Hazard communication
GHS labels vs transport placards: what each one tells you
The diamond on a drum and the diamond on a tanker look alike, but they come from different systems and answer different questions.
Two UN systems govern hazard markings on chemicals:
- the GHS, for supply and use at the workplace;
- the UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (Model Regulations), for moving chemicals by road, rail, sea or air.
They are designed to work together, but they are not the same thing.
| GHS label | Transport label or placard | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Tells users the full hazard profile and how to handle the chemical safely | Tells drivers, handlers and emergency services what is being carried |
| Covers | Physical, health and environmental hazards, including long-term ones such as carcinogenicity | Mainly acute hazards in transport: explosion, fire, toxicity, corrosion |
| Symbol | Black pictogram, white background, red diamond border | Coloured diamond with the class number at the bottom |
| Text | Signal word, hazard and precautionary statements, supplier details | UN number and proper shipping name on documents and packages |
| Where you see it | Drums, bottles, bags, decanted containers | Packages in transit, vehicles, tankers, freight containers |
| SDS link | Sections 2 and 15 | Section 14 |
The nine transport classes
- Explosives
- Gases (flammable, non-flammable and non-toxic, toxic)
- Flammable liquids
- Flammable solids, substances liable to spontaneous combustion, and substances that give off flammable gas with water
- Oxidising substances and organic peroxides
- Toxic and infectious substances
- Radioactive material
- Corrosive substances
- Miscellaneous dangerous substances, including environmentally hazardous substances
Why the difference matters. A chemical can be a carcinogen under the GHS and still carry no transport label for that hazard, because transport rules focus on acute risks. Workers who only ever see transport placards may underestimate chronic health hazards. Equally, a GHS label alone does not meet the rules for a vehicle on the road.
What to do
- Make sure vehicles carrying dangerous goods show the correct class placards and UN numbers, and that drivers carry the SDSs and a spill kit.
- At the receiving store, check that the GHS label is intact before transport packaging is removed.
- Train drivers and storekeepers on both systems, and on where each appears in the SDS (Section 2 and Section 14).
How INRC can help
INRC’s training for drivers and storekeepers covers both GHS labels and transport markings. Our occupational health and safety reviews check receiving procedures and vehicle arrangements for chemical deliveries. Contact us to discuss your site.
This article is general guidance, not legal advice. Check current legislation and regulations for your specific project.