Chemical Hazard Symbols Explained

Tap a symbol to see what it means.

Flammable

A flame symbol indicating the substance can easily catch fire under normal conditions, requiring it to be kept away from heat sources, sparks, and open flames.

Corrosive

A symbol showing a substance dissolving material and a hand, indicating the substance can cause severe skin burns, eye damage, or corrode metal on contact.

Toxic (Acute Toxicity)

A skull-and-crossbones symbol indicating the substance can cause serious harm or death if swallowed, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin, even in relatively small amounts.

Health Hazard

A symbol showing a starburst pattern over a human silhouette, indicating the substance may cause serious longer-term health effects, such as respiratory issues, organ damage, or carcinogenic risk.

Environmental Hazard

A symbol depicting a dead fish and tree, indicating the substance is toxic to aquatic life or the broader environment and requires careful disposal procedures.

Explosive

A symbol showing an exploding bomb, indicating the substance can explode under certain conditions such as heat, friction, or shock, and must be handled and stored with extreme care.

Oxidizer

A symbol showing a flame over a circle, indicating the substance can intensify fire or cause combustion in other materials, even though it is not itself flammable.

A universal visual language for chemical safety

These pictograms are part of the Globally Harmonized System (GHS), an internationally standardized system adopted by most countries specifically so that hazard warnings remain instantly recognizable regardless of language, which is especially important for products and shipments that cross international borders.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are these hazard symbols the same in every country?

The core pictograms themselves are largely standardized internationally under the GHS framework, though implementation details, accompanying text requirements, and exact adoption timelines can vary somewhat between countries.

Can a single product display more than one hazard symbol?

Yes — many household and industrial chemicals display multiple hazard symbols simultaneously if they pose more than one type of risk, such as a product that is both flammable and toxic.