What does P338 mean?

What kind of precautionary statement is P338?

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, P338 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

• P305+P351+P338

Neighbouring statements of the same kind

The statements closest in number to P338 in the response group:

• P335Brush off loose particles from skin.
• P336Thaw frosted parts with lukewarm water. Do no rub affected area.
• P337If eye irritation persists:
• P340Remove person to fresh air and keep comfortable for breathing.
• P341If breathing is difficult, remove victim to fresh air and keep at rest in a position comfortable for breathing.
• P342If experiencing respiratory symptoms:

How is P338 read?

This statement is a 11-word text. The text is a single instruction without options and is written as it appears in Annex IV.

Where is P338 written in the SDS?

If P338 is on the list of precautionary statements in Section 2.2, it is printed with its code and the text "Remove contact lenses, if present and easy to do. Continue rinsing.". The statement should also agree with the first-aid measures in Section 4.

How does P338 appear on the label?

P338 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 P338 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 P338 assigned to?

Related assignment entries: 3 class/category entries, 1 different H statements. Priority split: core (priority 1) in 3 entries. Of these entries, 1 carry the signal word “Danger”, 1 carry “Warning” and 1 need no signal word. The pictograms that most often accompany it: GHS05 (1) and GHS07 (1).

The class families it appears in most often: Skin Corr. * (1), Eye Dam. (1) and Eye Irrit. (1).

Classes that P338 is assigned to

P338 is not assigned to a class on its own; the combined statements it belongs to (P305+P351+P338) are assigned to these classes:

Where does P338 stand in the response group?

P338 is number 27 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 P338 feed?

Because of its number and its response kind, P338 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 P338

• P338 is a part of the combined statements P305+P351+P338; when a combined statement is selected, P338 is not repeated on the label.
• P338 should agree with Section 4; in Section 2.2 it is written with its code and text.
• The text is 11 words long; if the label space is narrow, choosing a combined statement can save room.

Official EU wording of P338 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 P338 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 P338 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