Labels

Secondary Chemical Container Labeling 

Chemicals still in their original container (stock container) have all required labeling elements present on the manufacturer's label displayed on the container. 

When a chemical is transferred from its stock container to another chemical container, the new container is called a “secondary container.” The secondary container must be made of a material of construction that is compatible with the chemical being transferred. Once transferred to a secondary container, all chemicals, mixtures, and solutions containing hazardous materials must be labeled in accordance with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Hazard Communication Standard (OSHA 1910.1200). Hazards are identified on stock container manufacturer labels and in Section 2 (Hazard Identification) of the material’s Safety Data Sheet (SDS).

Chemical labels for hazardous substances must include the following information:

  • Full chemical or product name of all constituents either typed or written legibly in English and with concentrations in percent included.
    • Abbreviations, molecular formulas, or chemical structures may not be used!
    • When a mixture or solution of multiple chemicals is present, concentrations should be denoted in volume-by-volume concentrations.
  • Identity of the hazards using words, phrases, or pictograms from the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). Refer to Section 2 of the material’s Safety Data Sheet for hazard identification.
  • Month and year when contents were transferred to the container.
  • Initials of the person who transferred the chemical to the container.

The Office of Environmental Health and Safety has developed secondary chemical container label templates, which contain all required labeling elements. 

 

Hazardous Waste Container Labeling 

Hazardous waste must be stored in appropriate containers, and original labels must be defaced with a permanent marker. Hazardous waste containers are labeled in a similar manner to secondary containers. However, there are additional labeling elements on Hazardous Waste Labels.

Hazardous Waste must have a completed Tulane Hazardous Waste Label displayed the moment waste is transferred to the container. These labels provide all required labeling elements for hazardous waste, which are:

  • The words “Hazardous Waste”
  • Full chemical or product name of all constituents either typed or written legibly in English and with concentrations in percent included.
    • Abbreviations, molecular formulas, or chemical structures may not be used!
    • When a mixture or solution of multiple chemicals is present, concentrations should be denoted in volume-by-volume concentrations.
  • Hazards using words, phrases, or pictograms from the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). Refer to Section 2 of the material’s Safety Data Sheet for hazard identification.
  • Tulane Hazardous Waste Labels contain checkboxes for hazards. Use the checkboxes to mark the hazards of all constituents in the container. 
  • Principal Investigator’s name and departmentmanufacturer's
  • Building and Room Number where the waste was generated

Tulane Hazardous Waste Labels may be printed on Avery label #5963