The various hazard symbols and what they mean in the cleaning sector.
Do you know the different hazard symbols used in the cleaning and chemical sectors? If not, don't miss this article.
We've compiled our knowledge of the various hazard symbols found on cleaning products and explain in more detail how to interpret them.
Why take this approach? In Belgium, over 10,000 accidents involving cleaning chemicals are recorded every year. That's why safety in the cleaning sector is more relevant than ever.
We see this not only through recent studies, but also in the growing attention from manufacturers and professional cleaning staff.
And it makes sense, of course, since we only have one body.
Before we explain these hazard symbols, there is one basic rule every cleaning technician must follow: always read the label on any cleaning product before using it.
This warning isn't printed on the packaging for marketing purposes. Yet it's an important source of information for the user.
By reading and correctly applying that information as part of your cleaning routine, you reduce a large part of the risks associated with the product.
Hazard symbol: flammable
Meaning and interpretation
This symbol speaks for itself. Be especially careful when working with this product, as it can catch fire under the wrong conditions.
However, please note that while these products are flammable, they do not explode Explosions occur only in combination with other hazard symbols.
Precautions
It's important to store these products in a place where the ambient temperature is moderate at all times.
Usage tips: never heat these products, do not use them near an open flame, and don't leave them in direct sunlight.
After use, store them properly in a safe location and in sealed packaging. This will help prevent the product from coming into contact with air or heat.
Products
All products containing a flammable substance such as alcohol or petroleum carry this hazard symbol. Examples include acetone, turpentine, and air fresheners.
Hazard symbol: oxidizing
Meaning and interpretation
Flammable products don't explode, they're just flammable.
However, there is a risk of explosion if you use a product which is not only flammable but also oxidizing.
Precautions
As with flammable products, we strongly advise against heating these products.
Always wear protective clothing and make sure that the product doesn't spill on your skin or clothing. If you do come into contact with it, rinse immediately with water.
Fortunately, oxidizing products are quite rare in the professional cleaning sector.
However, there are a few heavier products that may pose an explosion risk, such as bleach.
Hazard symbol: corrosive
Meaning and interpretation
Corrosive or caustic products are hazardous both to metals and to your body.
Corrosive products eat away at metal, destroy skin and mucous membranes on contact, and can cause burns or eye damage.
So be careful! Although this symbol appears on the label of many cleaning products, it's mostly how you use them that matters. If a corrosive product spills on your skin, it could cause a nasty burn. However, in most cases, the product is diluted in a spray bottle, which makes it only slightly corrosive.
Precautions
Whether or not these cleaning products are diluted, always take the necessary safety precautions when using them.
In other words, store them in their original packaging and wear protective clothing to avoid any harm.
Corrosive products are often the more aggressive types used for periodic cleaning. Since you need a lot of cleaning power, these products tend to have very high or very low pH values. The higher or lower the pH value, the more dangerous the product.
Hazard symbol: harmful to long-term health
Meaning and interpretation
Products bearing this symbol pose a risk to unborn children and may cause cancer, allergies, and asthma symptoms. In the worst cases, they can even damage internal organs.
Fortunately, products with such serious health risks are very rare in the cleaning sector.
Precautions
Cleaning products that display this hazard symbol fall into the most dangerous category that you could come into contact with.
Always read the safety instructions before use, and never inhale the vapors from such a product.
If you experience respiratory symptoms after using this product, contact a poison control center or a doctor immediately.
That said, we recommend always wearing a face mask and minimizing your exposure.
Because of the risks associated with these cleaning products, it's best to store them in a secured area with limited access.
Products
As mentioned earlier, this hazard symbol is quite rare in the cleaning sector. Only products like rat poison carry this symbol.
Hazard symbol: irritant or harmful
Meaning and interpretation
The exclamation mark is one of the most common hazard symbols used in the cleaning industry.
It appears on any product that may cause some form of irritation or allergy through contact or inhalation.
In addition to potential health effects, these products also often harm the environment as well.
So be careful! As with corrosive products, you should carefully follow all instructions when using them. Sometimes, this symbol only applies when the product is used in its pure form. Diluted versions rarely cause irritation.
Precautions
The precautions for this hazard symbol are simple: avoid contact with skin or eyes, and avoid dumping these products into the environment.
Products
As mentioned earlier, this hazard symbol appears on any product that may cause irritation or allergies, or which has an impact on the environment.
Hazard symbol: hazardous to the environment
Meaning and interpretation
Cleaning products with this hazard symbol are primarily harmful to aquatic environments.
Precautions
There is one important precaution to take when you see this symbol on a label: avoid any spills or discharge into the natural environment.
Products
A product may be harmful to one animal species but not to another. Take chocolate, for example. It's delicious for us, but harmful to dogs.
The same principle applies to aquatic environments. Products labeled with this hazard symbol contain substances that are dangerous to aquatic life.
However, there are also substances that are toxic to humans and other animal species. In that case, the product is classified as harmful to long-term health. Nevertheless, such substances are hardly ever used in the cleaning sector.