What are Risk Phrases and Safety Phrases?

When you are looking at your Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) usually towards the end of the document, you will find the risk phrases and the safety phrases. The risk phrases and safety phrases are part of the European Union Directive but are used internationally.

This is what they may look like on your MSDS:

These R-phrases, as they are sometimes called, give specific information regarding any risk with a substance. There is a long list of R-phrases and they cover risks attributed according to the nature of a cleaning chemical in the form it is sold in. This means that it is not measured by its individual components nor is it rated in the form it is used in i.e. diluted.

Safety Phrases, or S-phrases, give the user safety advice for using the cleaning. These are slightly different to risk phrases as they offer specific advice for handling cleaning products. A risk phrase will say irritating to skin and a safety phrase will say wear gloves.

Even if a cleaning product is very safe it may still carry risk and safety phrases. One safety phrase that should be on almost all cleaning products is S2 – Keep out of reach of children.

Risk phrases and safety phrases will give you the knowledge you need to handle you cleaning products with safety first. Blendwell Chemicals will be happy to supply you with a MSDS for each cleaning product that you buy from us. Blendwell Chemicals manufactures all their cleaning products in Johannesburg, South Africa. We are your best local cleaning products wholesaler.