The Hazardous Material Identification System (HMIS) uses four categories to convey safety information about materials, with higher values indicating higher risk. The categories are health hazards, flammability potential, physical hazards related to reactions to other materials, and personal protection that should be worn. The system was created by the American Coatings Association and is designed to quickly and effectively transmit safety information. Each category can have a value from zero to four, with zero indicating no risk and four indicating extremely high risk. The categories are colored blue, red, orange, and white and indicate potential health risks, flammability, physical hazards, and personal protection needed when handling the materials.
The Hazardous Material Identification System (HMIS) is a visual and numerical method by which material safety information can be transmitted quickly and effectively. This system uses four sections to each of which a number can be applied, with higher values indicating higher risk within that category. The four categories are health hazards, flammability potential, physical hazards related to reactions to other materials, and personal protection that should be worn.
Created by the National Paint and Coatings Association (NPCA), now the American Coatings Association (ACA), the system is designed as a way to easily convey safety information about various materials. There are four different categories within the HMIS and each of these can have a value from zero to four. A score of zero means there is no risk associated with that category, while a four indicates extremely high risk within that category.
The first category of the Hazardous Material Identification System is “health”, which indicates the potential health risks associated with a substance and is colored blue. A score of zero indicates that there is no risk, while one indicates that minor irritation may result from exposure to the materials. Ratings of two indicate a short-term health risk or minor injury, while three indicate a major problem likely to require immediate medical attention, and four indicate exposure can be fatal. The “health” category may also have an asterisk indicating that long-term exposure can create ongoing problems and health risks.
After “health” is a red bar for the “flammability” of a substance. Flammability is based on the temperature at which a substance ignites. Low numbers indicate substances that are flammable or require high temperatures, while higher numbers are used for materials that can ignite quite easily at room temperature or spontaneously.
The third category is orange in color and indicates the “physical hazards” associated with a material. This usually refers to how a substance interacts with other materials, and high ratings indicate materials that can become volatile when exposed to other substances. These materials can become explosive when combined with other elements or can cause rapid erosion or decay. In previous versions of HMIS, this was colored yellow and labeled “responsive”, although that changed in the third version of the system.
“Personal Protection” is the fourth section of the Hazardous Material Identification System and is white in color. This section indicates how much protection is needed when handling these materials, with higher numbers indicating that more precautions should be taken. Illustrations are often provided in this section to show specific pieces of equipment that should be worn, such as gloves or goggles.
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