Recognising hazardous substances, labels, and safety data sheets

A safe response starts with identifying the substance. Product labels, hazard pictograms, manufacturer instructions and safety data sheets (SDSs) describe hazards and precautions, but do not replace a local COSHH assessment or task-specific training.

What labels can tell you

• The product name and intended use
• Hazard symbols or pictograms
• Signal words and warning statements
• Storage, dilution, ventilation, and PPE instructions
• First-aid or emergency information

In Great Britain, HSE guidance on labelling and packaging explains that chemical labels may include pictograms, signal words, hazard statements and precautionary statements. These elements indicate the hazards and the precautions staff should take.

Do not assume a familiar product is harmless. HSE guidance on cleaning substances warns that common products can irritate skin and eyes, cause breathing problems if oversprayed or used without ventilation, and produce harmful gases if mixed incorrectly.

Safety data sheets

Safety data sheets describe a product's hazards and give practical information on handling, storage and emergency measures. An SDS supports a risk assessment but does not replace it. The care home must apply the SDS information to its specific tasks, residents, staff and environment.

Frontline rules that prevent many incidents

• Do not use unlabelled products: report them and follow local disposal or relabelling procedure.
• Do not decant into food or drink containers: this creates a serious poisoning risk.
• Do not mix chemicals: especially bleach-based products with acidic toilet cleaners or ammonia-based products.
• Check dilution instructions: concentrated products are often more hazardous than ready-to-use products.
• Know where COSHH information is kept: paper file, cleaning cupboard folder, digital system, or local SOP.

Labels and SDSs help staff identify hazards, but safe practice depends on local COSHH information, clear labelling, task-specific instruction and refusing to guess.