As announced this past March, OSHA is revising its Hazard Communication Standard so that the system will better protect workers from dangerous chemicals. This update will align the organization with the United Nation’s global chemical labeling system known as The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals. It’s estimated that the revision will help prevent 43 deaths and will increase productivity by $475.2 million annually for our country’s businesses.

Along with the revisions comes seven new pictograms to accompany the currently used skull and crossbones and fiery fire (our best guess of how to name it). Here’s the new set, including the two classics, and what they represent. Hope this helps keep your job site safer and more accountable. All of the following were sourced from OSHA’s website.

Health Hazard

• Carcinogen
• Mutagenicity
• Reproductive Toxicity
• Respiratory Sensitizer
• Target Organ Toxicity
• Aspiration Toxicity

Flame

• Flammables
• Pyrophorics
• Self-Heating
• Emits Flammable Gas
• Self-Reactives
• Organic Peroxides

Exclamation Mark

• Irritant (skin and eye)
• Skin Sensitizer
• Acute Toxicity
• Narcotic Effects
• Respiratory Tract Irritant
• Hazardous to Ozone Layer (Non-Mandatory)

Gas Cylinder

• Gases Under Pressure

Corrosion

• Skin Corrosion/Burns
• Eye Damage
• Corrosive to Metals

Exploding Bomb

• Explosives
• Self-Reactives
• Organic Peroxides

Flame Over Circle

• Oxidizers

Environment (Non-Mandatory)

Skull and Crossbones

• Acute Toxicity (fatal or toxic)