The MSDS HyperGlossary: Hazard Statements

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Hazard Statements (H-Statements)

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Definition

Hazard Statements (H-Statments) are part of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). Hazard statements provide standardized wording to indicate the hazards of a product including, when appropriate, the degree of the hazard.

The GHS also has Precaution Statements which provide standardized precaution wordings. You will usually find both P- and H-statements on a label or Safety Data Sheet.

In the European Union, H-statements have replaced Risk phrases (R-phrases) with the adoption of the GHS under Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (20 MB PDF file). Conversions of R-phrases to H-statements are listed in Annex 7 of that document.

Additional Info

Hazard statements are assigned a unique numerical code which can be used as a handy reference when translating labels and Safety Data Sheets written in other languages. The codes are not a substitute for writing out the entire text of the statement.

The codes have the form Hnxx where H stands for "hazard statement"; n=2 for physical hazards, n=3 for health hazards, and n=4 for environmental hazards; and xx is a sequential numbering scheme.

Thus, an SDS or label might bear a statement such as "May be corrosive to metals (H290)". H indicates a Hazard, the 2 indicates a physical hazard, and 90 is part of the numbering scheme.

About these tables: A GHS only badge means the hazard statement is part of the UN Globally Harmonized System but is not part of the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (HCS). Statements added or materially changed after the GHS Revision 3 baseline used for HCS 2012 carry a revision badge. Withdrawn statements are retained for historical reference and marked OBSOLETE.

Badges are clickable and jump to the corresponding revision or status note below the tables.

Hazard Statement Codes for Physical Hazards

Category	Pictogram	Signal word	Code	Hazard statement
Explosives (GHS chapter 2.1, OSHA App. B.1)
Former: Unstable explosive		Danger	H200 OBSOLETE	Unstable explosive
Former: Division 1.1		Danger	H201 OBSOLETE	Explosive; mass explosion hazard
Former: Division 1.2		Danger	H202 OBSOLETE	Explosive; severe projection hazard
Former: Division 1.3		Danger	H203 OBSOLETE	Explosive; fire, blast or projection hazard
2B		Warning	H204 GHS Rev. 9	Fire or projection hazard
2C		Warning	H204 GHS Rev. 9	Fire or projection hazard
Former: Division 1.5	—	Danger	H205 OBSOLETE	May mass explode in fire
1		Danger	H209 GHS Rev. 9	Explosive
2A		Danger	H209 GHS Rev. 9	Explosive
1		Danger	H210 GHS Rev. 9	Very sensitive
1		Danger	H211 GHS Rev. 9	May be sensitive
Desensitized explosives (GHS chapter 2.17, OSHA App. B.17)
1		Danger	H206 GHS Rev. 6	Fire, blast or projection hazard; increased risk of explosion if desensitizing agent is reduced.
2		Danger	H207 GHS Rev. 6	Fire or projection hazard; increased risk of explosion if desensitizing agent is reduced.
3		Warning	H207 GHS Rev. 6	Fire or projection hazard; increased risk of explosion if desensitizing agent is reduced.
4		Warning	H208 GHS Rev. 6	Fire hazard; increased risk of explosion if desensitizing agent is reduced.
Flammable gases (GHS chapter 2.2, OSHA App. B.2)
1A		Danger	H220	Extremely flammable gas
1B		Danger	H221 HCS 2024	Flammable gas
2	—	Warning	H221	Flammable gas
1A, chemically unstable gas A		Danger	H230 GHS Rev. 4	May react explosively even in the absence of air.
1A, chemically unstable gas B		Danger	H231 GHS Rev. 4	May react explosively even in the absence of air at elevated pressure and/or temperature.
1A, pyrophoric gas		Danger	H232 GHS Rev. 4	May ignite spontaneously if exposed to air.
Flammable aerosols (GHS chapter 2.3, OSHA App. B.3)
1		Danger	H222	Extremely flammable aerosol
2		Warning	H223	Flammable aerosol
1		Danger	H229 GHS Rev. 4	Pressurized container: may burst if heated.
2		Warning	H229 GHS Rev. 4	Pressurized container: may burst if heated.
3	—	Warning	H229 GHS Rev. 4	Pressurized container: may burst if heated.
Flammable liquids (GHS chapter 2.6, OSHA App. B.6)
1		Danger	H224	Extremely flammable liquid and vapour
2		Danger	H225	Highly flammable liquid and vapour
3		Warning	H226	Flammable liquid and vapour
4	—	Warning	H227	Combustible liquid
Flammable solids (GHS chapter 2.7, OSHA App. B.7)
1, 2		Danger / Warning	H228	Flammable solid
Self-reactive substances and mixtures (GHS chapter 2.8, OSHA App. B.8); and Organic peroxides (GHS chapter 2.15, OSHA App. B.15)
Type A		Danger	H240	Heating may cause an explosion
Type B		Danger	H241	Heating may cause a fire or explosion
Types C, D, E, F		Danger / Warning	H242	Heating may cause a fire
Pyrophoric liquids (GHS chapter 2.9, OSHA App. B.9); Pyrophoric solids (GHS chapter 2.10, OSHA App. B.10)
1		Danger	H250	Catches fire spontaneously if exposed to air
Self-heating ; substances and mixtures (GHS chapter 2.11, OSHA App. B.11)
1		Danger	H251	Self-heating ; may catch fire
2		Warning	H252	Self-heating ; in large quantities; may catch fire
Substances and mixtures which, in contact with water, emit flammable gases (GHS chapter 2.12, OSHA App. B.12)
1		Danger	H260	In contact with water releases flammable gases which may ignite spontaneously
2, 3		Danger / Warning	H261	In contact with water releases flammable gas
Chemicals under pressure (GHS chapter 2.3, OSHA App. B.3)
1		Danger	H282 GHS Rev. 8	Extremely flammable chemical under pressure: may explode if heated.
2		Warning	H283 GHS Rev. 8	Flammable chemical under pressure: may explode if heated.
3		Warning	H284 GHS Rev. 8	Chemical under pressure: may explode if heated.
Oxidizing gases (GHS chapter 2.4, OSHA App. B.4)
1		Danger	H270	May cause or intensify fire; oxidizer
Oxidizing liquids (GHS chapter 2.13, OSHA App. B.13); Oxidizing solids (GHS chapter 2.14, OSHA App. B.14)
1		Danger	H271	May cause fire or explosion ; strong oxidizer
2, 3		Warning	H272	May intensify fire; oxidizer
Gases under pressure (GHS chapter 2.5, OSHA App. B.5)
Compressed gas Liquefied gas Dissolved gas		Warning	H280	Contains gas under pressure ; may explode if heated
Refrigerated liquefied gas		Warning	H281	Contains refrigerated gas; may cause cryogenic burns or injury
Corrosive to metals (GHS chapter 2.16, OSHA App. B.16)
1		Warning	H290	May be corrosive to metals

Hazard Statement Codes for Health Hazards

Category	Pictogram	Signal word	Code	Hazard statement
Acute toxicity , oral (GHS chapter 3.1, OSHA App. A.1)
1, 2		Danger	H300	Fatal if swallowed
3		Danger	H301	Toxic if swallowed
4		Warning	H302	Harmful if swallowed
5	—	Warning	H303 GHS only	May be harmful if swallowed
Aspiration hazard (GHS chapter 3.10, OSHA App. A.10)
1		Danger	H304	May be fatal if swallowed and enters airways
2	—	Warning	H305 GHS only	May be harmful if swallowed and enters airways
Acute toxicity , dermal (GHS chapter 3.1, OSHA App. A.1)
1, 2		Danger	H310	Fatal in contact with skin
3		Danger	H311	Toxic in contact with skin
4		Warning	H312	Harmful in contact with skin
5	—	Warning	H313 GHS only	May be harmful in contact with skin
Skin corrosion / irritation (GHS chapter 3.2, OSHA App. A.2)
1A, 1B, 1C		Danger	H314	Causes severe skin burns and eye damage
2		Warning	H315	Causes skin irritation
3	—	Warning	H316 GHS only	Causes mild skin irritation
Sensitization , skin (GHS chapter 3.4, OSHA App. A.4)
1		Warning	H317	May cause an allergic skin reaction
Serious eye damage/eye irritation (GHS chapter 3.3, OSHA App. A.3)
1		Danger	H318	Causes serious eye damage
2A		Warning	H319	Causes serious eye irritation
2B	—	Warning	H320	Causes eye irritation
Acute toxicity , inhalation (GHS chapter 3.1, OSHA App. A.1)
1, 2		Danger	H330	Fatal if inhaled
3		Danger	H331	Toxic if inhaled
4		Warning	H332	Harmful if inhaled
5	—	Warning	H333 GHS only	May be harmful if inhaled
Sensitization , respiratory (GHS chapter 3.4, OSHA App. A.4)
1		Danger	H334	May cause allergy or asthma symptoms or breathing difficulties if inhaled
Specific target organ toxicity, single exposure; Respiratory tract irritation (GHS chapter 3.8, OSHA App. A.8)
3		Warning	H335	May cause respiratory irritation
Specific target organ toxicity, single exposure; Narcotic effects (GHS chapter 3.8, OSHA App. A.8)
3		Warning	H336	May cause drowsiness or dizziness
Germ cell mutagenicity (GHS chapter 3.5, OSHA App. A.5)
1A, 1B		Danger	H340	May cause genetic defects (state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard)
2		Warning	H341	Suspected of causing genetic defects (state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard)
Carcinogenicity (GHS chapter 3.6, OSHA App. A.6)
1A, 1B		Danger	H350	May cause cancer (state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard)
2		Warning	H351	Suspected of causing cancer (state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard)
Reproductive toxicity (GHS chapter 3.7, OSHA App. A.7)
1A, 1B		Danger	H360	May damage fertility or the unborn child (state specific effect if known)(state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard)
2		Warning	H361	Suspected of damaging fertility or the unborn child (state specific effect if known)(state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard)
Reproductive toxicity , effects on or via lactation (GHS chapter 3.7, OSHA App. A.7)
Additional category	—	Warning	H362	May cause harm to breast-fed children
Specific target organ toxicity, single exposure (GHS chapter 3.8, OSHA App. A.8)
1		Danger	H370	Causes damage to organs (or state all organs affected, if known) (state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard)
2		Warning	H371	May cause damage to organs (or state all organs affected, if known)(state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard)
Specific target organ toxicity, repeated exposure (GHS chapter 3.9, OSHA App. A.9)
1		Danger	H372	Causes damage to organs (state all organs affected, if known) through prolonged or repeated exposure (state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard)
2		Warning	H373	May cause damage to organs (state all organs affected, if known) through prolonged or repeated exposure (state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard)

Hazard Statement Codes for Environmental Hazards

Category	Pictogram	Signal word	Code	Hazard statement
Hazardous to the aquatic environment, acute toxicity (GHS Chapter 4.1)
1		Warning	H400 GHS only	Very toxic to aquatic life
2	—	—	H401 GHS only	Toxic to aquatic life
3	—	—	H402 GHS only	Harmful to aquatic life
Hazardous to the aquatic environment, chronic toxicity (GHS Chapter 4.1)
1		Warning	H410 GHS only	Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects
2		—	H411 GHS only	Toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects
3	—	—	H412 GHS only	Harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects
4	—	—	H413 GHS only	May cause long lasting harmful effects to aquatic life
Hazardous to the ozone layer (GHS Chapter 4.2)
1	—	Warning	H420 GHS only	Harms public health and the environment by destroying ozone in the upper atmosphere.

Revision and status notes

GHS only These hazard statements are recognized by the UN GHS but are not adopted as part of OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard. They are included here because they may appear on SDSs and labels prepared under other national or regional GHS implementations.

OBSOLETE H200–H203 and H205 were withdrawn when the explosives classification scheme was revised in GHS Revision 9 (2021). They are retained here because they may still appear on older SDSs and labels.

GHS Rev. 4 Identifies the flammable-gas and aerosol additions H229–H232 introduced after the GHS Revision 3 baseline used for HCS 2012.

GHS Rev. 6 Identifies H206–H208 for desensitized explosives.

GHS Rev. 8 Identifies H282–H284 for chemicals under pressure.

GHS Rev. 9 Identifies the revised explosives scheme, including H209–H211 and the revised H204 Category 2B/2C allocations.

HCS 2024 Identifies an OSHA-specific adoption or category change relevant to the current Hazard Communication Standard.

SDS Relevance

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The US, Europe, and numerous other countries have adopted the Globally Harmonized System, which requires manufacturers and importers of potentially hazardous chemicals to perform a hazard classification of the materials they sell or import.

If that process, required under Paragraph (d) of 29 CFR 1910.1200, the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (HCS 2024), indicates a hazard, the applicable H-statements and precautionary statements must be provided on the Safety Data Sheet (see paragraph (g)) and the label (see paragraph (f)).

Per Appendix D of HCS 2024, the H- and P-statements will appear in Section 2 of the SDS. Note: If a sheet was issued before the HCS 2012 took full effect the (M)SDS may not only be in a different format, it may not contain these statements. If you have a sheet like this in your collection you should attempt to find a current version. Remember that H-statements indicate only the hazards of a material, not the safety precautions that you need to follow. For safety information see the Precaution Statements entry.

This section discusses SDS relevance, but the importance of H- and P-statements on labels is paramount so we will address that here. Per paragraph C.2.2 of Appendix C of HCS 2012, the H-statements will appear on on the label, possibly in a condensed form, unless they are deemed inappropriate:

C.2.2.1

The text of all applicable hazard statements shall appear on the label, except as otherwise specified. The information in italics shall be included as part of the hazard statement as provided. For example: “causes damage to organs (state all organs affected) through prolonged or repeated exposure (state route of exposure if no other routes of exposure cause the hazard)”. Hazard statements may be combined where appropriate to reduce the information on the label and improve readability, as long as all of the hazards are conveyed as required.