All hazardous chemicals must be clearly labeled for the benefit of current users, emergency personnel, and future users. Unknown chemicals can be expensive to dispose of. Make sure all labels are legible and in good condition. Repair or replace damaged or missing labels.
Manufacturers’ Labels
Cal/OSHA requires that manufacturers provide labels with the following information:
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contents of the container
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physical and health hazard information
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name, address, and emergency phone number of the manufacturer or other responsible party
Original manufacturers’ labels must not be removed or defaced. Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) must be accessible to anyone working with these chemicals. The SDS may also provide useful storage information.
Your Own Labels
Hazardous chemicals that are not in the manufacturer’s original container (e.g., working solutions prepared in the lab) must, at a minimum, be labeled with the contents of the container. If the contents are hazardous, attach a label indicating the hazard to warn individuals in the work area. It is not necessary to label containers that will be used temporarily (during one work shift) and are under your immediate control.