconduct related to the utilization of chemicals due to ignorance of the hazard it exposes can lead to life-threatening accident. Therefore, people should be aware of the hazardous substances label colour. To know more about how to recognize chemical exposure, read Usual Signs of Overexposure to Hazardous Chemicals Include.
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