What does P315 mean?

What kind of precautionary statement is P315?

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, P315 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

• P336+P315

Neighbouring statements of the same kind

The statements closest in number to P315 in the response group:

• P312Call a POISON CENTRE/doctor/… if you feel unwell.
• P313Get medical advice/attention.
• P314Get medical advice/attention if you feel unwell.
• P320Specific treatment is urgent (see … on this label).
• P321Specific treatment (see … on this label).
• P322Specific measures (see … on this label).

How is P315 read?

The length of P315 is 4 words. It contains options separated by a slash; the preparer keeps the option that fits the product and deletes the others.

Where is P315 written in the SDS?

When you prepare an SDS, P315 goes into Section 2.2; options in the text (slashes or square brackets) are narrowed down to the product before it is written. The statement should also agree with the first-aid measures in Section 4.

How does P315 appear on the label?

The classes and the use of the product decide whether it reaches the label; not all candidates are written, at most 6 statements remain. 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 P315 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.

Where does P315 stand in the response group?

P315 is number 15 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 The group holds 30 combined and 11 withdrawn statements and 46 single valid statements. Combined statements merge several situations on one line; withdrawn statements are replaced by their current equivalents.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 P315 feed?

Because of its number and its response kind, P315 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 P315

• The text contains options separated by a slash; the preparer keeps only the option that fits the product.
• P315 is a part of the combined statements P336+P315; when a combined statement is selected, P315 is not repeated on the label.
• P315 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 P315 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 P315 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 P315 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