Hang this poster in the chemical storeroom, beside the cabinet that holds the oxidizers.
What is on the poster
Oxidizers make other materials burn more readily, hotter and longer.
| Know them | Examples |
|---|---|
| Oxidizing agents | Chlorates, chromates, dichromates, hypochlorites, nitrates, nitric acid, nitrites, perchlorates, permanganates, peroxides |
| Reducing agents | Alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, hydrogen gas, carbon monoxide |
| On the label | The flame over circle pictogram marks an oxidizer |
Store
- Oxidizing agents and reducing agents apart from each other.
- Both away from flammable materials.
- Check each Safety Data Sheet for what it must not be stored with.
- Order only the hydrogen peroxide or other peroxide the work needs, so none is stored.
Compressed oxygen
- Cylinder chained to an anchor point on the wall, cap on when not in use.
- Valves and regulators checked for leaks by a certified inspector.
Never put an oxidizer such as nitric acid in a waste bottle with organic materials. Mixing them has caused many explosions.
The poster draws the flame over circle pictogram, and an oxidizer cabinet and a flammables cabinet kept apart.
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 Student 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 in the chemical storeroom.
- 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 Student Safety in the Science Lab module.
Learn more
The Student Safety in the Science Lab module teaches the full topic this poster comes from.
Sources:
- Safety Guidelines for Secondary Schools, pages 38 to 40 – American Chemical Society (reviewed October 2, 2026)
- Hazard Communication Standard Pictogram QuickCard (OSHA 3491) – Occupational Safety and Health Administration (reviewed October 2, 2026)
Poster SSP-0057, Rev. 1, October 2026.
