Globally Harmonized System and National Fire Protection Agency Hazard labeling comparison

1. GHS vs. NFPA
Hazard Identification

2. GHS : Higher Risk = Lower Number
1 – extremely hazardous
2 – highly hazardous
3 – hazardous
4 – will be harmful
5 – may be harmful
4 – extremely hazardous
3 – highly hazardous
2 – hazardous
1 – harmful
0 – no risk
NFPA : Higher Risk = Higher Number

3. Health Hazard -
4 – deadly
3 – extreme danger
2 – hazardous
1 – slightly hazardous
0 – no hazard
Fire Hazard -
4 – below 73 Fo
3 – below 100 Fo
2 – below 200 Fo
1 – above 200 Fo
0 – will not burn
Reactivity -
4 – may detonate
3 – may detonate with
shock and heat
2 – violent chemical
change at high
temps or pressures
1 – unstable if heated
0 – stable
Specific Hazard –
OXY – oxidizer
ACID – acid
ALK – alkaline
COR – corrosive
W – water reactive
– radiation hazard

4. NOTE:
For firefighters, so focus is on
behavior at high temps –
not necessarily lab work.

5. •flammable
•pyrophorics
•self-heating
•emits flammable gas
•self-reactives and
organic peroxides
Types B, C, D, E, & F
•oxidizers •explosives
•self-reactives and
organic peroxides
Types A & B

6. •irritant (skin & eye)
•skin sensitizer
•acute toxicity (harmful)
•narcotic effects
•respiratory tract irritant
•hazardous to ozone layer
•acute toxicity
(fatal or harmful)
•carcinogens
•mutagenicity
•reproductive toxicity
•respiratory sensitizer
•target organ toxicity
•aspiration toxicity

7. •corrosive to skin
•corrosive to metals
•may cause eye damage
•gas under pressure •aquatic toxicity

8. Sigma Aldrich Summary of the GHS System of Labeling
OSHA Health Hazard Criteria
OSHA Physical Hazard Criteria