GHS / HazCom term · Glossary
Skin Corrosion
Verified vs OSHA sources · 2026-10-05
A GHS health-hazard class for chemicals that cause irreversible damage to the skin — visible necrosis through the epidermis into the dermis — after up to 4 hours of contact. Corrosion is Category 1 (sub-divided 1A/1B/1C by how fast it acts); the milder, reversible effect is skin irritation (Category 2). Corrosives carry the corrosion pictogram (GHS05).
Also known as: skin corrosion/irritation
Skin Corrosion at a glance
- Corrosion = irreversible damage (Category 1); irritation = reversible (Category 2).
- Category 1 sub-divides into 1A/1B/1C based on how quickly the damage occurs.
- Corrosion uses GHS05 (corrosion) + “Danger” + H314; irritation uses GHS07 + “Warning” + H315.
- Extreme pH (≤2 or ≥11.5) is often a strong indicator of corrosivity.
In plain English
How GHS rates a chemical that burns or eats into skin. If the damage is permanent it's “corrosion” (Category 1); if it's reversible redness/swelling it's “irritation” (Category 2). Strong acids and bases are classic corrosives.
What the source says, in summary
Skin corrosion is the production of irreversible damage to the skin; namely, visible necrosis through the epidermis and into the dermis, following the application of a test substance for up to 4 hours.
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 App A.2Read on eCFR / OSHA.gov
Example
Concentrated sodium hydroxide causes irreversible skin necrosis within minutes, so it's classified skin corrosion Category 1A — label pictogram GHS05 (corrosion), signal word “Danger,” and H314, “Causes severe skin burns and eye damage.” A mild detergent that only reddens skin would be Category 2 (irritation), H315.
Why it matters
Skin corrosion drives both the corrosion pictogram and the PPE (gloves, face/eye protection) workers need. Calling a corrosive a mere “irritant,” or omitting GHS05, understates a burn hazard and is a HazCom classification/labeling violation under 1910.1200.
Skin corrosion vs. skin irritation vs. sensitization
Corrosion is irreversible chemical burning (Category 1). Irritation is reversible inflammation (Category 2). Skin sensitization is an allergic immune reaction that develops over time — a different hazard class (GHS07, H317) entirely.
GHS skin corrosion / irritation
| Effect | Category | Pictogram · H-code |
|---|---|---|
| Corrosion (irreversible) | 1 (sub 1A / 1B / 1C) | Corrosion (GHS05) · H314 |
| Irritation (reversible) | 2 | Exclamation (GHS07) · H315 |
| Mild irritation | 3 (not adopted by OSHA) | (none) · H316 |
Skin Corrosion: frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between skin corrosion and skin irritation?
- Skin corrosion is irreversible damage (necrosis into the dermis) — GHS Category 1, pictogram GHS05, H314. Skin irritation is reversible inflammation — Category 2, pictogram GHS07, H315.
- What do the 1A, 1B, and 1C sub-categories mean?
- They divide Category 1 corrosion by how quickly it acts: 1A within 3 minutes of exposure, 1B between 3 minutes and 1 hour, and 1C between 1 and 4 hours. OSHA allows using just “Category 1” when the data don't distinguish them.
- Does extreme pH automatically make a chemical corrosive?
- A pH at or below 2 or at or above 11.5 is strong evidence of corrosivity, but acid/alkali reserve (buffering capacity) is also considered. Section 9 of the SDS lists pH.
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 App A.2 (eCFR / OSHA.gov)
- OSHA — Appendix A to §1910.1200: Health Hazard Criteria (Mandatory)
- UNECE GHS — Part 3: Health Hazards
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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