Which symbol is labeled Harmful or Fatal?

Which symbol is labeled Harmful or Fatal?

• A. Radioactive
• B. Harmful or Fatal
• C. Corrosive
• D. Explosion Hazard

Answer: (B)

The symbol with a skull and crossbones communicates acute toxicity—that exposure to the substance can cause serious harm or death from a single dose or short exposure. Labels like “Harmful or Fatal” are used to warn that ingestion, inhalation, or skin contact could be fatal or cause severe illness, so extreme care and protective measures are required when handling it. Other symbols point to different hazards: radioactive warnings about radiation, corrosive warnings about materials that burn skin or corrode metals, and explosion hazards about unstable materials. None of those depict the specific fatal-to-toxicity risk shown by the skull-and-crossbones, which is why that symbol is the best fit for “Harmful or Fatal.”

The symbol with a skull and crossbones communicates acute toxicity—that exposure to the substance can cause serious harm or death from a single dose or short exposure. Labels like “Harmful or Fatal” are used to warn that ingestion, inhalation, or skin contact could be fatal or cause severe illness, so extreme care and protective measures are required when handling it.

Other symbols point to different hazards: radioactive warnings about radiation, corrosive warnings about materials that burn skin or corrode metals, and explosion hazards about unstable materials. None of those depict the specific fatal-to-toxicity risk shown by the skull-and-crossbones, which is why that symbol is the best fit for “Harmful or Fatal.”