DIY Labeling: Risks and Rewards
Printing GHS labels on-site allows for immediate compliance when a secondary container is created. However, "printing a sticker" is not the same as creating a compliant safety label. The 2026 standards require durability and specific content alignment.
Durability Standard: BS 5609
For containers that might be exposed to marine environments (or just the harsh reality of a construction site rainstorm), labels should meet BS 5609 standards.
- Section 2: The label material must survive 3 months in saltwater.
- Section 3: The print (ink) must remain legible after abrasion and exposure.
Tip: Use a pigment-based inkjet or laser printer with synthetic (vinyl/poly) labels. Standard paper labels will fail.
Content Alignment: Rev 7
Your printing software must be updated to GHS Revision 7.
- Check: Does it print the "Desensitized Explosive" pictogram?
- Check: Does it allow for the "Small Container" reduced format (omitting hazard statements for ≤100ml)?
Color Compliance
You cannot print a black-and-white GHS label. The pictogram frame must be red. If you only have a monochrome printer, you must buy pre-printed stock with empty red diamonds and print the black symbols into them.
Best Practice
Invest in a dedicated thermal transfer or industrial inkjet label printer for your jobsite trailer. The cost of the hardware is offset by the durability and compliance of the labels produced.
Related: GHS Label Generator · Container Size Matcher · GHS Label Requirements