secondary contamination to rescue personnel and
healthcare providers.
Toxicity Levels
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
has developed a system for indicating the health,
flammability, and reactivity hazards of chemicals. It is
called the NFPA 704 Labeling System and is made up
of symbols arranged in squares to comprise a
diamond-shaped label (fig. 5-7).
Each of the four
hazards is indicated by a different colored square:
Red indicates the flammability.
Yellow indicates the reactivity.
White indicates any special hazards.
Blue indicates health hazards.
The health hazard levels are
4 - deadly,
3 - extreme danger,
2 - hazardous,
1 - slightly hazardous, and
0 - normal material.
Protection Levels
The protection levels, B, C, and D—indicate the
type and amount of protective equipment required in a
given hazardous circumstance, with level A being the
most hazardous.
Level A - positive pressure-demand, full-face
piece self-contained breathing apparatus
(SCBA) or positive pressure-demand supplied
air respirator with escape SCBA; fully
encapsulating, chemical-resistant suit; inner
chemical-resistant gloves; chemical-resistant
safety boots/shoes; and two-way radio
communication.
Level B - positive pressure-demand, full-face
piece SCBA or positive pressure-demand
supplied air respirator with escape SCBA;
chemical-resistant clothing (overalls and
long-sleeved jacket with hooded one- or
two-piece chemical splash suit or disposable
chemical-resistant
one-piece
suit);
chemical-resistant safety boots/shoes; hard hat;
and two-way communication.
Level C - full-face piece, air-purifying
canister-equipped respirator; chemical-resistant
clothing (overalls and long-sleeved jacket with
hooded one- or two-piece chemical splash suit or
disposable chemical-resistant one-piece suit);
inner and outer chemical-resistant gloves;
chemical-resistant safety boots/shoes; hard hat;
and two-way communication.
Level D - Coveralls, safety boots/shoes, safety
glasses or chemical splash goggles, and hard hat.
You are required to wear gloves at all four
protection levels. If the correct type of glove to be used
is not known, use neoprene or rubber, and avoid using
latex or vinyl. In any instance, contact with HAZMAT
should be avoided or minimized, and proper
5-23
WHITE
YELLOW
BLUE
RED
HEALTH HAZARD
FIRE HAZARD
FLASH POINTS
4- DEADLY
3- EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS
2- HAZARDOUS
1- SLIGHTLY HAZARDOUS
0- NORMAL MATERIAL
4- BELOW 73 F
3- BELOW 100 F
2- BELOW 200 F
1- ABOVE 200 F
0- WILL NOT BURN
REACTIVITY
4- MAY DETONATE
3- SHOCK AND HEAT
MAY DETONATE
2- VIOLENT CHEMICAL CHANGE
1- UNSTABLE IF HEATED
0- STABLE
SPECIFIC HAZARD
OXIDIZER
ACID
ALKALI
CORROSIVE
USE NO WATER
RADIATION HAZARD
OX
ACID
ALK
COR
W
0
0
0
0
HM3f0507
Figure 5-7.—NFPA 704 labeling system.
