GHS / HazCom term · Glossary
Precautionary Statement (P-code)
Verified vs OSHA sources · 2026-10-05
A standardized phrase, with a fixed P-code, that tells the user what to do about a chemical's hazard — how to prevent harm, respond to an incident, store it, and dispose of it. The wording is fixed and must be reproduced in full: P210 is “Keep away from heat, hot surfaces, sparks, open flames and other ignition sources. No smoking.” — not a shortened paraphrase of it. GHS groups P-codes into five families (general, prevention, response, storage, disposal).
Also known as: P-statement, P-code
Precautionary Statement (P-code) at a glance
- Tells you what to do — unlike a hazard statement, which says what the danger is.
- Five P-code families: general (P1xx), prevention (P2xx), response (P3xx), storage (P4xx), disposal (P5xx).
- Assigned to the chemical's classification, like hazard statements.
- Combined codes exist, e.g., P305 + P351 + P338 for eye exposure.
In plain English
The “what to do about it” sentences on a chemical label — keep it away from flames, wear gloves, if in eyes rinse with water, store somewhere ventilated. Each has a P-code, and together they cover prevention, response, storage, and disposal.
What the rule says
“Precautionary statement means a phrase that describes recommended measures that should be taken to minimize or prevent adverse effects resulting from exposure to a hazardous chemical, or improper storage or handling.”
In context
A classification or labeling concept from the UN Globally Harmonized System, adopted into US law through OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) and its appendices.
Where this is written in OSHA's rules
- 29 CFR 1910.1200(c)Read on eCFR / OSHA.gov
Example
A flammable solvent's label pairs the hazard statement H225 with precautionary statements such as P210 (“Keep away from heat, hot surfaces, sparks, open flames and other ignition sources. No smoking.”), P233 (“Keep container tightly closed”), and P403+P235 (“Store in a well-ventilated place; keep cool”) — the “what to do” for the “what it is.”
Why it matters
Precautionary statements turn a hazard into safe-handling instructions a worker can act on. Omitting them, or pairing the wrong ones with a hazard, leaves users without the response steps (like correct first aid) and is a HazCom labeling deficiency under 1910.1200(f).
Precautionary statement vs. hazard statement
A precautionary statement (P-code) is the instruction — “Wear protective gloves,” “IF IN EYES: rinse cautiously with water.” A hazard statement (H-code) is the warning — “Causes serious eye damage.” The label carries both: what the danger is, and what to do about it.
Precautionary statement (P-code) families
| Series | Type | Example |
|---|---|---|
| P1xx | General | P101 — If medical advice is needed, have container at hand |
| P2xx | Prevention | P210 — Keep away from heat, hot surfaces, sparks, open flames and other ignition sources. No smoking. |
| P3xx | Response | P305+P351+P338 — IF IN EYES: rinse cautiously with water… |
| P4xx | Storage | P403 — Store in a well-ventilated place |
| P5xx | Disposal | P501 — Dispose of contents/container to … (the supplier completes the blank) |
Precautionary Statement (P-code): frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between a precautionary and a hazard statement?
- A hazard statement (H-code) describes the danger; a precautionary statement (P-code) describes the recommended action to prevent or respond to it. For example, H225 (“Highly flammable…”) pairs with P210 (“Keep away from heat…”).
- What are the five types of precautionary statements?
- General (P1xx), Prevention (P2xx), Response (P3xx), Storage (P4xx), and Disposal (P5xx). The first digit of the P-code identifies the family.
- What does P305+P351+P338 mean?
- It's a combined first-aid statement for eye exposure: “IF IN EYES: Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses, if present and easy to do. Continue rinsing.”
Related terms
Free tools for this
Governing OSHA standards
More GHS terms
A GHS health-hazard class for the harmful effects that follow a single dose, several doses within 24 hours, or a 4-hour inhalation exposure. Chemicals are sorted into categories by route (oral, dermal, inhalation) using LD50/LC50 cut-offs — Category 1 is the most toxic. OSHA's HazCom standard uses Categories 1–4.
Aspiration HazardA GHS health-hazard class for chemicals that can be fatal if swallowed and then enter the airways — directly or by vomiting — causing chemical pneumonia or lung injury. Thin, low-viscosity hydrocarbons (gasoline, kerosene, lamp oil) are the classic example. It is Category 1, with the health-hazard pictogram (GHS08) and signal word “Danger.”
CarcinogenicityA GHS health-hazard class for chemicals that cause cancer or increase its incidence. GHS (and OSHA's HazCom standard) sorts carcinogens into Category 1A (known human carcinogen), 1B (presumed, from animal evidence), and Category 2 (suspected). Carcinogens carry the health-hazard pictogram (GHS08) and a hazard statement such as H350 (“May cause cancer”).
Chemicals Under PressureA physical-hazard class added by OSHA's 2024 HCS update (aligning with GHS Revision 7) for liquids or solids pressurized with a gas, held in pressure receptacles other than aerosol dispensers and not classified as gases under pressure. It is categorized by the flammability of its contents and always carries the gas-cylinder pictogram (GHS04) for the pressure hazard.
ClassificationThe process of evaluating the available scientific evidence for a chemical against the GHS criteria to decide whether it is hazardous and, if so, the hazard class and category of each effect. Classification is the first step in HazCom — its result determines every label element (pictogram, signal word, hazard and precautionary statements) and SDS content.
Corrosive to MetalsA GHS physical-hazard class for chemicals that, by chemical action, will materially damage or even destroy metals. It is a single category (Category 1), determined by corrosion-rate testing on steel and aluminum, and uses the corrosion pictogram (GHS05) with the hazard statement H290. It is a separate hazard from skin corrosion, even though both use GHS05.
Desensitized ExplosivesA physical-hazard class added by OSHA's 2024 HCS update (GHS Revision 7) for solid or liquid explosives that have been phlegmatized — wetted or diluted — to suppress their explosive properties for safe transport and storage. It has four categories based on the corrected burning rate, and uses the flame pictogram (GHS02), not the exploding-bomb.
Globally Harmonized System (GHS)An internationally agreed framework created by the United Nations (first adopted in 2003) that standardizes how chemical hazards are classified and communicated — using common hazard classes, pictograms, signal words (Danger / Warning), and coded hazard (H) and precautionary (P) statements on labels and safety data sheets. The US adopted GHS into law through OSHA's 2012 Hazard Communication Standard update.
Sources & verification
- 29 CFR 1910.1200(c) (eCFR / OSHA.gov)
- OSHA — Hazard Communication (labels)
- UNECE GHS — Annex 3: Codification of statements
Reviewed by HazComFast against eCFR, OSHA.gov, NIOSH, and the Federal Register. Last reviewed 2026-10-05. This glossary is general information, not legal advice; OSHA State-Plan states (e.g. California, Michigan) may adopt stricter requirements.
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