Page 76 - School Infection Control Handbook - 2010

Chapter 4: Selection of Products, Dispensing Equipment, and Application Systems
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Chapter 4.D. Interpreting Information from Hazardous Materials Rating Systems for
Product Selection
Introduction
The following chart provides a comparison of the two hazardous materials rating systems that were developed to
provide an awareness of a product’s hazards—the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) system and the
Hazardous Materials Information System (HMIS).
The information found on product labels and on material safety data sheets (MSDSs) can be used to interpret product
hazards at a glance and to compare product options to find the least-toxic one, as illustrated in the next section,
Chapter 4.E. For an explanation of each rating, see Appendix B.3. Interpreting Information from Hazardous
Materials Rating Systems.
What the NFPA and HMIS rating systems are and how they are used
Both systems display similar color and numerical coding information in the blue, red, and yellow sections, but
different information is listed in the white sections. In newer versions of the HMIS, the yellow color (Reactivity) has
been replaced by orange (Physical Hazard).
NFPA HMIS
Symbol
Primary Focus of
Symbol
Provides information on the severity of
product hazards to fire fighters and
emergency responders.
Provides information on health, PPE, and
product hazards to workers and medical
responders.
How It Is Used
1) On placards used on large containers,
doors, and walls to alert people as to
hazards inside.
2) As a rating system on MSDSs.
1) On labels used on secondary containers
where there is no manufacturer label.
2) As a rating system on MSDSs.
Use of Blue Health Health
Use of Red Flammability Flammability
Use of Yellow
(old system) Reactivity (still yellow for NFPA)
Reactivity (old - yellow color)
Use of Orange
(new system) Physical Hazard (new - orange color)
Use of White Other Hazard – oxidizer, acid, alkaline,
corrosive, water reactive
Personal Protective Equipment – gloves, safety
glasses, goggles, mask, footwear, apron
Health
Flammability
Reactivity (old)
Physical Hazard (new)
Personal Protective
Equipment
Special Hazard
Oxidizer OX
Acid ACID
Alkali ALK
Corrosive COR
Use no water W
Reactivity
Flammability
Health