You are on page 1of 1

SAF-T-DATA Guide

Safety Labeling System


Unique Safety Labeling

Numeric Hazard Ratings for Quick Assessment of Relative Hazard


Hazard symbols
A substance in any hazard category may also display a hazard symbol. These easy-to-understand pictograms emphasize the serious hazards related to a substance:

Hazard Ratings
An easily-understood numeric rating system allows the chemist and nontechnical user to instantly assess the relative hazard of the product they are handling. On a scale of 0 to 4, with 4 being extremely hazardous, the product is rated in four hazard categories: health, ammability, reactivity, and contact. Pictograms indicate any severe or extreme hazards, such as cancer-causing, and also the recommended personal protective equipment and clothing.

SAF-T-DATA in Use
1 Bar Code
The bar code system is in accordance with the Health Industry Bar Code (HIBC) standard. The primary bar code includes a company identication number (e.g., H479), product number (e.g., 9511-05), and unit of measure (single unit, full case). The secondary bar code includes an expiration date in Julian format (e.g., 180th day of the year) and lot number (e.g., V20A12). To supplement the SAF-T-DATA information, a written hazard warning is provided on the label. The J.T.Baker label also provides the Canadian WHMIS format (Worker Hazardous Materials Information System), and warning statements in French and English, along with internationally recognized warning symbols. This section contains rst aid information.

2 Written Hazard Information

The SAF-T-DATA labeling system1 is an easy-tounderstand chemical hazard classication system that appears prominently on J.T.Baker and Macron Laboratory Chemical labels. The SAF-T-DATA label information: Identies storage compatibility of products by color code Allows you to quickly assess the hazards a substance presents to your health and safety Recommends personal laboratory protective equipment for safe handling Many laboratory chemical suppliers supply only NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) ratings designed for use by reghters. While it is important to understand how a product may react with water and its hazard in acute exposuresuch as that resulting from a rethe hazards presented in routine lab use are quite different. The risks of acute and chronic exposure, contact, and reactivity in a lab setting are critical information to lab personnel handling the product. The SAF-T-DATA label system goes beyond NFPA ratings to include risks in a laboratory setting.

NONE*

1
SLIGHT

2
MODERATE

3
SEVERE

4
EXTREME

3 First Aid Information 4 Corrosive Identier

Major corrosives are easily and quickly distinguished by color coding found on the bottles label and cap. Colors include red (nitric acid), blue (hydrochloric acid), yellow (sulfuric acid), black (perchloric acid), brown (acetic acid), and green (ammonium hydroxide).

5 Actual Lot Analysis or Specications


Actual Lot Analysis An Actual Lot Analysis (ALA) on the label is your assurance of product purity and consistency. An ALA will allow you to quickly identify critical values for specic analyses. Specications Some product labels have specications only indicating the maximum level of impurities. An ALA is available at www.avantormaterials. A Use Before date appears on the label if a product has known limited stability (less than two years).

*No scientic data in standard references suggest the substance is hazardous.

B C

Hazard categories
The product is rated in the following categories: Health The danger or toxicity the substance presents if inhaled, ingested, or absorbed, including the potential effect on human/animal reproductive processes. Contact The danger the substance presents when exposed to skin, eyes, and mucous membranes. Flammability The tendency of the substance to burn. Reactivity The potential of the substance to explode or react violently with air, water or other substances.
1

6 NFPA Diamond 7 Special Data The J.T.Baker and Macron labels include other useful information such as DOT
name and number, and recommended spill control media.

8 SAF-T-DATA Information 9 Storage Color Code

4 8 2 3 7 5 6

1. Always refer to product MSDS for additional information. The user is responsible for ensuring the safe use of the product in any particular application/environment.

Storage Color Coding


The SAF-T-DATA label suggests a method for setting up your chemical storage area. The background color of the SAF-T-DATA block indicates the type of storage required.2 Simply store products with the same color together and follow the recommendations for appropriate storage.
2. To aid the color-blind, the name of the storage color is printed in the lower border of the SAF-T-DATA block.

Blue (Health hazard) Store in a secure poison area. Red (Flammable hazard) Store in a ammable liquid storage area. White (Contact hazard) Store in a corrosion-proof area. Green* Store in a general chemical storage area. Yellow (Reactivity hazard) Store separately and away from ammable or combustible materials. Striped (Assess storage individually) A striped label indicates material incompatible with other materials in the same color class.
*Previously Orange

Laboratory Protective Equipment

This series of pictograms suggests the personal protective clothing and equipment recommended for use when handling the substance in a laboratory situation.

8 2 5 3 6 7

Goggles

Goggles & Shield

Lab Coat

Lab Coat & Apron

Vented Hood

Extinguisher

Extinguisher

Extinguisher

Proper Gloves

9
2011 Avantor Performance Materials, Inc. All rights reserved.Trademarks are owned by Avantor Performance Materials, Inc. or its afliates unless otherwise noted. Lit #3988 9/07

You might also like