Chemicals information and packaging

The Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulations 2009 (CHIP4, 2009) require chemical substances and preparations used at work to be classified according to their principal hazard. The danger categories are: explosive, oxidising, extremely flammable, highly flammable, flammable, very toxic, toxic, harmful, corrosive, irritant, sensitising, sensitising by inhalation, sensitising by skin contact, carcinogenic, mutagenic, toxic for reproduction and dangerous for the environment.

Suppliers of chemicals must give information about the hazards on labels (if the chemical is supplied in a package) and they must package chemicals safely.

Note that the laws that require a safety data sheet to be provided have been transferred to REACH — the European Chemicals Strategy.

The CHIP 4 Regulations impose obligations regarding the packaging of dangerous substances. Labels must be clear, securely fixed to the package, easily read, and the symbol used must stand out.

The packaging of certain substances and preparations must have adequate child-resistant fastenings or tactile warning devices or both.