Hazchem Signs 101: What They Mean and Why They’re Mandatory

Quick facts

• Colour: Orange background, black border and text (standard Hazchem placard)
• Format: Diamond-shaped Hazchem Emergency Action Code (EAC) placard, plus separate GHS pictogram labels for containers
• Purpose: Tell emergency services how to respond to a chemical incident, and warn handlers of specific hazards
• Standard: Australian Dangerous Goods (ADG) Code for transport placards; GHS (Globally Harmonised System) for container/workplace labelling
• Where you'll see them: Chemical storage areas, tanker trucks, warehouses, farm chemical sheds, laboratories

I'm Doug Lindqvist, General Manager of Pinnacle Signage. One of the most common questions we get from site managers is the difference between a "Hazchem sign" and a "GHS label" — they're related, but they're not the same thing, and mixing them up can leave a site under-signed.

Hazchem Placards vs. GHS Labels

A Hazchem placard is the diamond-shaped orange sign used mainly for transport and bulk storage. It carries an Emergency Action Code (a combination of a number and letter, e.g. "3Y") that tells firefighters and emergency responders how to handle a spill or fire involving that substance — whether to evacuate, what protective equipment to use, and whether water can be used to fight a fire.

GHS labelling, on the other hand, is what appears on individual containers, drums, and smaller storage vessels in the workplace. It uses standardised pictograms (flame, skull and crossbones, corrosion, exclamation mark, etc.) alongside signal words like "Danger" or "Warning" to communicate specific hazards to anyone handling the container day-to-day.

Most sites that store or transport dangerous goods need both: Hazchem placards at the storage/transport level, and GHS labels on the individual containers inside.

Who Legally Needs This Signage

If your business stores, handles, or transports dangerous goods above the threshold quantities set out in the ADG Code or your state WHS regulations, Hazchem and GHS signage isn't optional — it's part of your legal duty of care. This applies well beyond heavy industry: agricultural chemical sheds, cleaning product warehouses, and even some hospitality kitchens storing bulk chemicals can fall under these requirements.

Getting the code or pictogram wrong isn't just an administrative slip. If emergency services respond to an incident based on incorrect signage, it can put responders and site occupants at real risk.

Getting It Right

Pinnacle Signage supplies compliant Hazchem placards and GHS signage built for Australian conditions — durable enough for outdoor tank farms and legible enough to read at a glance in an emergency. Explore the full Hazchem Signage and GHS Signage ranges, including custom options if your site has a specific chemical mix that isn't covered by a standard sign.

• Fast Dispatch: Most orders dispatched within 48 hours.
• Free Shipping: On orders over $100 AU wide (exceptions apply).
• Local Pickup: Available from our East Wagga Wagga, NSW warehouse, Mon–Fri 8am–5pm.