Chemical Labeling Guidelines

What types of information must be on the chemical label?

The manufacturer label is usually appropriate and includes the following:
  • Product name or identity of chemical
  • Name and address of manufacturer
  • Most significant physical or health hazards associated with chemical, including target organ, if applicable
  • Chemical Abstract Service (CAS) number, if available

    • It is not necessary to supplement the manufacturer’s labels, but all missing labels must be replaced as soon as possible.
    All chemical containers must have labels, this includes:

  • Small end-use containers into which a bulk chemical was transferred, whenever any possibility exists that more than one employee or student may potentially use the container
  • Containers into which waste are being accumulated
  • May use “homemade” labels if the identity of the chemical and some type of health hazard or hazard class information is presented.

May use hazard ratings (symbols, letters or numbers) to indicate the hazards, but only if people are trained to understand them. Many types of labels are commercially available, such as the following one.


Hazardous Material Identification Guide