MoD Health & Safety Handbook 

JSP 375 Vol 2 

LABELLING  

27  If a dangerous chemical is supplied in a package, the package must be labelled. Suppliers only 

have to use a label if the chemical is supplied in a package. It would not be practical to provide a label if 

the chemical is supplied from a tanker or down a pipeline! The aim of the label is to tell anyone handling 

the package or using the chemicals about the hazards and to give brief advice on suitable precautions. 

For workers, the label is a supplement to information provided by the employer; for others (including the 

general public) it is a major way of getting the information across. 

28  CHIP specifies exactly what has to go on the label. The main elements are:  

28.1 

The full name, address and telephone number of a supplier in the European Economic 

Area (EEA); {The EEA consists of the European Union countries plus Norway, Iceland and 

Liechtenstein}  

28.2 

The name of the chemical;  

28.3 

The indication of danger and associated symbol;  

28.4 

The risk phrases; and  

28.5 The 

safety 

phrases. 

29  CHIP specifies how packages should be marked or labelled and what size the label should be. 

Suppliers are responsible for getting the label right. 

RISK PHRASES 

Indication of particular risks 

1 

Explosive when dry  

2 

Risk of explosion by shock, friction, fire or other sources of ignition  

3 

Extreme risk of explosion by shock, friction, fire or other sources of ignition  

4 

Forms very sensitive explosive metallic compounds  

5 

Heating may cause an explosion  

6 

Explosive with or without contact with air  

7 

May cause fire  

8 

Contact with combustible material may cause fire  

9 

Explosive when mixed with combustible material  

10 Flammable 

11 Highly 

flammable 

12 Extremely 

flammable 

14 

Reacts violently with water  

15 

Contact with water liberates extremely flammable gases  

16 

Explosive when mixed with oxidising substances  

17 

Spontaneously flammable in air  

18 

In use may form flammable/explosive vapour air mixture  

19 

May form explosive peroxides  

20 Harmful 

by 

inhalation 

21 

Harmful in contact with skin  

22 

Harmful if swallowed  

23 Toxic 

by 

inhalation 

24 

Toxic in contact with skin  

25 

Toxic if swallowed  

26 

Very toxic by inhalation  

27 

Very toxic in contact with skin  

28 

Very toxic if swallowed  

29 

Contact with water liberates toxic gas  

30 

Can become highly flammable in use  

31 

Contact with acids liberates toxic gas  

Leaflet 5 Annex H 

April 2003 

 Page 

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