7 Common Mistakes with Chemical Labels – How Many Do You Make?

Customers are satisfied when you do a good job.

If you communicate with them and provide information that isn't always just about sales and invoices, you show that you care. One way to communicate with customers is through labels that you attach to products. The content of the labels informs customers about the hazardous properties of chemicals and measures for their safe use.

Here is a list of the seven most common mistakes in labeling hazardous chemicals that can be found in almost every chemical store.

Once you identify and correct your mistakes, you will also gain the trust of your customers.

First mistake. Labels are made solely for marketing purposes, omitting the legally required content.

Of course, marketing content can be on the label. But don't forget to include the legally required elements, such as hazard statements and precautionary statements. The right source for this information is the safety data sheet for the product. Mandatory label elements are listed in section 2.2 of the corresponding safety data sheet.

This informs the customer of potential hazards before they start using the product.

Second mistake. Using different names on the label and the safety data sheet for the same product.

We understand that for marketing and sales purposes, it's important to use words that sell. The product name is certainly something companies spend a lot of time on. But this is thinking solely in terms of increasing sales.

Here, you need to be careful. If you decide to change the product name to make it more appealing for sale, you must do the same with the trade name in the safety data sheet. The trade name in the safety data sheet must be identical to the one on the label.

Third mistake. Black and white GHS pictograms instead of colored ones.

The reason for this decision is often the thought that black and white pictograms do not stand out as much as colored ones. It's completely logical that colored pictograms stand out much more than black and white ones.

This is again sales-oriented thinking that will get you into trouble.

You must use only officially approved and prescribed colored GHS pictograms.

Fourth mistake. Text on the label is too small to read.

What do you do if space on the packaging is limited and you don't want to delete text from the label?

If you're anything like me, you first try using a smaller font.

There's nothing wrong with using a smaller font. However, it must be large enough to be readable.

So, if you and most of your colleagues can read the label from 20 to 30 cm away from your eyes, then the font size is fine. In our experience, a font size of at least 6 is sufficient. The label must be legible and readable.

Fifth mistake. The size of GHS pictograms is too small.

Another common solution when looking for extra space on labels is to reduce the size of GHS pictograms.

Thinking along the lines of "as long as they're on the label" won't save you. The side dimensions of the pictogram for packaging up to 3 liters must be at least 10 x 10 mm, and if possible, 16 x 16 mm.

Just like with font size, you must ensure that the correct dimensions of pictograms are used on the packaging.

Sixth mistake. Horizontally oriented text on a vertically oriented product.

Customers should be able to read the label on the product on the shelf without having to turn their heads 90 degrees.

This is not just my personal opinion, but a requirement of chemical legislation (CLP). It states:

"Labels shall be firmly affixed to one or more surfaces of the packaging containing the substance or mixture directly, and shall be readable horizontally when the package is placed in its normal position."

Seventh mistake. Names of hazardous substances are not translated into the local language.

It may seem like I'm exaggerating, but there have been instances where products had to be removed from shelves just because of this small detail.

You must ensure that the names of hazardous substances are translated into the language of the country where the chemical is sold. Using international or English names simply isn't enough.

Now that you've read the list, it's only logical to ask ...

Which of these mistakes are you making?