Class 6 labels (toxic labels) are used for the identification of toxic and infectious substances during transportation.
When you think of toxic substances you probably imagine billowing green clouds of industrial waste, crumbling buildings filled with deadly blue asbestos, or yellow wallpaper suffused with lethal arsenic pigments?
The images that first spring to mind may not be the boxes that contain your take-away pizza, or the frying pan in your kitchen, however, it is these everyday household items such as plastic water bottles, waterproof shower curtains, flame-retardant sofas and pillows, and even microwave popcorn, that are most likely to poison you.
Of course, many of the everyday items that we use contain very small amounts of toxic chemicals, but if you are working or transporting toxic substances that have serious health risks, then your workplace needs to minimise the serious risks that they pose to human health.
The labelling and marking of toxic chemicals is one of the main ways that health hazards can be communicated to the end users and transporters of such substances. So, know your obligations and ensure that the labels and placards you use are in compliance with the relevant dangerous goods regulations.
WHAT ARE CLASS 6 Dangerous Goods?
Class 6 dangerous goods cover toxic and infectious substances. They are sub-divided into:
Class 6.1 Toxic. Substances liable to cause death or serious injury or to harm humans or animals if swallowed, inhaled, or by skin contact.
Class 6.2 Infectious Substances. Substances known or expected to contain pathogens (microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, parasites, fungi etc. which can cause disease in humans or animals).
Commonly transported Class 6 goods include: poisons, cyanides, phenols, lead compounds, some pesticides, biological samples and medical waste.
SPECIFICATIONS FOR Class 6 LABELs FOR PACKAGES
The ADR (European agreement concerning the international carriage of dangerous goods by road) regulations, state that all packages containing dangerous goods should have a warning label and that the label shall be in the form of a square at an angle of 45° (diamond shaped).
Class 6 labels for packages must be at least 100 x 100mm, from edge to edge, and set at an angle of 45°. The label must show a dotted outer boundary line (unless it is being applied on a background of contrasting colour). The class number ‘6’ must be shown in the bottom corner and be in text at least 12mm high.
The inner black line of the label must be at least 1 millimetre thick and there must be a gap of 5mm between this and the outer dotted border or the outer edge of the label. The upper half of the label must contain the black scull and crossbones symbol.
SPECIFICATIONS FOR Class 6.1 PLACARDs
The Class 6.1 placard is a larger version of the packaging labels and is used for cargo transport units such as freight containers and road/rail tanker vehicles.
Class 6 placards must be at least 250mm x 250mm, from edge to edge, and set at an angle of 45°. The placard must show a dotted outer boundary line (unless it is being applied on a background of contrasting colour). The class number ‘6’ must be shown in the bottom corner and be in text at least 25mm high.
There is no specification for the thickness of the inner line, as yet, but there must be a gap of 12.5mm between this and the outer dotted border or the outer edge of the label. The upper half of the label must contain the black scull and crossbones symbol.
All Class 6 placards manufactured by Stock-Xpress comply with IATA/ ICAO, UN ADR/RID and IMDG/IMO requirements, and are made from materials that meet the strict BS5609 standard. BS5609 is a specification for labels that are intended for marine use, whereby both the ink and the substrate must be able to withstand 3 months continuous immersion in sea water and still be legible and have good adhesion.
We manufacture Class 6 labels at 101 x 101mm on rolls of 250, and as single cut labels at 100x100mm. Class 6 placards, for use in international transportation, are supplied at 250x250mm and 200x200mm for UK transport only.
This article should not be used in substitute for checking the exact requirements in the applicable modal regulations.