Stay Safe - A Safety Education Guide to Household Chemical Products for
Children 5 to 9 years of age
B. Get Ready … (continued)
2. STOP and LOOK for the hazard symbol!
Hazard symbols
| Symbol4 |
The Danger |
Product Examples |
Explosive
 |
This container can explode if it is heated or punctured. Flying pieces of metal or plastic can cause serious injuries, especially to the eyes. |
- water repellant for shoes or boots in an aerosol container
- spray paint in an aerosol container
|
Corrosive
 |
This product can burn skin or eyes on contact, or throat and stomach if swallowed. |
- toilet bowl cleaner
- oven cleaner
|
Flammable
 |
This product, or its fumes, can catch fire easily if it is near heat, flames or sparks. |
- contact adhesives
- solvents
|
Poison
 |
Licking, eating, drinking, or sometimes smelling, this product can cause illness or death. |
- windshield washer fluid
- furniture polish
|
4 A symbol is made up of a picture and a frame. The picture tells you the type of danger. The frame tells you if it is the chemical inside the container that is hazardous or if it is the container that is hazardous.
So, what's new?
There are now only two frames used around the symbols:
Triangle
(inverted) |
|
This frame looks like a traffic yield sign. It means that the container is dangerous. |
Octagon
(eight sides) |
|
This frame looks like a traffic stop sign. It means that the contents inside the container are dangerous. |
Before recent changes to the regulations, three different frames were used to indicate the degree of hazard. Now, only two frames are used to distinguish between the contents of the product and the container itself.
Are all products labelled?
No. Only those household chemical products which meet the classification criteria set out in the Consumer Chemicals and Containers Regulations, 2001 (CCCR, 2001) require specific labelling and packaging. The CCCR, 2001 are established under the authority of the Hazardous Products Act, and restrict the advertisement, sale and importation of products which meet the established classification criteria.
For further information:
- contact your nearest Health Canada, Product Safety Office. See Appendix D, Further Information;
- go to the Health Canada website at www.hc-sc.gc.ca/psp
Why are some products labelled differently?
Products intended for use only in the workplace are classified using federal legislation (Hazardous Products Act - Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)), and these requirements are enforced by the provinces and territories. WHMIS requires special symbols, labelling and information designed to inform the workers about the hazards of the product. The labelling requirements are different than those used for household chemical products. Employee training is also required at workplaces using WHMIS classified products.
Other chemical products used in the home, such as cosmetics, pesticides, drugs and foods, must meet regulatory requirements set out in different federal legislation. As a result, these products would not require the same labelling as those household products covered by the CCCR, 2001.
Do all classified household chemical products have hazard symbols?
No, they don't. There are some classified household chemical products that are required to carry only signal words, hazard statements and/or first aid warnings but no hazard symbol.
For example, there is a category of household chemical products called alkyl cyanoacrylate adhesives or quick skin-bonding adhesives. These "super glues" are capable of bonding skin with skin instantly or nearly instantly, an effect that frequently results in trips to the hospital, clinic or doctor's office for treatment.
In addition, products that are only irritant, such as laundry or dishwasher detergents, are not labelled with hazard symbols but do have written warnings.
You can find fact sheets about symbols and hazard statements in Appendix C.
Does the use of a "child-resistant closure" mean the product is "child-proof"?
No! "Child-resistant" means that the package is difficult for most children under five years of age to open within a reasonable time. This means that young children may still be able to open a container, if given enough time to do so. The term "child-proof" is often incorrectly used, since it implies that a child will never be able to open the container. Child-resistant packaging is a deterrent to children, so parents and caregivers should take the necessary precautions when storing any household chemical products. Look for these and other definitions in Appendix B, Definitions.
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