1.8 Hazard pictograms

HARMFUL

These are substances that can cause harm to a person’s health. For example, they might irritate the skin, eyes and/or respiratory tract. This irritation can be mild and happen over an extended period of time such as when skin dries out from repeated over-washing of hands. It can also indicate more serious eye irritation that occurs from getting a substance in your eye – for example, a detergent.

The substance may also be a skin sensitiser which means that it can cause an allergic reaction if it comes in contact with the skin.

This pictogram is also used to symbolise substances that can be hazardous to the ozone layer.

Corrosive

These substances can cause serious or irreversible damage to the skin and/or eyes. Some products may be damaging to the eyes but only irritating to the skin or may not effect the skin at all. This pictogram is also used to symbolise substances that can damage or destroy metals.

Environmental Hazard

These substances can be hazardous to the aquatic environment including fish, crustacea and plant life over the short or longer term.

Flammable

These substances are flammable gases, liquids or solids which may catch on fire when exposed to flame.

Some materials may even catch on fire under certain circumstances such as exposure to air, although these are not sold by Agar.

Toxic

These substances are poisionous and could cause serious harm or death to people through oral (mouth), dermal (skin), or inhalation (breathing in) exposure.

Health Hazard

These substances may cause severe or long term effects which could potentially result in illness or even death in extreme cases. They may be respiratory sensitisers, mutagenics, carcinogenics, reproductive toxins, specific target organ toxins, and/or aspiration hazards.

Oxidising

These are gases, liquids and solids which may, generally by providing oxygen, cause or contribute to the combustion of other material more than air does.