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GHS Pictograms & Hazard Classes

The nine GHS pictograms, what each one covers, the hazard classes behind them, and how signal words and H-statements are assigned.

A GHS label is assembled from four parts: the pictograms, one signal word, the hazard statements that describe what the substance does, and the precautionary statements that say what to do about it. The pictograms below are the entry point — each one is triggered by specific hazard classes and categories.

Signal word

9 of 9 pictograms · reference only, nothing here is editable

  • GHS01 — Exploding bomb pictogramGHS01

    Exploding bomb

    Signal word — Danger or Warning, by division

    • Explosives (Divisions 1.1–1.4)
    • Self-reactive substances and mixtures, Types A and B
    • Organic peroxides, Types A and B
  • GHS02 — Flame pictogramGHS02

    Flame

    Signal word — Danger or Warning, by category

    • Flammable gases, aerosols, liquids and solids
    • Self-reactive substances, Types B–F
    • Pyrophoric liquids and solids; self-heating substances
    • Substances which, in contact with water, emit flammable gases
    • Organic peroxides, Types B–F
  • GHS03 — Flame over circle pictogramGHS03

    Flame over circle

    Signal word — Danger or Warning, by category

    • Oxidising gases
    • Oxidising liquids
    • Oxidising solids
  • GHS04 — Gas cylinder pictogramGHS04

    Gas cylinder

    Signal word — Warning

    • Gases under pressure: compressed, liquefied, refrigerated liquefied and dissolved gases
  • GHS05 — Corrosion pictogramGHS05

    Corrosion

    Signal word — Danger, or Warning for corrosivity to metals

    • Corrosive to metals (Category 1)
    • Skin corrosion (Category 1, 1A–1C)
    • Serious eye damage (Category 1)
  • GHS06 — Skull and crossbones pictogramGHS06

    Skull and crossbones

    Signal word — Danger

    • Acute toxicity — oral, dermal or inhalation (Categories 1–3)
  • GHS07 — Exclamation mark pictogramGHS07

    Exclamation mark

    Signal word — Warning

    • Acute toxicity (Category 4)
    • Skin irritation (Category 2); eye irritation (Category 2/2A)
    • Skin sensitisation (Category 1)
    • Specific target organ toxicity, single exposure (Category 3)
    • Hazardous to the ozone layer
  • GHS08 — Health hazard pictogramGHS08

    Health hazard

    Signal word — Danger or Warning, by category

    • Respiratory sensitisation (Category 1)
    • Germ cell mutagenicity (Categories 1A, 1B, 2)
    • Carcinogenicity (Categories 1A, 1B, 2)
    • Reproductive toxicity (Categories 1A, 1B, 2)
    • Specific target organ toxicity, single or repeated exposure (Categories 1, 2)
    • Aspiration hazard (Category 1)
  • GHS09 — Environment pictogramGHS09

    Environment

    Signal word — Warning, or none for chronic Category 2

    • Hazardous to the aquatic environment — acute (Category 1)
    • Hazardous to the aquatic environment — chronic (Categories 1, 2)

The other label elements

Signal word
One of two words, never both. 'Danger' is used for the more severe hazard categories, 'Warning' for the less severe. If a label carries Danger for one hazard, the Warning belonging to a lesser hazard is omitted.
Hazard statement (H-code)
A fixed phrase assigned to a hazard class and category — H225 'Highly flammable liquid and vapour', for example. The wording is standardised so it means the same thing in every jurisdiction that has adopted GHS.
Precautionary statement (P-code)
Measures to prevent or minimise harm: prevention, response, storage and disposal. P-codes are recommendations within GHS, and jurisdictions differ in which they mandate.
Pictogram
A black symbol on white, inside a red diamond. A pictogram appears when its hazard class and category are assigned; several may appear on one label.

Common questions

How many GHS pictograms are there?
Nine: exploding bomb, flame, flame over circle, gas cylinder, corrosion, skull and crossbones, exclamation mark, health hazard, and environment. Each is a black symbol on white inside a red diamond, and more than one can appear on a single label.
What is the difference between Danger and Warning?
They are the two GHS signal words. Danger is used for the more severe hazard categories and Warning for the less severe. Only one appears on a label: if a product carries Danger for any of its hazards, the Warning belonging to a lesser hazard is left off.
What is the difference between the skull and crossbones and the exclamation mark?
Severity of acute toxicity. The skull and crossbones covers Categories 1 to 3 — the substances that can kill at low doses. The exclamation mark covers Category 4, the least severe, along with irritation, skin sensitisation and single-exposure organ toxicity at Category 3.
Does a safety data sheet come with an order?
Yes. A safety data sheet is issued with the consignment, along with the Certificate of Analysis for the batch supplied. Read the SDS before handling any material — the classification on it governs, not a general reference like this page.

Summarised from the UN Globally Harmonized System, Rev. 10. Jurisdictions adopt GHS with variations — CLP in the EU, HazCom in the United States — so the classification that applies is the one on the safety data sheet for the material you hold. The official pictogram artwork is published by UNECE.

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