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Definition

Prior to May 31, 2015, the European Union (EU) required that risk phrases (R-phrases) appear on each label and Safety Data Sheet for hazardous chemicals. R-phrases consisted of the letter R followed by a number. The precise meaning of each of these appears in the table below. These are now obsolete (see Additional Info ).

Safety phrases (S-phrases) for handling precautions were also part of the same requirements and are also obsolete.

Additional Info

R-phrases were used to specify the particular danger(s) of the material whereas the other label elements such as symbols or pictograms (see CHIP) only indicated broad classes of hazards. For example, sodium metal would have had a large F and flame icon on the label, but the particular risk was denoted by R14/15 and R34 which correspond to "Reacts violently with water liberating highly flammable gases" and "causes burns".

While an improvement over simple pictograms, R- and S- phrases were still not specific enough, so they were phased out in favor of the much more comprehensive Hazard Statements and Precautionary Statements under the EU's implementation of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) per EU Regulation (EC) 1272/2008 (6.6 MB PDF file).

More than one R-phrase could appear on a SDS. They were typically presented in combination, such as R36/37/38. In the first table below, single phrases are given, and in the second table, combinations are given. In general, no more than four R-phrases were sufficient to adequately communicate the risks of a particular material. The selected R-phrases were those applicable to the substance(s) present in the concentration which gave rise to the most severe classification (for example, T+ versus T).

Conversions from R-statements to H-statements can be found starting on page 1352 of EU Regulation (EC) 1272/2008.

Multiple Risk Phrases
R14/15	Reacts violently with water liberating highly flammable gases.
R15/29	Contact with water liberates toxic, highly flammable gas.
R20/21	Harmful by inhalation and in contact with skin.
R20/22	Harmful by inhalation and if swallowed.
R20/21/22	Harmful by inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed.
R21/22	Harmful in contact with skin and if swallowed.
R23/24	Toxic by inhalation and in contact with skin.
R23/25	Toxic by inhalation and if swallowed.
R23/24/25	Toxic by inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed.
R24/25	Toxic in contact with skin and if swallowed.
R26/27	Very toxic by inhalation and in contact with skin.
R26/28	Very toxic by inhalation and if swallowed.
R26/27/28	Very toxic by inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed.
R27/28	Very toxic in contact with skin and if swallowed.
R36/37	Irritating to eyes and respiratory system.
R36/38	Irritating to eyes and skin.
R36/37/38	Irritating to eyes, respiratory system and skin.
R37/38	Irritating to respiratory system and skin.
R39/23	Toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects through inhalation.
R39/24	Toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects in contact with skin.
R39/25	Toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects if swallowed.
R39/23/24	Toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects through inhalation and in contact with skin.
R39/23/25	Toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects through inhalation and if swallowed.
R39/24/25	Toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects in contact with skin and if swallowed.
R39/23/24/25	Toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects through inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed.
R39/26	Very toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects through inhalation.
R39/27	Very toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects in contact with skin.
R39/28	Very toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects if swallowed.
R39/26/27	Very toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects through inhalation and in contact with skin.
R39/26/28	Very toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects through inhalation and if swallowed.
R39/27/28	Very toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects in contact with skin and if swallowed.
R39/26/27/28	Very toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects through inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed.
R40/20	Harmful: possible risk of irreversible effects through inhalation.
R40/21	Harmful: possible risk of irreversible effects in contact with skin.
R40/22	Harmful: possible risk of irreversible effects if swallowed.
R40/20/21	Harmful: possible risk of irreversible effects through inhalation and in contact with skin.
R40/20/22	Harmful: possible risk of irreversible effects through inhalation and if swallowed.
R40/21/22	Harmful: possible risk of irreversible effects in contact with skin and if swallowed.
R40/20/21/22	Harmful: possible risk of irreversible effects through inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed.
R42/43	May cause sensitization by inhalation and skin contact.
R48/20	Harmful: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure through inhalation.
R48/21	Harmful: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure in contact with skin.
R48/22	Harmful: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure if swallowed.
R48/20/21	Harmful: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure through inhalation and in contact with skin.
R48/20/22	Harmful: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure through inhalation and if swallowed.
R48/21/22	Harmful: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure in contact with skin and if swallowed.
R48/20/21/22	Harmful: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure through inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed.
R48/23	Toxic: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure through inhalation.
R48/24	Toxic: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure in contact with skin.
R48/25	Toxic: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure if swallowed.
R48/23/24	Toxic: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure through inhalation and in contact with skin.
R48/23/25	Toxic: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure through inhalation and if swallowed.
R48/24/25	Toxic: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure in contact with skin and if swallowed.
R48/23/24/25	Toxic: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure through inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed.
R50/53	Very toxic to aquatic organisms, may cause long-term adverse effects in the aquatic environment.
R51/53	Toxic to aquatic organisms, may cause long-term adverse effects in the aquatic environment.
R52/53	Harmful to aquatic organisms, may cause long-term adverse effects in the aquatic environment.

SDS Relevance

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Risk phrases were never required on labels or Safety Data Sheet by U.S. OSHA, however, they were required in the European Community. As risk phrases were formally phased out in 2015, they are generally only seen on older (and obsolete) SDS's. If your current sheet has R- and S-phrases instead of H-statements you should contact the manufacturer to get an updated sheet.

Remember that risk phrases only indicated the risk of a material, not the safety precautions that users needed to follow. For safety information see the safety phrases entry.

Further Reading

• The Basics of Chemical Safety at the International Occupational Safety and Health Information Centre (CIS) discusses R- and S-phrases, and includes a list of chemicals.
• A R- and S-phrases language conversion tool in 23 languages at SchoolScout24.
• Council Directive 2006/102/EC (PDF file) contains R- and S-phrases as well as other hazard terms in 23 languages.
• The Provisions for Classifying Dangerous Preparations (see Schedule 3) discusses how risks and risk phrases were quantified.
• GHS safety symbols and hazard statements, a one page handout at Linde gas, compares the old CHIP regulation required labeling and its risk phrases to the new H-statements.

See also: ANSI, CHIP, EINECS, Hazard Statements, safety phrases and the International Section of the SDS FAQ.

Additional definitions from Google and OneLook.

Entry last updated: Sunday, January 8, 2023. This page is copyright 2000-2024 by ILPI. Unauthorized duplication or posting on other web sites is expressly prohibited. Send suggestions, comments, and new entry desires (include the URL if applicable) to us by email.

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