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FILE NAME: Warning Labels (WL) DATE: 1945 June DOC#: WL011 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Article from Trade Journal A G uide for the Preparation of 'Warning Labels for Hazardous Chemicals !r< the last few years the development of new chemical compounds, the wartime necessity of using unshilled labor, and the introduction of chemical processes into new fields of industry have emphasized the need for improved labeling ol chemical products. The Manufacturing Chemists* Association, for many years a strong force in the improvement of methods for the shipping and handling of chemicals, enlarged its activities in this field by fornnnng, about a year ago, its Label and Precautionary information Committee. This committee, composed of competent technical and legal personnel, has worked intensively during the past year and has developed certain basic principles, classification of hazards, 7. The following subject m atter should be considered for inclusion on a precau tionary label: 1. Chemical name. 2. "Signal w ord" (D A N G ER -- WABNING--CAUTION) designating de gree of hazard (Column A, Schedule 3). 3. Affirmative statem ent of " hazard" (Column B, Schedule 3). 4. "Precautionary measures" covering actions to be followed or avoided (Column C, Schedule 3). 5. Instructions in case of accident, where advisable (Column D, Schedule 3). and recommended forms for labels. This work has been compiled by the M C A in its recently issued Manual L -1 , entitled " A Guide for the Preparation of Warning Labels for Hazardous Chemicals". Because of the valuable informa Preparation of Precautionary Labels The basic considerations in the prepara tion of a precautionary label are: tion and recommendations contained in this manual, we are publishing it here with the permission of the Manufacturing Chemists' Association. J he development of new chemical prod" ucts and the introduction of chemical processes into ever-widening fields has ac centuated the need for furnishing appro priate information in those cases where special precautions are necessary. M any chemicals present no hazards in normal handling and storage and for these prod ucts no precautionary labels are necessary. The education of employees regarding chemical hazards is, and m ust remain, the direct responsibility of their employers. However, such hazards are not confined to employees alone, and information concern ing them should, so far as practicable, reach every person using, transporting, or storing chemicals. The most practical means for the seller to disseminate this information appears to be by labels affixed to containers of hazardous chemicals, bear ing appropriate precautionary statements and instructions stated as simply and briefly as circumstances permit. In the interest of uniformity and more adequate labeling of chemical products, the Manufacturing Chemists' Association has prepared this manual for the benefit and guidance of its members. In addition to the general recommendations contained herein, the MCA has prepared suggested labels for specific products. These have been printed as Manual L-2, which will be supplemented from time to time as addi tional recommended labels are developed. In order th at the terms used in the Manual may be clearly understood, a. ser ies of definitions is included in Schedule 1. Individual statutes, regulations, or ordi nances may require th at particular in formation be included on a label or th a t a specific label be affixed to a container as in the case of ICC Regulations. In each case, the requirements of these laws should also be studied. The warning labels sug gested in this manual should be used in addition to, or in combination xoitk, any label required, by .law. General Principles In the preparation of any precautionary label the following principles should first be considered: 1. Each chemical product (including mixtures) presents a distinct problem and m ust be treated individually, in the light of its own characteristics. 2. Extreme care should be exercised in the choice of terminology. Statements should be brief a.od simple. 3. On labels for different products, uni formity in language to indicate the same hazar ds is most .desirable in order to gain greater understanding through standardi zation. 4. Precautionary statem ents m ust be accurate and selectively chosen. To be effective, they slbould be used only when necessary--indiscriminate use will tend to destroy their value. For example, the use of the word " Poison" on labels should be restricted to cases in which (1) it is pre scribed by law,, or (2) it is associated through common usage with a particular compound, or (3) it is indicated because of special circumstances in a product's distribution to, or utilisation by, the pub lic. The commonly accepted meaning of "Poison" refers to single dose oral toxicity. I t covers inode juately, in a quantitative sense, the hazards from acute and chronic exposure, ingestion, skin absorption and inhalation. Therefore, in most cases the use of a signal word such as "D ANGER" , 'WARNING" , or "CAUTION" with a statem ent of th e hazard present is much more informative. 5. C hem ical nam es should be those recom m ended b y th e Am er ic a n C hemxcaiS ociety. 6. The use o f a nondescriptive code designation or trade name as the only iden tification of a hazardous chemical should be avoided. If for any reason, it is un desirable to show the chemical name, or if the chemical name is so compebr. as to be meaningless except to th e trained chemist, the label should state the type of chemical-- e.g., "corrosive acid", ""lead compound". 1. _ D eterm ination of the hazards pres e n t in th e p articu lar chemical. 2. Selection of appropriate statem ents for each hazard. 3. Arrangement of statem ents in th e order of emphasis desired. The most frequently encountered haz ards have been classified by the MCA into lO types as listed in Schedule 2. Set op posite each class are statements illustrat ing characteristic precautions usually re quired for th a t type of hazard. Many chemicals will have more than one type of hazard, in which case the state ments for each type should, if appropri ate, he included on the label. As each chemical must be treated indi vidually, there will be many instances in. which th e illustrative statements will n ot b e applicable either because th ey do h o t accurately express th e degree of hazard o r because they fail to cover the particular characteristics. In such cases, suitable statements should be selected from Sched ule 3 next page. This schedule presents a mere comprehensive list of statem ents arranged in columnar form, and grouped a s follows: (A) Signal Word, (B) Hazards, (C) Precautionary Measures, and (D) In structions in Case of Accident. A. T he degree of hazard can be ex pressed only in relative terms. The pur pose is tx ofold: to indicate to th e reader the comparative seriousness of the danger involved in handling a given product and t o call attention to the precautionary in structions which should immediately fol low. T he "signal words" recommended are, in th e order of diminishing severity of hazard (1) DANGER; (2) W A RNIN G ; (3) CAUTION. Example: WARNING! B. From this column should b e selected the phrase (or phrases) th at most accu rately describes the principal hazard. This is placed on th e same line as the "sig nal word" . Example: W ARNING! FLAMMABLE. C. T he appropriate statem ent of "pre cautionary measures" should b e chosen from Column C and should follow on subnpient lines. 9 C H E M IC A L AMU E N G IN E E R IN G NEWS Example: WARNING! FLAMMABLE. Keep away from heat and open flame. Use with adequate ventila tion: 0 Avoid prolonged breathing of vapor. A void prolonged o r repeated contact w ith skin. D . When it is advisable to include in structions in case of accident, the appro priate statement may be selected from this column. If the statements from Schedule 3 fail to meet the exact needs, they should be modified to suit. In the example chosen, toluene, no phrase from this col umn appears to be necessary. While every compound carries some hazard, if improperly used, it is impractical to cover every possible contingency on a label. Efforts should be directed toward naming the serious hazards, and warning against such abuses and accidents as are likely to be encountered under normal conditions. There are scarcely any means of measuring in absolute terras the rela tive seriousness of hazards, and th e recom mendations in Schedule 3 only contemplate their division into two or three degrees of intensity. I t follows th a t of two com pounds one may be less hazardous than the other -and yet may carry the same warn ings and cautions. Schedule 4 presents suggested labels for samples of experimental products for which full data regarding hazards are not yet known. Schedule 5 illustrates the application of caution statements to three specific prod ucts. In the case of toluene, th e sta te ments used are similar to those given in Schedule 2 for a compound having hazards in classifications 1-3 and IV. T he second example, aqueous hydrofluoric acid, repre sents a very special case where the particu lar hazards require modification of the standard statements. The third example is th a t of a label for a proprietary com pound. Schedule 1.. Definitions Flammable Liquid.1. An- inflammable1 liquid is any liquid which gives off in flammable vapors (as determined by flash point from Tagliabue's open-cup tester, as used for test of burning oils) a t or below a temperature of 80 F. Corrosive2. (Physiological) A corro sive is an agent which in contact with liv ing tissue will cause more or Less severe destruction of tissue by chemical action. Irritant3. (Physiological) An irritant is an agent which in contact w ith living tissue will induce either immediately or after prolonged or repeated contact a more or less severe local tissue reaction not lead ing directly to destruction of tissue. Sensitizer2. .(Physiological) A sensi tizer is a material which as ordinarilyhandled does not necessarily cause any discernible reaction in living tissue but which after initial or repeated contact with the tissue of some individuals may, a t a later date, produce a prompt inflam matory reaction on contact, even in mi- 1IC C definition. While the terra "Inflam mable** is uan ` by th ICC, th e preferred form '"flam m able" is used in this manual. * MCA definition. Schedule 8. Classification o f Hozards Class T ypical Label I. Flam m able liquids and oxidiz in g agents which support com bustion A. F lash p o in t 20 F . or b elo w . B. F lash p o in t above 20 to 8 0 F. inclusive. C. Flash point above 80 F. D A N G ER! Extremely flammable. K eep aw a y from h e a t a n d open flam e. K eep container closed. W A RN IN G ! Flam m able. K eep aw ay from h e a t a n d open flam e. Keep container closed. N o cautionary label recommended (as regards flam ma bility) except w here required by local regulation. II. Flam m able solids and oxidizing agents as classified by the ICC. C A U TIO N ! Exposure m ay cause fire or create fire hazard. K eep aw ay from h e a t a n d open flam e. Keep containor closed. In case of contact: Im m ediately flush with plenty of w ater. Remove and w ash clothing before re-use. I II . Vapors im m ediately toxic or extremely irritatin g even on exposure for a sh o rt tim e Or to low concentrations. D A N G E R ! Extremely hazardous vapor. Do n o t breatho vapor. D o n o t get on skin. D o n o t get. in eyes. Keep container closed an d away from heat. K e e p a w a y from fe e d o r food p ro d u cts. H ave a ir line respirator or gas mask approved by U. S. B ureau of Mines fo r purpose, av ailab le for em ergency. IV . Vapors hazardous from pro longed or repeated exposures, or exposure to higher con centrations. W A R N IN G ! Harmful vapor. Use only w ith adequate ventilation. Avoid prolonged b re a th in g of vapor. Keep container closed and away from heat. V. Vapors physiologically inert. CAU TION! V apor reduces oxygen available for breathing. Use w ith adequate ventilation. Keep container closed. V I. Harmful dusts. CAUTIONI Harmful dust. Avoid repeated b reath in g or skin contact. K eep aw a y from, fe e d or food p ro d u cts. V II. Skin irritan ts, corrosive. D A N G E R ! Causes severe l. ns. D o n o t get in eyes. D o n o t get on akin. D o n o t get on clothing. I n case of contact: Im m ediately flush w ith p lenty of w ater. Remove and wash clothing before re-use. V III. M aterials causing skin irritations after repeated or pon- tinued contact. CAU TION! May cause skin irritation, A void prolonged o r repeated contact, IX . M aterials toxic through vapor inhalations or skin absorp tion. X . Toxic if taken internally. Ap plies to m aterials covered by statutory definition of poison liable to be destructive of hum an adults in dose9 of 60 grains or less (4 grams) o r to any m aterial toxic in am ounts likely to be taken internally through easily an ticipated errors. W A R N IN G ! D angerous if absorbed through skin or breathed. Avoid contact with skin or clothing. Avoid breathing vapor. In case of exposure: R em ove to fresh air. Im m edi ately wash with soap and plenty of w ater. R em ove and wash clothing before re-use. bab el a s legally prescrib ed . I f n o t covered by re g u latio n a ty p ical label m ig h t read : D A N G E R ! Ml a y be f a ta l if Bwallowed. Do not take internally. A . Signal Word a. D A N G ER! b. W ARNING ! o. C A U T IO N ! Schedule 3. Recommended Label Cautions B. Hozards C. Precautionary D. Measures Instructions in Case of Accident Flammability a. Extrem ely flam- a . m able (flash point 20 F . or below).. b. F lam m ab le (flash point above 20 to 80 F. inclusive). c. Exposure m ay cause fire or create fire haz ard. Keep aw ay heat (sparks) open flame. from and V O L U M E 2 3. N O . 11 > 113 J U N E 1 0, 1 9 4 5 993 nute amounts, with the tissue of the same individuals. Dusts3. Solid particles generated by handling, crushing, grinding, rapid impact, detonation, and decrepitation of organic or inorganic materials such as rock, ore, metal, coal, wood, grain, etc. Dusts do not tend to flocculate except under elec trostatic forces; they do not diffuse in air but settle under the influence of gravity. Fumes3. _ Solid particles generated by condensation from the gaseous state, gen erally after volatilisation from molten metals, etc., and often accompanied by a chemical reaction such as oxidation. Fumes flocculate and sometimes coalesce. Mists'. Suspended liquid droplets generated by condensation from the gase ous to the liquid state or by breaking up a liquid into a dispersed state, such as by splashing, foaming, and atomizing. Gases'. Normally formless fluids which occupy the space of enclosure and which can be changed to the liquid or solid state only by the combined effect of increased pressure and decreased temperature. Gases diffuse. Vapors'. The gaseous form of sub stances which are normally in the solid or liquid state and which can be changed to these states either by increasing the pres sure or decreasing the temperature alone. Vapors diffuse. Poison. There is no definition adequate for all cases. See General Principles 4. Schedule 4. Labels for Experimental Samples The labeling of experimental samples of new products presents udusual problems. All of the properties or possible uses of p. product are seldom known. The following safeguards are therefore recommended: 1. Samples of products which are al ready on the m arket which have a standard' warning label should carry the same warn ings as are used on commercial shipments. 2. The following label is suggested for samples of any material th a t has never been in commercial production unless (1) the material is known to be wholly innocu ous, or (2) the dangers are limited to known hazards and appropriate cautions are sub mitted. S am ple F o r E xperim ental U se Only (Name or Description of Product) C A U TIO N ! T he chemical, physical, and toxicological properties of this product have n o t been fully investigated and its handling or use m ay be hazardous. Exer cise due care. N o n w a rra n ty clause--o p tio n a l T he supplier makes no w arranty of any kind, express or im plied, concerning its use. T he user assum es all risk of use o r han dling, w hetheror n o tin accordance w ith any directions or suggestions of the supplier. 3. The identity of the sample, indi cated in parentheses above, should be os clear as possible. Wherever feasible, it should be the name of the compound, and in any case it should be the best possible identification to aid the user in knowing with what he is concerned. 4. Where there are significant known hazards they should be so indicated. 5. The above label may be used in the case of old products being considered for new uses. * As defined in C hapter II, "E ngineering Con tro l of the Air Contamination of the Working En vironm ent'` (Allen D. Brandt), page 198, " Man ual of Industrial Hygiene", USPH8. Q9A Schedule 3. Recommended Lable Cautions (Cont'd.) Volatility a. Highly volatile. b. V olatile (so lv en t). a. K e$p o u t of su n an d aw ay from heat. Inhalation a . Extremely hazard a. Do not breath vapor ous vapor. (or) Avoid breathing b. M a y b e f a ta l if in vapor. haled. b. Avoid prolonged or c. Harm ful vapor, repeated breathing d. Vapor reduces oxy of vapor. gen a v a ila b le for c. U se (only) w ith ad e breathing. quate ventilation. e. H arm ful d u st. d. Avoid prolonged / , C auses irrita tio n to b reath in g of d u st. eyes, nose. and throat. Contact . Corrosive liquid. a. D o not get (l) in . C a u s e s ( s e v e r e ) eyes, (2) on skin, (3) bums. on clothing. c. D an g ero u s because b. A void c o n ta c t w ith (rapidly) absorbed through skin. (1) eyes, (2) sk in , (3) clothing. d. Causes skin irrita tion. e. M ay ca u se skin irrr tafcion. Enaestion a. Poison (skull and a. Do not crossbones). nally. b. M ay be fatal if bw allowed. General take inter a. K eep * c o n tain er closed (and aw ay heat). b. K eep aw ay from feed or food prod ucts. c. K eep d ry . d. S tore in cool place. a . In case of exposure rem ove to Fresh air. b. H ave air-line respira to r or gas m ask ap pro v ed by U. S . B ureau of Mine3 for purpose available for emergency. a. In case of contact: (1) Im m e d ia te ly flush w ith plenty of water (for at least 15 m in u tes). (2) Im m ediately wash with soap and plenty of w ater. (3) Remove and wash clothing before re-use. . G et medical atten tion. . I n case of spillage, flush with plenty of w ater. c. I n case of spillage, absorb with sand, ashes, or earth. The use of any warning or other state m ent Listed above in Schedule 3 is not necessarily limited to the hazard under which it is grouped. The grouping merely indicates the type of hazard to which given statements most frequently apply. The small lettefs are not intended to indicate a correlation between similarly lettered statements in adjacent columns but are for identification only. The parenthetical words indicate op tional statements. Schedule 5. Specimen Product Labels T he following specimen labels illustrate th e application to specific products of th e principles set forth in this M anual. Toluene P ro d u c t C om bining H a z a rd s of C lass I-B and IV (Schedule 2) Chemicals. W A R N IN G ! Flammable. K eep aw ay from h e a t and open flame. Use with adequate ventilation. Avoid prolonged breathing of vapor. Avoid prolonged or repeated contact w ith skin. P roduct Requiring Modified C autions and First Aid. Aqueous Hydrofluoric A c id D A N G ER ! Corrosive liquid. H azardous vapor, Causes severe burns which m ay not be immediately painful o r visible. D o n o t b reath e vapor. D o n o t get in eyes. Do n o t g et on sk in . Do n o t g et on clothing. In case of contact or suspicion of contact: Im m ediately flush skin (until whiteness disappears) and eyes (for a t least 15 m inutes) with plenty of w ater, paying p articular attention to skin under nails. A void use of greasy ointm en ts. G et medical attention. Remove and wash clothing before re-use. P roprietary Product--e c o n t a i n in g fluorine salts (Prcrpricfary Home) Contains Fluorine Compounds. W ARNING! Poisonous if tak en internally. Avoid breathing dust. F lush spillage t o sewer w ith w ater. C H E M IC A L AN EN G IN E E R IN G NEWS This precision bilfr automatic filter valve is typical of the careful design and oversize, heavy-duty construction of Eimco filters. It offers exclusive features which make for easier installation and higher efficiencies. Le t us tell you more about it. Eimco continuous vacuum filters are being used in essential food, ehemieal and metal lurgical processing plants. Exclusive Eimco features of design and con struction assure greater filter capacity, lower moisture content of cake and longer cloth life. Eimco filters are available in all wood or all steel construction with protec tive coatings o f special materials for acid resistanceW e solicit an opportunity to consult with you on your filtration problems. The cornlets facilities of our testing laboratories, llocated at both our New York and Chicago offices, may be used without obligation- THE EIM CO CO RPO RATION Esecutive O ffices e n d Factories: -.ali Lake City 8, Utah M3 Branches: Mecv York, Chicago, El Paso, Sacram ento, St. Louis V O L U M E 2 3 , N O . 1 1 => J U N E 10, 1 9 4 5 nos Harold Raistrick, professor of biochemistry, University of London, and a director at the London School or H ygien e and Tropical M edicine, was honored in Philadelphia b y W yeth, Inc., whose peni cillin laboratories hie visited in Kimberton and West Chester, Pa- At far end o f table, feft, Dr. Raistrick. Cfoefew/je from him: H . S. Howard, president, W yeth, frie./ G . R. Rcltevv, penicillin produc tion/ F. F. Law, pharmaceutical division; C . W . Heothcote, Jr., peni cillin production; R . A . Beeson, nutritional division; \V. C . Hovey, plant operations; Jo h n Reichel, biological division; 5. V . Smith, sales; E. F. V o ig t, biological division; A lfred. BaroL director, Wyeth Institute o f A p p lie d Biochemistry; E. T. Stiller, or ganic chemistry'division of institute; Richard Roley, public rela tions; H . S; Dulse; Paul G yo rgy, University" of Pennsylvania Horry L . yokel, a student of the M idwood H ig h School, Brooklyn, who is the first recipient of the Permatex scholar ship to the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn, working on * problem of crude oil distillation in his high school labora tory. The scholarship provides full tuition for four years, and was established by the Permatex C o., Inc., of Brooklyn Above. Harry L i Derby, president; M C A , and American Cyertsmsd, and W.' M . Jeffers, president. Union - Pacific R.R., and formerRubber Director, Mr. Derby spoke:.re cently on the Union Pacific radio' pro gram, telling of the. chemical industry's achievements in producing war materials Process supervisors from an English penicillin! factory study large-scale production methods oS Commercial Solvents, Terre Haute. L'elito right, J . J . H. Hastings, technical adviser, it. H . Mur ray, Horry Sansbury, F. H , Foster, G . E. Hines, superintendent et Terre Haute, A . R. Lockwood, and James G . Corric, process superintendent^: