Hang this poster beside the Safety Data Sheet station, where the signs for each chemical are looked up.
What is on the poster
Every chemical's signs are on its Safety Data Sheet: Section 4 for symptoms, Section 11 for how it gets in.
The signs follow the way in
| Way in | Watch for |
|---|---|
| Eyes and skin | Stinging, burning, irritation |
| Breathing | Coughing, wheezing, difficulty breathing |
| Through the body | Headache, dizziness |
Three examples
| Chemical | Signs listed by NIOSH |
|---|---|
| Hydrochloric acid | Irritated nose and throat, coughing, choking; the solution burns eyes and skin |
| Ammonia | Irritated eyes, nose and throat, wheezing, difficulty breathing, chest pain; skin burns and blisters |
| Acetone | Irritated eyes, nose and throat, headache, dizziness; irritated, inflamed skin |
When someone shows a sign
- Offer a medical examination. Anyone with signs after a possible exposure in the laboratory is offered one.
- After a spill, leak or explosion. Each affected employee is offered a medical consultation, which decides whether an examination is needed.
- Send the Safety Data Sheet. The physician is told the chemical, how the exposure happened and the signs the person has.
A delayed sign still counts. Examinations are by a licensed physician, at no cost and without loss of pay.
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 Right to Understand Laws 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 Sheets.
- 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 Right to Understand Laws module.
Learn more
The Right to Understand Laws module teaches the full topic this poster comes from.
Sources:
- 29 CFR 1910.1450, paragraphs (f)(3)(iv) and (g) – Occupational Safety and Health Administration (reviewed October 2, 2026)
- 29 CFR 1910.1200, Appendix D, Safety Data Sheets – Occupational Safety and Health Administration (reviewed October 2, 2026)
- NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards: hydrochloric acid, ammonia, acetone – National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (reviewed October 2, 2026)
Poster SSP-0062, Rev. 1, October 2026.
