Walk into any chemical store, workshop or farm shed in Australia and you'll see three different families of hazard symbols: the red-bordered GHS pictograms on product labels, the coloured dangerous goods class diamonds, and the orange-and-white HAZCHEM placards at site entrances. They're related, but they do different jobs. This guide explains each one so you can order the right signs.
GHS pictograms: what's in the container
The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) is used under Australia's WHS laws for classifying and labelling hazardous chemicals. Australia moved to the 7th revision of the GHS (GHS 7) from 1 January 2023. Each pictogram is a black symbol in a white diamond with a red border:
- GHS01 – Exploding bomb: explosives, some self-reactive substances and organic peroxides.
- GHS02 – Flame: flammable gases, aerosols, liquids and solids, and substances that are pyrophoric, self-heating or give off flammable gas in contact with water.
- GHS03 – Flame over circle: oxidising gases, liquids and solids.
- GHS04 – Gas cylinder: gases under pressure.
- GHS05 – Corrosion: substances corrosive to metals, or that cause skin corrosion or serious eye damage.
- GHS06 – Skull and crossbones: acute toxicity (fatal or toxic).
- GHS07 – Exclamation mark: harmful (lower-category acute toxicity), skin and eye irritation, skin sensitisation, respiratory tract irritation and drowsiness or dizziness.
- GHS08 – Health hazard: serious longer-term health hazards such as carcinogenicity, respiratory sensitisation, reproductive toxicity, target organ toxicity and aspiration hazard.
- GHS09 – Environment: hazardous to the aquatic environment.
The Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for each product lists which pictograms apply. GHS pictogram signs are useful on storage cabinets, decanting areas and the doors of rooms where those chemicals are kept. Our hazchem and GHS range includes individual pictograms and combined signs.
Dangerous goods class labels: what class of goods
Dangerous goods class labels are the coloured diamonds used for transport and storage under the Australian Dangerous Goods Code and AS 1216. Each class has its own colour and symbol:
- Class 1 – Explosives
- Class 2 – Gases (2.1 flammable gas, 2.2 non-flammable non-toxic gas, 2.3 toxic gas)
- Class 3 – Flammable liquids
- Class 4 – Flammable solids (4.1), substances liable to spontaneous combustion (4.2) and substances dangerous when wet (4.3)
- Class 5 – Oxidising substances (5.1) and organic peroxides (5.2)
- Class 6 – Toxic (6.1) and infectious (6.2) substances
- Class 7 – Radioactive material
- Class 8 – Corrosive substances
- Class 9 – Miscellaneous dangerous goods
Section 14 of the SDS gives the dangerous goods class. A "Flammable Gas 2" sign, for example, is the Class 2.1 diamond used on LPG cages and gas cylinder stores. See dangerous goods signs and AS 1216 class labels.
HAZCHEM placards: what's on the premises
The HAZCHEM outer warning placard is displayed at the entrances to a workplace that stores hazardous chemicals above set quantities, so emergency services know before they enter. Under the model WHS Regulations, Schedule 11 sets the placard and manifest quantities, and Schedule 13 describes the placards. Smaller stores below those thresholds may not need placarding, but still need correct labelling and appropriate safety signs.
Because thresholds depend on the classes and quantities you hold, and WHS laws differ slightly between states, check your SDSs and your state WHS regulator's guidance, or ask a dangerous goods consultant, before ordering placards for a whole site.
Practical tips for chemical store signage
- List every product, its GHS pictograms and DG class from the SDS before ordering.
- Put class diamonds and pictograms where people approach the store, not hidden on the back of a cabinet door.
- Pair hazard signs with the right instructions: no smoking or ignition sources near flammables and PPE signs where eye or skin protection is needed.
- Use aluminium or ACP for outdoor cages and doors, and vinyl for cabinets and smooth surfaces.
This guide is general information. Your WHS regulator, SDSs and any dangerous goods consultant you engage have the final say on what your site requires.