Standards

What Is NR 26? Safety Signage and the GHS

Safety technician in an orange helmet, safety glasses, gloves and high-visibility vest checks the GHS hazard pictograms on the label of a chemical drum, in a storeroom with shelves of drums and a yellow flammables cabinet in the background.

Understand what NR 26 establishes, the official rules for safety signage, the use of the GHS in labelling and the preparation of the Safety Data Sheet.

By: Vitória Willemann

Standardised visual identification of risks and correct labelling of chemicals are primary requirements for preventing accidents and occupational diseases. A lack of clear information about the hazards present in the workplace or in the materials handled directly compromises the safety of operations and the effectiveness of emergency measures.

To standardise safety signage and the classification of substances in Brazilian companies, Brazil's Ministry of Labour and Employment sets out NR 26. This article details the regulatory guidelines for colour-coded signage and the strict alignment of chemical labelling with global standards.

What does NR 26 establish about the use of colours?

Regulatory Standard 26 (NR-26) sets out measures for safety signage and identification to be adopted in workplaces, in order to indicate and warn of existing hazards and risks.

The standard requires the colours used to identify safety equipment, mark out areas and identify pipes carrying liquids and gases to comply with the official technical standards (such as those of ABNT, the Brazilian Association of Technical Standards).

NR 26 makes two important technical caveats about this practice:

  1. The use of colours does not replace other forms of accident prevention (paint is a warning, not a physical barrier).
  2. Colours should be used as sparingly as possible so as not to cause distraction, confusion and fatigue for workers.

The GHS and Precautionary Labelling

The standard requires every chemical used in the workplace to be classified according to the criteria of the United Nations GHS (Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals).

To communicate these risks, the company must use Precautionary Labelling. The label attached to the packaging of a product classified as hazardous must contain the following elements defined by the GHS:

  • Identification and composition of the chemical;
  • Hazard pictogram(s);
  • Signal word;
  • Hazard statement(s);
  • Precautionary statement(s); and
  • Supplementary information.

The standard even requires chemicals not classified as hazardous under the GHS to have simplified labelling (containing the name, an indication that it is not hazardous and precautionary recommendations).

The Safety Data Sheet (SDS) and Training

In addition to the label, the manufacturer or supplier must prepare and make available a Safety Data Sheet (SDS, known in Brazil as FDS, Ficha com Dados de Segurança) for every chemical classified as hazardous. The format of this document must also follow the structured GHS standard.

The purchasing organisation's responsibility does not end when the product is bought. NR 26 requires two practical actions from the employer regarding the team:

  1. Access: Ensure that workers have easy access to the safety data sheets of the products they use in the workplace.
  2. Training: Workers must be trained to understand precautionary labelling and the safety data sheet, ensuring they know the hazards, the preventive measures for safe use and the procedures for emergencies.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about NR 26

1. Does NR 26 set out a specific colour table in its text?

Not any more. The current wording of NR 26 does not list the colours in its body text. It expressly states that signage must follow the official technical standards. To identify pipes, for example, engineering teams and the SESMT (the company's Specialised Service in Safety Engineering and Occupational Medicine) must consult the applicable ABNT technical standard.

2. Do ordinary cleaning products (sanitising products) need GHS labelling?

According to item 26.4.2.4 of NR 26, products notified or registered as sanitising products with ANVISA (Brazil's National Health Surveillance Agency) are exempt from the precautionary labelling obligations set by the standard, as they already follow ANVISA's own requirements.

3. Does the Safety Data Sheet need to list the components of a mixture?

Yes. NR 26 states that, for mixtures, the Safety Data Sheet must state the name and concentration (or range) of the substances that pose a hazard to workers' health (when present at a concentration equal to or above the GHS cut-off limits) and that have an established occupational exposure limit.

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