HS&E Operatives practice question: COSHH and hazardous substances (2 of 7)
B. Occupational health A free question from our original HS&E Operatives practice exam. Try it, then open the answer to see why each option is right or wrong.
Containers of hazardous products carry hazard pictograms: a black symbol in a diamond with a red border.
Match each symbol to what it warns you about.
Match each item to one answer. An answer can be used more than once, and some may not be used.
Items
A flame
A skull and crossbones
Liquid dripping onto a hand and a piece of metal
A gas cylinder
Answers
AA. Acute toxicity: it can poison you, even in small amounts
BB. Corrosive: it can burn skin and eyes and damage metal
CC. Gas under pressure: the container holds compressed gas
DD. Explosive: it can explode
EE. Flammable: it can catch fire easily
Show the answer and explanation
Correct matches
A flame: E. Flammable: it can catch fire easily
A skull and crossbones: A. Acute toxicity: it can poison you, even in small amounts
Liquid dripping onto a hand and a piece of metal: B. Corrosive: it can burn skin and eyes and damage metal
A gas cylinder: C. Gas under pressure: the container holds compressed gas
About each answer
A. The skull and crossbones means the product can cause serious harm or death if swallowed, breathed in or absorbed through the skin.
B. The corrosion symbol, liquid eating into a hand and a piece of metal, means the product can cause severe burns.
C. The gas cylinder symbol means the container holds gas under pressure, which may explode if heated.
D. The exploding bomb symbol means the product is explosive. None of the four symbols here is that one.
E. The flame symbol means the product is flammable, such as some solvents, paints and gases.
Explanation
Flame: flammable. Skull and crossbones: toxic. Corrosion: corrosive. Gas cylinder: gas under pressure. Read the label and safety data sheet before using a product.