The EPA requires that hazardous materials are properly marked with the correct symbols when their characteristics are identified. These labels must be placed on any containers that contain hazardous waste. However, hazardous waste signs don’t always include symbols since they’re not required by the EPA, except in cases of bio-waste.

Make sure you know what each of these signs means. Here are a few common symbols you may see on these signs along with their meanings:

Flammablesymbol

Many of us are used to seeing signs every day, so it may seem at times that even the hazardous cargo signs fade into the background. However, safety signs play a critical role in keeping everyday citizens and workers safe.

Manages Hazmat School’s E-Learning courses and blog. Kirstie has extensive experience in the online training and education industry. Kirstie has worked with courses that offer a variety of safety and environmental certifications that satisfy OSHA, EPA and DOT requirements.

Hazard symbols and meanings

If you’re wondering what safety signs and labels are required for your business, it’s crucial to learn more about the signage itself and the materials these signs label. Signs aren’t enough to keep you safe if you work with hazardous materials. If you work with hazardous chemicals, proper training is absolutely essential so you stay safe and help keep others safe by properly labeling and handling these materials.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) uses numerous standards to make it easier to determine whether or not a material is hazardous. These standards help determine whether something should include a hazardous waste sign. The EPA standards used to determine if a material is hazardous include:

So, what do all the hazardous waste symbols mean? And what about other hazard warning symbols and their meaning? Keep reading for an overview of what the different hazardous waste signs mean so you can do your part to ensure these signs keep you safe.

These hazardous materials pose a danger to public health and safety, which is why they must be marked with a hazardous waste sign. These signs help individuals know how to operate around these materials to prevent injury or property damage.

Hazardous materials come with safety data sheets identifying what is hazardous. These safety data sheets are comprehensive and complicated, but the warning signs are basic and simplistic. They tend to include nothing more than a pictogram, or symbol, and minimal text. If you understand the meaning of hazardous chemical information signs or other warning signs, you have a better chance of staying safe at work and wherever hazards are present.

Corrosivesymbolmeaning

You can often tell warning signs from their bright colors and distinct markings, but do you know what those signs warned you about? In this article, we will cover the meaning of hazardous cargo signs, what the different hazardous waste signs mean, info about the biohazard sign, hazmat placards meanings, and even where to find more information on what safety signs and labels are required for your business.

While the EPA doesn’t require hazardous waste signs to include labels, they’re strongly recommended. The Department of Transportation (DOT) also regulates the transportation of these materials and requires materials to be marked with specific designs on placards.

Toxicsymbol

OSHA has aligned its system of labeling, known as the Hazard Communication Standard, with the GHS, a system the United Nations developed to help identify hazardous chemicals. The symbols include:

Hazmat School provides online hazardous waste, hazardous materials, and safety training to fully comply with OSHA and DOT requirements. We provide official OSHA and DOT certificates. We serve more than 20,000 students each year.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) also requires chemicals to be adequately labeled in the workplace to protect employees using Globally Harmonized System (GHS) labels. However, this system doesn’t apply to hazardous waste since these are regulated by the EPA.

Toxic waste signs that include symbols are easier to identify quickly rather than using text alone. Symbols are commonly used to communicate information effectively, helping individuals identify hazardous materials and preventing physical damage to people and property.

Oxidizersymbol

You may see other signs warning you about a potential hazard that isn’t included in the required signage of OSHA or DOT. Hopefully, you’re already familiar with road signs that indicate potential hazards, such as falling rocks or icy roads. Hazard signs show up in far more places than just on the road. Particularly if you work in an industrial facility or on a construction site, you may see hazardous signs that are meant to help keep you safe.

Hazardous signs and meanings have evolved since they were first used to indicate poison in the 1800s. More hazardous materials have been identified since then, and labeling these materials prevents harm to the public.

Irritantsymbol

Another set of hazardous waste symbols you may have seen are placed on vehicles transporting hazardous materials down the highway. The Department of Transportation or DOT requires drivers to display these placards. You may see multiple pictures and numbers, but to understand these signs is to understand the nine classes of hazardous materials they denote. Note that some classes include numerous symbols, but every sign will bear its class number.

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HAZMAT School offers hazmat shipping courses that cover a variety of topics related to hazardous materials, so no matter how you interact with these materials, you can be armed with the information you need to stay safe. If you have questions about our course offerings or what training you are required to take to comply with OSHA, contact us today so we can answer your questions and help you stay safe.

You should be aware of all signs meant to preserve your safety and know what each means, especially if you work in a facility with hazardous materials or other dangers.