Serious Health Hazard: Health Hazard
The health hazard pictogram indicates serious long-term health effects including carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, reproductive toxicity, respiratory sensitization, and specific organ damage.
GHS08 covers the most insidious health hazards — those that may not manifest immediately but cause severe long-term damage. A single exposure or repeated exposures can lead to cancer, genetic damage, reproductive harm, or chronic organ damage.
This pictogram is particularly important because the effects are often delayed. Workers may not realize they're being harmed until significant damage has occurred. This makes engineering controls and exposure monitoring critical.
Substances carrying GHS08 typically require medical surveillance programs for exposed workers and detailed exposure records that must be maintained for extended periods.
Hazard Classes
- Carcinogenicity (Cat. 1A, 1B, 2)
- Germ Cell Mutagenicity (Cat. 1A, 1B, 2)
- Reproductive Toxicity (Cat. 1A, 1B, 2)
- STOT — Single Exposure (Cat. 1, 2)
- STOT — Repeated Exposure (Cat. 1, 2)
- Respiratory Sensitization (Cat. 1)
- Aspiration Hazard (Cat. 1, 2)
Common Examples
- Benzene (carcinogen)
- Formaldehyde
- Asbestos fibers
- Toluene (repeated exposure)
- Lead compounds
- Crystalline silica dust
Hazard Statements
- H340: May cause genetic defects
- H350: May cause cancer
- H360: May damage fertility or the unborn child
- H370: Causes damage to organs
- H372: Causes damage to organs through prolonged exposure
Exposure Limit Reference
Common Exposure Limits (OSHA PEL Reference)
Select a common GHS08 substance to see its OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit.
What Is GHS? A Simple Guide to the Globally Harmonized System
Learn what the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) is, why it was created, and how it affects chemical labeling in your workplace.
GHS Label Requirements: What OSHA Requires on Every Chemical Container
Complete guide to OSHA's GHS labeling requirements including pictograms, signal words, hazard statements, and more.