In brief
The information on a chemical label is set by the SEA Regulation: supplier details, nominal quantity, product identifiers, hazard pictograms, signal word, H and P statements and supplementary information. The nine hazard pictograms convey a product's physical, health and environmental hazards at a glance. Chemicals decanted into small containers in the workplace are labelled too; an unlabelled container is a container with unknown contents.
The basis of the label: the SEA Regulation
The label on a container of thinner, a mould release agent or a cleaning product is the first document that conveys the product's hazard from the supplier to the worker. The content of the label is set by the Regulation on the Classification, Labelling and Packaging of Substances and Mixtures (the SEA Regulation for short; Official Gazette 11.12.2013, No. 28848 duplicate). The Regulation was prepared in parallel with the European Union's CLP Regulation; this is why the expression "CLP pictograms" is also often used for hazard pictograms.
The SEA Regulation governs the labels of products placed on the market: preparing the label is the supplier's job. The employer's job is to ensure that the label is read and preserved in the workplace, and that the information is not lost when the product is transferred to another container. The label is a short summary of the product's safety data sheet; the details are in the data sheet. Labels for hazardous substances and mixtures placed on the market in Türkiye are prepared in Turkish; other languages may also be added (Art. 19/2).
Label elements under the SEA Regulation
Article 19 of the Regulation lists the elements to appear on the label of a product classified as hazardous:
| Element | What does it say? | What to watch when reading |
|---|---|---|
| Supplier's name, address and telephone number | Who placed the product on the market | First point of contact in an emergency and for SDS requests |
| Nominal quantity | The quantity in the package | Mandatory on packages made available to the general public |
| Product identifiers | The product's trade name and the substances contributing to the hazard in a mixture | For mixtures, a maximum of four substance names is usually sufficient (Art. 20) |
| Hazard pictograms | The type of hazard, visually | A product may carry more than one pictogram |
| Signal word | The severity of the hazard | "Danger" is the more severe category, "Warning" the less severe |
| Hazard statements (H) | What the hazard is | Code and sentence are written together |
| Precautionary statements (P) | What to do and what not to do | A label usually carries no more than six P statements (Art. 30/3) |
| Supplementary information | Additional warnings such as EUH statements | For example, warnings on special uses |
If the label carries the signal word "Danger", the signal word "Warning" does not also appear (Art. 22/3).
Hazard pictograms: nine symbols and their meanings
Hazard pictograms are in the shape of a square set on its point: a black symbol on a white background with a red border. There are nine pictograms; each represents one or more hazard classes.
| Symbol | Code | What does it convey? | Example on site |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exploding bomb | GHS01 | Explosives, self-reactive substances, some organic peroxides | Special products with explosive content |
| Flame | GHS02 | Flammable gases, liquids, solids and aerosols; self-heating substances or those releasing flammable gas in contact with water | Thinner, acetone, spray paint |
| Flame over circle | GHS03 | Oxidising gases, liquids and solids; intensify fire | Oxygen cylinder, high-concentration hydrogen peroxide |
| Gas cylinder | GHS04 | Gases under pressure | Nitrogen, argon, carbon dioxide cylinders |
| Corrosion | GHS05 | Substances causing serious damage to skin and eyes, corrosive to metals | Sodium hydroxide, sulphuric acid, some degreasers |
| Skull and crossbones | GHS06 | Acute toxicity (severe categories) | Some biocides, methanol |
| Exclamation mark | GHS07 | Less severe acute toxicity, skin and eye irritation, skin sensitisation, dizziness and drowsiness | Many cleaning and maintenance products |
| Health hazard | GHS08 | Carcinogenic, mutagenic, toxic for reproduction, respiratory sensitiser, target organ toxicity, aspiration hazard | Hardeners containing isocyanates, solvent-based products |
| Environment | GHS09 | Hazardous to the aquatic environment | Some biocides and pesticides |
Two confusions are common on site. First, the coloured dangerous goods labels used in transport (ADR labels) are not the same as these pictograms; both may appear on the same package. Second, the yellow triangular warning signs posted in the workplace are subject to the Regulation on Health and Safety Signs; for details, see our article on health and safety signs.
H and P statements: learn to read the codes
H and P statements consist of a code and a sentence. The first digit of the code tells you which group the statement belongs to:
- H2xx: Physical hazards (flammability, explosivity, pressure)
- H3xx: Health hazards (toxicity, irritation, sensitisation, carcinogenicity)
- H4xx: Environmental hazards
- P1xx: General precautions
- P2xx: Prevention (precautions to take during use)
- P3xx: Response (what to do in the event of exposure or an accident)
- P4xx: Storage
- P5xx: Disposal
How to read a chemical label: five steps on site
Teach workers to read labels not as a long list but with these five questions:
- What is it? The product name and the hazardous substances it contains.
- How dangerous is it? The signal word: "Danger" or "Warning"?
- What kind of hazard? Pictograms and H statements: does it burn, does it corrode, is it toxic, will it make me ill in the long term?
- How do I protect myself? P2xx statements: gloves, goggles, ventilation, keeping away from heat.
- What do I do if there is an accident? P3xx statements and the safety data sheet: if it gets in the eyes, on the skin or is swallowed.
These five questions are also useful when a container without a label is found: if they cannot be answered, the container is not used.
Labelling chemicals decanted into small containers
The most common gap on site is chemicals decanted from a large container into a small one being left unlabelled: degreaser in a spray bottle in the maintenance workshop, a mixture in a plastic bucket in the paint shop, diluted product on the cleaning trolley. Because the SEA Regulation governs placing on the market, it does not directly cover decanting containers within the workplace; however, occupational health and safety legislation fills this gap:
- Annex 3 of the Regulation on Health and Safety Signs governs the labelling of containers and pipes containing hazardous substances used at work. Together with the pictogram, the label may include the name or formula of the substance and information on its hazard; it may also be replaced by a warning sign carrying the same pictogram. Signs are applied to a clearly visible surface in a non-folding, self-adhesive or painted form.
- The Regulation on Health and Safety Measures in Work with Chemical Substances requires workers to be informed about the labelling of containers and installations containing hazardous chemicals; for details, see our article on the chemical substances regulation.
A practical template for a decanting container label: product name, relevant pictograms, signal word, the most important H statements, decanting date and the location of the safety data sheet. Make the label from oil- and water-resistant material and stick it on the body of the container; a label stuck on the lid is lost with the lid.
We explained how to use the label and data sheet during spills and leaks in our article on chemical spill response, and areas where flammable vapour can form in our article on the explosive atmosphere and ATEX document.
How should label reading training be delivered?
Label reading sticks when it is taught in the job- and workplace-specific risks section of basic OHS training, using the products workers actually use. Instead of a generic pictogram slide, we recommend this exercise: the labels of five products from the section are put on the table, workers answer the five questions for each product and say which glove they would choose. Glove selection is supported by our article on choosing work gloves; for the topic groups of basic training, see our article on basic OHS training topics.
The 2026 base administrative fine for not providing OHS training to workers is 8,980 TL per worker; you can see the amounts in the OHS administrative fines tool. At chemical and plastics businesses, we deliver label and safety data sheet training using the business's own product inventory as part of our OHS training service. For other sector-specific topics, see our chemicals and plastics page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many hazard pictograms are there?
Nine: exploding bomb, flame, flame over circle, gas cylinder, corrosion, skull and crossbones, exclamation mark, health hazard and environment. A product's label may carry more than one pictogram.
Can we use a chemical whose label is in a foreign language?
Labels for hazardous substances and mixtures placed on the market in Türkiye are prepared in Turkish. If you have bought a product labelled only in a foreign language, ask the supplier for the Turkish label and safety data sheet; do not bring the product into use until the information is complete.
What is the difference between H and P statements?
H statements say what the hazard is, and P statements say what to do about it. The H statement answers "why am I careful?" and the P statement answers "how do I protect myself?".
Is it mandatory to label a chemical we decant into a small container?
Yes. Containers holding hazardous substances in the workplace are labelled or marked with a warning sign carrying the same pictogram. An unlabelled container is a container with unknown contents, and it makes the correct response to an accident impossible.
Induction, basic and refresher training in line with the 2026 regulation; on your premises, with examples from your own site and fully documented.
Bursa SİSTEMER OSGB Technical Team — written from the field experience of our OHS specialists and workplace physicians. Legal information is valid as of the publication/update date; contact us for an assessment specific to your business.