What does P308 mean?

What kind of precautionary statement is P308?

Response statements (P3xx) say what to do after an accident, spill, fire or exposure: first-aid steps, rinsing and washing, calling a doctor or a poison centre, choosing the extinguishing medium. They usually open with a situation such as IF IN EYES or IF INHALED.

Which hazards is it used for?

In the CLP Annex IV assignment table used by Chemoris, P308 is not linked directly to a class; it is used as part of a combined statement or at the supplier's choice.

Combined statements containing this code

• P308+P311
• P308+P313

Change note

P308 is used in place of the withdrawn P307 and P309. When you see the old code in an earlier SDS or label, its current equivalent is P308.

Neighbouring statements of the same kind

The statements closest in number to P308 in the response group:

• P305IF IN EYES:
• P306IF ON CLOTHING:
• P307IF exposed:
• P309IF exposed or if you feel unwell:
• P310Immediately call a POISON CENTER/doctor/…
• P311Call a POISON CENTER/doctor/…

How is P308 read?

This statement is a 4-word text. The text only names the situation "IF exposed or concerned"; the instruction itself is completed in the codes that combine with this statement (see the combined statements below).

Where is P308 written in the SDS?

If P308 is on the list of precautionary statements in Section 2.2, it is printed with its code and the text "IF exposed or concerned:". The statement should also agree with the first-aid measures in Section 4.

How does P308 appear on the label?

P308 shows up on a label only if it is selected: the candidates from Annex IV are reduced to at most 6 under Article 28(3). In the Chemoris selection method, response statements are considered in position 1. 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 P308 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 response candidate is selected.

Which classes and which priority is P308 assigned to?

Related assignment entries: 6 class/category entries, 1 different H statements. Priority split: core (priority 1) in 6 entries. Of these entries, 1 carry the signal word “Danger”, 1 carry “Warning” and 4 need no signal word. The pictograms that most often accompany it: GHS08 (2).

The class families it appears in most often: STOT SE (2), Muta. * (1), Carc. * (1), Repr. * (1) and Lact. (1).

Classes that P308 is assigned to

P308 is not assigned to a class on its own; the combined statements it belongs to (P308+P313 and P308+P311) are assigned to these classes:

Where does P308 stand in the response group?

P308 is number 8 of the 82 statements in the P3xx group. The group holds 30 combined and 11 withdrawn statements and 46 single valid statements. Combined statements merge several situations on one line; withdrawn statements are replaced by their current equivalents.

Which SDS section does P308 feed?

Because of its number and its response kind, P308 relates to Section 4 First aid 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 P308

• P308 is a part of the combined statements P308+P311, P308+P313; when a combined statement is selected, P308 is not repeated on the label.
• P308 should agree with Section 4; in Section 2.2 it is written with its code and text.
• The text is 4 words long; if the label space is narrow, choosing a combined statement can save room.

Official EU wording of P308 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 P308 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 P308 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