Hang this poster beside the Safety Data Sheet station or at the storeroom door, where both systems are read.
What is on the poster
Two systems for two readers. The numbers run in opposite directions.
| NFPA 704 diamond | GHS (HazCom) label | |
|---|---|---|
| Written for | Firefighters and responders arriving at a fire or spill, and those planning the response | The worker using the chemical in normal conditions |
| Where it goes | The fixed facility: door, walls, tank | Every container |
| The numbers | 0 to 4: 4 is the most hazardous | Categories 1 to 4: 1 is the most severe |
| Health | Acute, short-term effects only | Acute and chronic effects |
| Symbols | White square: OX, W crossed out, SA | Red-bordered pictograms |
Same chemical, opposite numbers
A category 1 on the Safety Data Sheet is the most severe hazard. A 1 in the diamond is a slight one.
Never copy the hazard category numbers from Section 2 of a Safety Data Sheet into a diamond. Its numbers come from Sections 9, 10 and 11, or from a diamond the sheet already carries.
The diamond on the door never replaces the label on the bottle. Every container keeps its HazCom label.
The poster draws a diamond reading health 1 beside a label reading acute toxicity, Category 1: in the diamond, 1 is slight; on the label, Category 1 is the most severe.
Built to the Science Safety Teaching Standard
This poster carries the SSTS mark. Like every Science Safety course, it is built to the Science Safety Teaching Standard (SSTS): every rule on it is taken from the body that governs it, at its current edition, and the source is printed on the poster, so you can check it yourself.
Stay current
When you get this poster, it is saved to your Science Safety account. If we revise the poster, or the Fire Safety in the Science Lab module it comes from changes, we will email you, and the latest version will be waiting under Downloads in your account. Every revision carries its revision number and date at the bottom of the poster, so you can tell at a glance whether the copy on your wall is current.
Printing and hanging
- One-page PDF, US letter (8.5 by 11 inches).
- White background, so it prints clearly on any office or classroom printer without using much ink.
- Hang it beside the Safety Data Sheet station or the storeroom door.
- The QR code in the blue title band opens this page, so anyone can get their own copy.
- The QR code at the bottom opens the Fire Safety in the Science Lab module.
Learn more
The Fire Safety in the Science Lab module teaches the full topic this poster comes from.
Sources:
- OSHA 3678, Comparison of NFPA 704 and HazCom 2012 Labels – Occupational Safety and Health Administration (reviewed October 2, 2026)
- NFPA 704, 2027 edition – National Fire Protection Association (reviewed October 2, 2026)
- School Chemistry Laboratory Safety Guide – CPSC, CDC and NIOSH (reviewed October 2, 2026)
Poster SSP-0050, Rev. 1, October 2026.
