You have a legal right to know about every hazardous chemical on this construction site — what it is, what it can do to you, and how to protect yourself. OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (HazCom) and the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) ensure that information is standardized, accessible, and in a format every worker can understand.

• 🔥 Flame: Flammable gas, liquid, or solid — keep away from heat and ignition sources
• 🔥○ Flame Over Circle: Oxidizer — can intensify fire; separate from flammables
• 💀 Skull & Crossbones: Acutely toxic — can be fatal even in small amounts. Full PPE required
• ⚠ Exclamation Mark: Irritant, skin sensitizer, or harmful if inhaled — use with ventilation
• 🫀 Health Hazard: Carcinogen, mutagen, reproductive toxin, respiratory sensitizer. Long-term exposure risk
• 💥 Exploding Bomb: Explosive, self-reactive, or organic peroxide — handle with extreme care
• 🧪 Corrosion: Destroys metal or causes severe skin/eye burns. Splash protection required
• 🌍 Environment: Aquatic hazard — dispose of properly, report any spills
• 🔴 Gas Cylinder: Compressed or liquefied gas — stored and transported upright, away from heat

• SDS must be available for every chemical used or stored on site — binder is in the field office
• The SDS has 16 sections: Section 2 (Hazard ID), Section 4 (First Aid), Section 8 (PPE), Section 14 (Transport)
• Before using any new chemical, look up its SDS — take 2 minutes. Section 2 and Section 8 are most critical for workers
• If there is no SDS for a product, do not use it — contact your foreman

• Every container must be labeled — manufacturer label intact, or a secondary label if transferred to another container
• NEVER work with an unlabeled container. NEVER transfer chemicals to unlabeled containers
• GHS labels must show: product identifier, signal word (DANGER or WARNING), pictograms, hazard statements, and precautionary statements