606 Hazard Communication for the Employee

Primary - Shipped Container Labels

Under the HCS 2012, primary containers shipped from manufacturers or distributors must be labeled, tagged, or marked with the following six items:

Product Identifier

• A product identifier means the name or number used for a hazardous product on a label or in the SDS. It provides a unique means by which the product user can identify the substance or mixture within the particular use setting (e.g. transport, consumer or workplace).
• A product identifier should be used and it should match the product identifier used on the SDS. If the material is a mixture of two or more compounds and it is covered by UN Model regulations for transport of dangerous goods, UN proper shipping name should also appear on package.
• The label for a substance should include the chemical identity of the substance (name as determined by IUPAC, ISO, CAS or technical name). For mixtures and alloys, the label should include chemical identities of all ingredients or alloying elements that contribute to the following:
• acute, reproductive, or specific target organ toxicity (STOT);
• skin sensitization or corrosion, or serious eye damage; or
• germ cell mutagenicity, carcinogenicity, or respiratory sensitization.
• Where a substance or mixture is supplied exclusively for workplace use, a competent authority may choose to give the suppliers discretion to include chemical identities on the SDS, in lieu of including them on labels.
• The competent authority rules for "Confidential Business Information" (CBI) take priority over the rules for product identification. The meeting criterion for CBI does not have to be included on the label.

Signal Words

• Words used to indicate the relative level of severity of hazard. They alert the reader to a potential hazard on the label. Signal words used in GHS are "Danger" and "Warning." "Danger" is for the more severe hazard categories, while "Warning" is used for less severe hazards. Signal words are assigned to each hazard category.

Hazard Statements

• A phrase assigned to a hazard class and category that describes the nature of the hazards of a hazardous product, including, when appropriate, the degree of the hazard. For example, "Fatal if swallowed" could be used as a hazard statement.
• Hazard statement and code: Hazard statement codes are intended to be used for reference purposes: they are not part of the text and should not be used to replace it.

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