Risk and Safety Phrases
Risk and Safety Statements, also known as R/S statements, R/S numbers, R/S phrases, and R/S sentences, is a system of hazard codes and phrases for labeling dangerous chemicals and compounds. The R/S statement of a compound consists of a risk part (R) and a safety part (S), each followed by a combination of numbers. Each number corresponds to a phrase. The phrase corresponding to the letter/number combination has the same meaning in different languages.
Below is an extensive list of Risk and Safety phrases along with their individual meaning.
Risk Phrases
| R1 | Explosive when dry |
| R2 | Risk of explosion by shock, friction, fire or other sources of ignition |
| R3 | Extreme risk of explosion by shock, friction, fire or other sources of ignition |
| R4 | Forms very sensitive explosive metallic compounds |
| R5 | Heating may cause an explosion |
| R6 | Explosive with or without contact with air |
| R7 | May cause fire |
| R8 | Contact with combustible material may cause fire |
| R9 | Explosive when mixed with combustible material |
| R10 | Flammable |
| R11 | Highly flammable |
| R12 | Extremely flammable |
| R14 | Reacts violently with water |
| R14/15 | Reacts violently with water, liberating extremely flammable gases |
| R15 | Contact with water liberates extremely flammable gases |
| R15/29 | Contact with water liberates toxic, extremely flammable gases |
| R16 | Explosive when mixed with oxidising substances |
| R17 | Spontaneously flammable in air |
| R18 | In use, may form flammable/explosive vapour-air mixture |
| R19 | May form explosive peroxides |
| R20 | Harmful by inhalation |
| R20/21 | Harmful by inhalation and in contact with skin |
| R20/21/22 | Harmful by inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed |
| R20/22 | Harmful by inhalation and if swallowed |
| R21 | Harmful in contact with skin |
| R21/22 | Harmful in contact with skin and if swallowed |
| R22 | Harmful if swallowed |
| R23 | Toxic by inhalation |
| R23/24 | Toxic by inhalation and in contact with skin |
| R23/24/25 | Toxic by inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed |
| R23/25 | Toxic by inhalation and if swallowed |
| R24 | Toxic in contact with skin |
| R24/25 | Toxic in contact with skin and if swallowed |
| R25 | Toxic if swallowed |
| R26 | Very toxic by inhalation |
| R26/27 | Very toxic by inhalation and in contact with skin |
| R26/27/28 | Very toxic by inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed |
| R26/28 | Very toxic by inhalation and if swallowed |
| R27 | Very toxic in contact with skin |
| R27/28 | Very toxic in contact with skin and if swallowed |
| R28 | Very toxic if swallowed |
| R29 | Contact with water liberates toxic gas |
| R30 | Can become highly flammable in use |
| R31 | Contact with acids liberates toxic gas |
| R32 | Contact with acids liberates very toxic gas |
| R33 | Danger of cumulative effects |
| R34 | Causes burns |
| R35 | Causes severe burns |
| R36 | Irritating to eyes |
| R36/37 | Irritating to eyes and respiratory system |
| R36/37/38 | Irritating to eyes, respiratory system and skin |
| R36/38 | Irritating to eyes and skin |
| R37 | Irritating to respiratory system |
| R37/38 | Irritating to respiratory system and skin |
| R38 | Irritating to skin |
| R39 | Danger of very serious irreversible effects |
| R39/23 | Toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects through inhalation |
| R39/23/24 | Toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects through inhalation and in contact with skin |
| R39/23/24/25 | Toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects through inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed |
| R39/23/25 | Toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects through inhalation and if swallowed |
| R39/24 | Toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects in contact with skin |
| R39/24/25 | Toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects in contact with skin and if swallowed |
| R39/25 | Toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects if swallowed |
| R39/26 | Very Toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects through inhalation |
| R39/26/27 | Very Toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects through inhalation and in contact with skin |
| R39/26/27/28 | Very Toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects through inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed |
| R39/26/28 | Very Toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects through inhalation and if swallowed |
| R39/27 | Very Toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects in contact with skin |
| R39/27/28 | Very Toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects in contact with skin and if swallowed |
| R39/28 | Very Toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects if swallowed |
| R40 | Limited evidence of a carcinogenic effect |
| R41 | Risk of serious damage to eyes |
| R42 | May cause sensitisation by inhalation |
| R43 | May cause sensitisation by skin contact |
| R42/43 | May cause sensitisation by inhalation and skin contact |
| R44 | Risk of explosion if heated under confinement |
| R45 | May cause cancer |
| R46 | May cause heritable genetic damage |
| R48 | Danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure |
| R48/20 | Harmful: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure through inhalation |
| R48/20/21 | Harmful: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure through inhalation and in contact with skin |
| R48/20/21/22 | Harmful: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure through inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed |
| R48/20/22 | Harmful: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure through inhalation and if swallowed |
| R48/21 | Harmful: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure in contact with skin |
| R48/21/22 | Harmful: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure in contact with skin and if swallowed |
| R48/22 | Harmful: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure if swallowed |
| R48/23 | Toxic: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure through inhalation |
| R48/23/24 | Toxic: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure through inhalation and in contact with skin |
| R48/23/24/25 | Toxic: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure through inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed |
| R48/23/25 | Toxic: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure through inhalation and if swallowed |
| R48/24 | Toxic: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure in contact with skin |
| R48/24/25 | Toxic: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure in contact with skin and if swallowed |
| R48/25 | Toxic: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure if swallowed |
| R49 | May cause cancer by inhalation |
| R50 | Very toxic to aquatic organisms |
| R50/53 | Very toxic to aquatic organisms, may cause long-term adverse effects in the aquatic environment |
| R51 | Toxic to aquatic organisms |
| R51/53 | Toxic to aquatic organisms, may cause long-term adverse effects in the aquatic environment |
| R52 | Harmful to aquatic organisms |
| R52/53 | Harmful to aquatic organisms, may cause long-term adverse effects in the aquatic environment |
| R53 | May cause long-term adverse effects in the aquatic environment |
| R54 | Toxic to flora |
| R55 | Toxic to fauna |
| R56 | Toxic to soil organisms |
| R57 | Toxic to bees |
| R58 | May cause long-term adverse effects in the environment |
| R59 | Dangerous for the ozone layer |
| R60 | May impair fertility |
| R61 | May cause harm to the unborn child |
| R62 | Possible risk of impaired fertility |
| R63 | Possible risk of harm to the unborn child |
| R64 | May cause harm to breast-fed babies |
| R65 | Harmful: may cause lung damage if swallowed |
| R66 | Repeated exposure may cause skin dryness or cracking |
| R67 | Vapours may cause drowsiness and dizziness |
| R68 | Possible risk of irreversible effects |
| R68/20 | Harmful: possible risk of irreversible effects through inhalation |
| R68/20/21 | Harmful: possible risk of irreversible effects through inhalation and in contact with skin |
| R68/20/21/22 | Harmful: possible risk of irreversible effects through inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed |
| R68/20/22 | Harmful: possible risk of irreversible effects through inhalation and if swallowed |
| R68/21 | Harmful: possible risk of irreversible effects in contact with skin |
| R68/21/22 | Harmful: possible risk of irreversible effects in contact with skin and if swallowed |
| R68/22 | Harmful: possible risk of irreversible effects if swallowed |
Safety Phrases
| S1 | Keep locked up |
| S(1/2) | Keep locked up and out of the reach of children |
| S2 | Keep out of the reach of children |
| S3 | Keep in a cool place |
| S3/7 | Keep container tightly closed in a cool place |
| S3/7/9 | Keep container tightly closed in a cool, well-ventilated place |
| S3/9/14 | Keep in a cool, well-ventilated place away from ... (incompatible materials to be indicated by the manufacturer) |
| S3/9/14/49 | Keep only in the original container in a cool, well-ventilated place away from ... (incompatible materials to be indicated by the manufacturer) |
| S3/9/49 | Keep only in the original container in a cool, well-ventilated place |
| S3/14 | Keep in a cool place away from ... (incompatible materials to be indicated by the manufacturer) |
| S4 | Keep away from living quarters |
| S5 | Keep contents under ... (appropriate liquid to be specified by the manufacturer) |
| S6 | Keep under ... (inert gas to be specified by the manufacturer) |
| S7 | Keep container tightly closed |
| S7/8 | Keep container tightly closed and dry |
| S7/9 | Keep container tightly closed and in a well-ventilated place |
| S7/47 | Keep container tightly closed and at temperature not exceeding ... OC (to be specified by the manufacturer) |
| S8 | Keep container dry |
| S9 | Keep container in a well-ventilated place |
| S12 | Do not keep the container sealed |
| S13 | Keep away from food, drink and animal feeding stuffs |
| S14 | Keep away from ... (incompatible materials to be indicated by the manufacturer) |
| S15 | Keep away from heat |
| S16 | Keep away from sources of ignition - No smoking |
| S17 | Keep away from combustible material |
| S18 | Handle and open container with care |
| S20 | When using do not eat or drink |
| S20/21 | When using do not eat, drink or smoke |
| S21 | When using do not smoke |
| S22 | Do not breathe dust |
| S23 | Do not breathe gas/fumes/vapour/spray (appropriate wording to be specified by the manufacturer) |
| S24 | Avoid contact with skin |
| S24/25 | Avoid contact with skin and eyes |
| S25 | Avoid contact with eyes |
| S26 | In case of contact with eyes, rinse immediately with plenty of water and seek medical advice |
| S27 | Take off immediately all contaminated clothing |
| S27/28 | After contact with skin, take off immediately all contaminated clothing, and wash immediately with plenty of ... (to be specified by the manufacturer) |
| S28 | After contact with skin, wash immediately with plenty of ... (to be specified by the manufacturer) |
| S29 | Do not empty into drains |
| S29/35 | Do not empty into drains; dispose of this material and its container in a safe way |
| S29/56 | Do not empty into drains, dispose of this material and its container at hazardous or special waste collection point |
| S30 | Never add water to this product |
| S33 | Take precautionary measures against static discharges |
| S35 | This material and its container must be disposed of in a safe way |
| S36 | Wear suitable protective clothing |
| S36/37 | Wear suitable protective clothing and gloves |
| S36/37/39 | Wear suitable protective clothing, gloves and eye/face protection |
| S36/39 | Wear suitable protective clothing and eye/face protection |
| S37 | Wear suitable gloves |
| S37/39 | Wear suitable gloves and eye/face protection |
| S38 | In case of insufficient ventilation wear suitable respiratory equipment |
| S39 | Wear eye/face protection |
| S40 | To clean the floor and all objects contaminated by this material use ... (to be specified by the manufacturer) |
| S41 | In case of fire and/or explosion do not breathe fumes |
| S42 | During fumigation/spraying wear suitable respiratory equipment (appropriate wording to be specified by the manufacturer) |
| S43 | In case of fire use ... (indicate in the space the precise type of fire-fighting equipment. If water increases the risk add - Never use water) |
| S45 | In case of accident or if you feel unwell seek medical advice immediately (show the label where possible) |
| S46 | If swallowed, seek medical advice immediately and show this container or label |
| S47 | Keep at temperature not exceeding ... OC (to be specified by the manufacturer) |
| S47/49 | Keep only in the original container at temperature not exceeding ... OC (to be specified by the manufacturer) |
| S48 | Keep wet with ... (appropriate material to be specified by the manufacturer) |
| S49 | Keep only in the original container |
| S50 | Do not mix with ... (to be specified by the manufacturer) |
| S51 | Use only in well-ventilated areas |
| S52 | Not recommended for interior use on large surface areas |
| S53 | Avoid exposure - obtain special instructions before use |
| S56 | Dispose of this material and its container at hazardous or special waste collection point |
| S57 | Use appropriate containment to avoid environmental contamination |
| S59 | Refer to manufacturer/supplier for information on recovery/recycling |
| S60 | This material and its container must be disposed of as hazardous waste |
| S61 | Avoid release to the environment. Refer to special instructions/safety data sheet |
| S62 | If swallowed, do not induce vomiting: seek medical advice immediately and show this container or label |
| S63 | In case of accident by inhalation: remove casualty to fresh air and keep at rest |
| S64 | If swallowed, rinse mouth with water (only if the person is conscious) |
Please note: Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information contined within this page, Riskex Limited cannot be held responsible for any information supplied.