China releases national standard for warning labels of chemical workplaces, which will come into effect June 1, 2024

Attention to safety Labels provide significant information about the risks and hazards which might arise in the workplace. They help employees in noticing and understanding the risks related to certain machinery, materials, or work processes.

The standard defines the criteria and information which has to be provided on warning labels for “workplaces of chemicals,” and also how they should be applied.

On “Specification for Classification and Labelling of Chemicals” ,the national standard  was released by China’s Standardisation Administration on November 27, 2023. That will go in effect on June 1, 2024. This standard specifies the requirements and also the structure and application of warning labels for “workplaces of chemicals,” including information regarding the label’s size “Workplace of chemicals” and also how they should be used.

Workplace of chemicals – Any place that performs operations that might expose workers to chemicals is known as a “workplace of chemicals.” 

The general workplace include the following: 

1. Production
2. Transportation
3. Storage of chemicals
4. Removal and management of non-hazardous waste
5. Discharge of chemicals released during the process
6.  Maintenance, restoration, and cleaning of chemical supplies and equipment.

Label dimensions

A horizontal warning label for a chemical workplace needs to be 80 cm × 60 cm or larger, and a vertical one needs to be 60 cm × 90 cm or larger.

Label Information

Horizontal warning labels should be 80 cm x 60 cm or larger, and a vertical one 60 cm x 90 cm or larger. The product ID, pictograms, signal words, physicochemical and hazard information, precautionary statements, pictograms for precautionary statements, SDS references, emergency phone number, etc. must all be provided on a label.