Hazardous Materials Identification System

Hazardous Materials Identification System
HMIS
The Hazardous Materials Identification System was developed by The National Paint and Coatings
Association. The HMIS label consists of a five part rectangle:
1) Chemical Identification
2) Chronic Health Hazard Indicator and Acute Health Hazard Rating
3) Flammability Rating
4) Reactivity Rating
5) Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Designation as well as other information such as target
organs.
These labels may be modified according to the site. The order of hazards may also
be different. However, the meaning of the colors and the numbers should remain
the same.
HAZARD SEVERITY
0 1 2 3 4
Minimal Slight Moderate Serious Severe
Hazard Rating
A 0 4 numerical rating system is used with 4 representing a severe hazard and
0 representing a minimal hazard for health hazards and no hazard for flammability and
reactivity.
Health: (Blue section)
The rating for health is a relative index of toxicity and does not normally take into
account how a chemical is being used or handled.
Flammability: (Red section)
The fire rating of a product is determined by evaluating the potential for harm and
relative flammability of the material or mixture of materials by using the criteria
set forth in NFPA 704.
Reactivity: (Yellow section)
The reactivity hazard rating of a material is determined by evaluating the potential

harm and relative reactivity of the material or mixture of materials using the
criteria set forth in NFPA 704.
Health Hazards
A toxic substance is one that has the potential to endanger life, produce short or long term
disease or injury, or cause other health problems. The health hazard rating of a material is
determined by evaluating the potential for harm and relative toxicity. The Health Hazard Rating
considers the toxicological properties of ingredients such as carcinogen status and permissible
exposure limits. Human experience has been considered when available, but the ratings are most
often based on animal data.
There are two other ways this part of the HMIS label may look. For chemicals that may cause
chronic health-effects, the label may have an * next to the hazard rating or look like this with
an * in the first box:
Health *
If the chemical does not cause chronic health problems and the label is set up in this format, a
slash mark will be found in the first box such as this:
Health
Severe Health Hazard (4):

These are chemicals that may cause life-threatening, permanent, or major injury from a single exposure or repeated
exposures. Irreversible injury may result from brief contact. This includes carcinogens, reproductive toxins, and
chemicals that are respiratory sensitizers.
Severe Health Hazard (3):

These are chemicals that are likely to cause major injury unless prompt action is taken and/or medical treatment is
given. This includes suspect or potential carcinogens, chemicals that are severely irritating and/or corrosive to
the skin, and chemicals that are corrosive to the eye or cause irreversible eye damage.
Moderate Health Hazard (2):

These are chemicals that upon prolonged or continuous exposure could cause temporary incapacitation or possible
injury unless action is taken and/or medical treatment is given. Prolonged exposure may affect the CNS and lead tro
apparent intoxication, nausea, headache, dizziness, weakness, or fatigue. This category includes chemicals that are
skin irritants or sensitizers, and chemicals that are moderately irritating to the eyes or could cause reversible eye
injury persisting more than seven days.
Slight Health Hazards (1):

These are chemicals that on exposure could cause irritation or minor reversible injury. These chemicals may irritate
the stomach if swallowed; may defat the skin and worsen any existing dermatitis. This category includes chemicals
that are slightly irritating to the skin, and chemicals that are slightly irritating to the eyes but damage is reversible in
less than seven days.
Minimal Health Hazard (0):

These are chemicals that cause little or no significant health risk. This category includes chemicals that are basically
nonirritating to the skin and eyes.
Flammability
Severe Flammability Hazard (4):
These are chemicals that will rapidly or completely vaporize at atmospheric pressure and normal
temperatures and burn readily. These chemicals include flammable gases, liquid or gaseous
chemicals that are liquid while under pressure and having a flashpoint below 73 degrees F and a
boiling point below 100 degrees F (Class 1A flammable liquids); chemicals that, on account of
their physical characteristics, can form explosive mixtures spontaneously (such as dusts of
combustible solids and mists of flammable or combustible liquid droplets); and cryogenic
materials.
Serious Flammability Hazard (3);
These are liquid and solid chemicals that can be ignited under almost all ambient temperatures.
These chemicals include liquids having a flashpoint below 73 degrees F and a boiling point at or
above 100 degrees F (Class 1B flammable liquids); liquids having a flashpoint at or above 73
degrees F and a boiling point below 100 degrees F (Class 1C flammable liquids); solid chemicals
in the form of coarse dusts or fibers that may burn rapidly but that are not explosive with air, and
materials that burn rapidly because of self-contained oxygen (such as dry nitrocellulose and
many organic peroxides).
Moderate Flammability Hazard (2);
These chemicals must be moderately heated or exposed to relatively high ambient temperatures
before ignition can occur. Chemicals in this category would not, under normal conditions, form
hazardous atmospheres with air; but under high ambient temperatures or under moderate heating,
may release vapor in sufficient quantities to produce hazardous atmospheres with air. These
chemicals include liquids having a flashpoint above 100 degrees F But not exceeding 200
degrees F and solids and semi-solids that easily give off flammable vapors.
Slight Flammability Hazard (1):
These chemicals require considerable pre-heating under all ambient temperature conditions
before ignition and combustion can occur. These chemicals include materials that will burn in
air when exposed to a temperature of 1500 degrees F for a period of 5 minutes of less; and
liquids, solids, or semi-solids having a flashpoint at or above 200 degrees F.
Minimal Flammability Hazard (0);
These chemicals will not burn when exposed to a temperature of 1500 degrees F for a period of
five minutes
Reactivity
The chemicals in this category may be self-reactive or reactive with other materials commonly
encountered in the workplace. The reactivity in this category often involves the rapid release of
energy in the form of heat and pressure and/or the release of highly hazardous products.
Severe Reactivity Hazard (4):

These are chemicals that are capable of easily detonating or exploding at normal temperatures
and pressures. This includes chemicals that are sensitive to mechanical or localized shock at
normal temperatures an pressures.
Serious Reactivity Hazard (3):

These are chemicals that are capable of detonation or of exploding, but that require a strong
initiating source or that must be heated under confinement before initiation. This category
includes chemicals that are sensitive to thermal or mechanical shock at elevated temperatures
and pressures, and chemicals that react explosively with water without requiring heat or
confinement.
Moderate Reactivity Hazard (2):

These chemicals are normally unstable and readily undergo violent chemical change but do not
detonate. This category includes chemicals that can undergo chemical change with rapid release
of energy at normal temperatures and pressures or that can undergo violent chemical change at
elevated temperatures and pressures, and chemicals that may react violently with water or form
potentially explosive mixtures with water.
Slight Reactivity Hazard (1):

These are chemicals that are normally stable but that can become unstable at elevated
temperatures and pressures or may react with water with some release of energy - but not
violently.
Minimal Reactivity Hazard (0):

These are chemicals that are normally stable even under fire exposure conditions and that are not
reactive with water.
Personal Protection
Personal Protective Equipment Index
The HMIS PPE Index uses codes A-K and X for assigning PPE for certain hazards, Each letter
in this code represents a piece or combination of pieces of PPE needed when working with a
particular hazardous material. To interpret this code a worker must have access to this code (for
example, wallet card, wall poster, etc.). Small case letters a, n, o, p, q, r, s, t, u, w, y, & z can be
used alone or with these combinations to designate PPE needed.
Remember that PPE has many limitations and should only be used when engineering controls are
not feasible or in emergencies. Also, this label is very generic when it comes to PPE. Further
research is needed for all PPE regarding specific types of PPE needed and how long that PPE is
effective.
The codes used are as follows:

Other Label Wording
This category is also used for listing target organ effects or special hazards. Wording seen in this
section include:
Physical hazards:
o Pyroforic
o Water reactive
o Corrosive
o Peroxide
o Oxidizer
o Explosive
o Flammable Solid
Target organs/effects
Carcinogen or suspected carcinogen
Liver
Reproductive
Irritant (This is used for mild or moderate irritation only. For severe irritation, the
target organ alone is used. Examples would be Skin, Eye, and
Resp)
Kidney
Bone
Blood
Neurotoxin
Skin (This includes any chemical with a skin notation in the ACGIH TLV
Booklet and any chemical that discolors the skin. This notation is also
used if the chemical is a severe skin irritant.)
Eye (This notation is used for chemicals that cause severe irritation or damage
to the eye.)
Resp (This is used when the target organ is the upper respiratory tract or for a
chemical that causes severe irritation of the upper respiratory tract.)
Severe Resp (For corrosives that are volatile, Severe Resp is used.)
Lung This is used when the target organ s the lung (for example, silica, asbestos
etc.)
Central Nervous System (CNS)
Heart
Brain
Sensitizer/Skin
Sensitizer/Resp
Sensitizer/Skin & Resp

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Hazardous Materials Identification System

Health: (Blue section)

Flammability: (Red section)

Reactivity: (Yellow section)

The reactivity hazard rating of a material is determined by evaluating the potential

Severe Health Hazard (4):

Severe Health Hazard (3):

Moderate Health Hazard (2):

Slight Health Hazards (1):

Minimal Health Hazard (0):

Serious Flammability Hazard (3);

Moderate Flammability Hazard (2);

Slight Flammability Hazard (1):

Minimal Flammability Hazard (0);

Severe Reactivity Hazard (4):

Serious Reactivity Hazard (3):

Moderate Reactivity Hazard (2):

Slight Reactivity Hazard (1):

Minimal Reactivity Hazard (0):

The codes used are as follows:

Sensitizer/Skin & Resp

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