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Several different labeling and placarding systems provide clues to help identify hazardous materials that may become constituents of hazardous wastes.
Look at Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for information about the hazards associated with the products that went into the waste. MSDS are required to be available for all of the products used in the workplace by OSHA regulations.
An excellent source of MSDS information including Frequently Asked Questions and 85 or more resources is Where to Find MSDS on the Internet at http://www.ilpi.com/msds/index.html Exit Ecology
The Department of Transportation (DOT) requires labels and placards for hazardous materials offered for transport. There are nine classes of hazardous materials. Class numbers and colors used on placards and labels provide general hazard information. In addition, each DOT regulated material has a specific four-digit UN identification number (for example: 1114 is Benzene). The UN number usually appears on the label, placard or shipping papers. Labels and placards are found on freight containers, unit load devices, transport vehicles and railcars. UN identification numbers are listed in the 2000 North American Emergency Response Guidebook, published by the Department of Transportation.
The 2000 North American Emergency Response Guidebook is available on the Internet at http://hazmat.dot.gov/gydebook.htm Exit Ecology
A list of commercial suppliers of the 2000 Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG2000) and DOT Marking, Labeling, and Placarding Guides is available from the website.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 704 M system uses a diamond label divided into four quarters. Each quarter represents a different general hazard: health, fire, reactivity and special hazards. Each quarter has a number from 0 to 4 to represent the degree of risk of the material. The number four represents the most extreme risk to health, of fire etc. and 0 represents no risk.
NFPA labels are usually found on fixed structures such as tanks and doors.
The NFPA Chemical Hazard Diamond Label and descriptive information is on the Internet at http://www.hazmat.msu.edu:591/nfpa/ (Links updated 12/27/04) Exit Ecology