Health hazard (GHS08)
The GHS pictogram for serious health hazards: carcinogenicity, germ cell mutagenicity, reproductive toxicity, respiratory sensitisation, specific target organ toxicity and aspiration hazard.
How to read it
It is GHS08. Canada’s WHMIS lists it for respiratory sensitizers, germ cell mutagenicity, carcinogenicity, reproductive toxicity, specific target organ toxicity from single or repeated exposure (categories 1 and 2) and aspiration hazard. OSHA’s standard assigns it to carcinogenicity, respiratory sensitization and aspiration hazard among others. In Great Britain it is called Serious health hazard.
Also searched as: GHS08, serious health hazard.
These identify the hazard class a pictogram represents. For handling, storage and first aid, refer to the product's label and safety data sheet.
Look-alikes
Other health effects, such as skin irritation or skin sensitisation, carry the Exclamation mark (GHS07) instead. Britain’s Health and Safety Executive calls this pictogram Serious health hazard and the exclamation mark Health hazard.
Read next
- Next in Hazard symbolsEnvironment (GHS09)The GHS pictogram for chemicals hazardous to the environment.
- The same shape in Social media icons and badgesTwitch badgesTwitch badges are the small icons to the left of a username in Twitch chat. Each one shows something about that chatter: a role in the channel, such as broadcaster, moderator or VIP, a subscription, Bits cheered, or an event they took part in.
More hazard symbols
The same shape elsewhere
Browse symbols drawn with diamonds or stars.
Sources
- Allocation of Label Elements (29 CFR 1910.1200, Appendix C), 29 CFR 1910.1200 Appendix C, U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, C.4.6, C.4.9, C.4.13
- WHMIS - Pictograms (OSH Answers), Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
- Hazard pictograms (symbols), GB CLP, Health and Safety Executive (Great Britain)
- GHS Classification (Rev.11, 2025) Summary, PubChem, U.S. National Library of Medicine
Researched, edited and approved by Rory Hansen before publishing. Last reviewed September 25, 2026. How we research
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