What does P280 mean?

What kind of precautionary statement is P280?

Prevention statements (P2xx) describe the measures that stop exposure or an accident before it happens: staying away from heat and ignition sources, wearing personal protective equipment, not breathing vapour or dust, washing hands after work. They are the rules a user applies before starting to work with the product.

Which hazards is it used for?

In the CLP Annex IV assignment table, P280 is assigned to the classes of these hazard statements:

• H200Unstable explosives.
• H201Explosive; mass explosion hazard.
• H202Explosive, severe projection hazard.
• H203Explosive; fire, blast or projection hazard.
• H204Fire or projection hazard.
• H205May mass explode in fire.
• H224Extremely flammable liquid and vapour.
• H225Highly flammable liquid and vapour.
• H226Flammable liquid and vapour.
• H228Flammable solid.
• H240Heating may cause an explosion.
• H241Heating may cause a fire or explosion.
• H242Heating may cause a fire.
• H250Catches fire spontaneously if exposed to air.
• H251Self-heating: may catch fire.
• H252Self-heating in large quantities; may catch fire.
• H260In contact with water releases flammable gases which may ignite spontaneously.
• H261In contact with water releases flammable gases.
• H271May cause fire or explosion; strong oxidiser.
• H272May intensify fire; oxidiser.
• H310Fatal in contact with skin.
• H311Toxic in contact with skin.
• H312Harmful in contact with skin.
• H314Causes severe skin burns and eye damage.
• H315Causes skin irritation.
• H317May cause an allergic skin reaction.
• H318Causes serious eye damage.
• H319Causes serious eye irritation.
• H340May cause genetic defects <state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard> .
• H341Suspected of causing genetic defects <state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard> .
• H350May cause cancer <state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard> .
• H350iMay cause cancer by inhalation.
• H351Suspected of causing cancer < state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard >.
• H360May damage fertility or the unborn child <state specific effect if known > <state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard> .
• H360DMay damage the unborn child.
• H360DfMay damage the unborn child. Suspected of damaging fertility.
• H360FMay damage fertility.
• H360FDMay damage fertility. May damage the unborn child.
• H360FdMay damage fertility. Suspected of damaging the unborn child.
• H361Suspected of damaging fertility or the unborn child <state specific effect if known> <state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard> .
• H361dSuspected of damaging the unborn child.
• H361fSuspected of damaging fertility.
• H361fdSuspected of damaging fertility. Suspected of damaging the unborn child.

How many hazard statements is P280 assigned to?

In the CLP Annex IV assignment table, P280 is provided for the classes of 43 H statements in total: 20 physical hazard statements and 23 health hazard statements. The lowest-numbered example is H200 and the highest-numbered is H361fd. Whether a mixture label carries this statement depends on those classes really applying to the mixture.

Change note

P280 is used in place of the withdrawn P281. When you see the old code in an earlier SDS or label, its current equivalent is P280.

Neighbouring statements of the same kind

The statements closest in number to P280 in the prevention group:

• P271Use only outdoors or in a well-ventilated area.
• P272Contaminated work clothing should not be allowed out of the workplace.
• P273Avoid release to the environment.
• P281Use personal protective equipment as required.
• P282Wear cold insulating gloves and either face shield or eye protection.
• P283Wear fire resistant or flame retardant clothing.

How is P280 read?

The text of P280 is 6 words long. It contains options separated by a slash; the preparer keeps the option that fits the product and deletes the others.

Where is P280 written in the SDS?

In the SDS, P280 is written in Section 2.2 (label elements) with its code and the text "Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection.". Being a prevention statement, it sits among the prevention lines. The statement should also agree with the exposure controls and personal protection in Section 8.

How does P280 appear on the label?

On the label P280 appears together with its text; under CLP Article 28(3) a label usually carries at most 6 precautionary statements. In the Chemoris selection method, prevention statements are considered in position 2. If the core statements exceed 6, Article 28(3) allows up to 8; when a combined statement is chosen, its individual parts are not repeated on the label. As P280 is on the list of precautionary statements of Annex IV, it can be used in current labels and SDSs; Chemoris writes it into the document only when the relevant prevention candidate is selected.

Which classes and which priority is P280 assigned to?

In the CLP Annex IV assignment table, P280 appears in 28 class/category entries (4 different H statements). Priority split: core (priority 1) in 27 entries and secondary (priority 2) in 1 entries. Of these entries, 9 carry the signal word “Danger”, 4 carry “Warning” and 15 need no signal word. The pictograms that most often accompany it: GHS02 (3), GHS06 (3), GHS07 (3) and GHS03 (2).

The class families it appears in most often: Acute Tox. (4), Flam. Liq. (3), Flam. Sol. * (1), Ox. Liq. (1) and Ox. Liq. * (1).

Classes that P280 is assigned to

The first 12 rows of 28 entries in the CLP Annex IV assignment table (by priority and hazard order):

Statements assigned together with P280

The precautionary statements that most often appear with P280 in the same class entries (with entry count):

• P501Dispose of contents/container to … (21)
• P370+P378In case of fire: Use… to extinguish. (13)
• P210Keep away from heat, hot surfaces, sparks, open flames and other ignition sources. No smoking. (13)
• P321Specific treatment (see … on this label). (7)
• P405Store locked up. (7)

Where does P280 stand in the prevention group?

P280 is number 31 of the 38 statements in the P2xx group. The group holds 2 combined and 4 withdrawn statements and 33 single valid statements. Combined statements merge several situations on one line; withdrawn statements are replaced by their current equivalents.

Which SDS section does P280 feed?

Because of its number and its prevention kind, P280 relates to Section 8 Exposure controls / PPE of the SDS; in Section 2.2 it is written with its code and text. Statements in the same number range feed the same section.

Checklist when writing P280

• The text contains options separated by a slash; the preparer keeps only the option that fits the product.
• P280 should agree with Section 8; in Section 2.2 it is written with its code and text.
• The text is 6 words long; if the label space is narrow, choosing a combined statement can save room.

Official EU wording of P280 in other languages

When a product is exported to the EU, the SDS and label are expected in the official language of the Member State where it is placed on the market (REACH Article 31(5)). The table gives the official wording of P280 from the CLP Annex III/IV language versions published in the Official Journal of the European Union. Source: EUR-Lex CELEX 02008R1272-20260701.

Next steps

To read a statement like P280 correctly on a label and in an SDS, see the guide How to read H and P codes; to pick the class and prepare the label automatically, use the free label tool.

Where does it appear in the safety data sheet?

Precautionary statements are given with their code and full text in Section 2.2 (label elements) of the safety data sheet. Alternatives separated by a slash or in square brackets (e.g. gloves/protective clothing) are narrowed down to suit the product.

Frequently asked questions