CLASS Regulations 2013: What a Chemical Label Must Show
Malaysia's CLASS Regulations require six elements on every chemical label. This article breaks them down, explains who is responsible, and shows what employers must do beyond the supplier's label.
When a chemical enters your workplace, the first thing you see is the label. In Malaysia, the Occupational Safety and Health (Classification, Labelling and Safety Data Sheet of Hazardous Chemicals) Regulations 2013 — known as CLASS 2013 — tells suppliers exactly what that label must contain. Employers have their own duties too, under the USECHH Regulations 2000.
What CLASS reg 8(1) requires
"Pembekal hendaklah melabelkan tiap-tiap bungkusan bahan kimia berbahaya dengan jelas dan tidak boleh dipadam yang mengandungi maklumat yang berikut: (a) pengecam produk; (b) pengenalan pembekal; (c) kata isyarat; (d) pernyataan bahaya; (e) piktogram bahaya; dan (f) pernyataan berjaga-jaga."
CLASS 2013 reg 8(1) — DOSH official PDF
Unofficial English summary: The supplier shall label every package of hazardous chemical clearly and indelibly, containing: (a) product identifier; (b) supplier identification; (c) signal word; (d) hazard statement; (e) hazard pictogram; and (f) precautionary statement.
The six label elements: a checklist
Here is what each element means in practice:
- Product identifier. The chemical name or trade name as it appears on the Safety Data Sheet (SDS). Not a nickname or warehouse code.
- Supplier identification. Name, address and telephone number of the Malaysian supplier. This is who you call if a spill happens and you need technical advice.
- Signal word. Only two are permitted: "Danger" for more severe hazards, or "Warning" for less severe ones. The signal word tells you the overall hazard level at a glance.
- Hazard statement. A standard phrase describing the nature of the hazard, for example "Causes severe skin burns and eye damage" or "May cause respiratory irritation."
- Hazard pictogram. The diamond-shaped GHS symbol inside a red border — flame, skull, corrosion, etc. — that conveys the hazard class visually.
- Precautionary statement. Instructions on safe handling, storage, first aid and disposal, for example "Wear protective gloves / eye protection" or "Store in a well-ventilated place."
What employers must do: beyond the supplier label
CLASS 2013 places duties on suppliers. Employers are covered by USECHH 2000. Two regulations are particularly relevant:
"An employer shall ensure that all chemicals hazardous to health supplied or purchased by him and used in the place of work are labelled and that the labels are not removed, defaced, modified or altered."
USECHH 2000 reg 20(1) — DOSH official PDF
And for Safety Data Sheets:
"In any place of work where a chemical hazardous to health is used, the current Chemical Safety Data Sheet for that chemical or a copy thereof shall be kept in a conspicuous place close to each location where that chemical is used, and shall be easily accessible to the employees."
USECHH 2000 reg 25 — DOSH official PDF
In short: the supplier must label the container before it reaches you. You must keep the label intact, make the SDS available where the chemical is used, and train workers to understand what the label means.
Common labelling mistakes on site
- Decanted chemicals without labels. Pouring a solvent into an unmarked spray bottle or jar is a direct breach of USECHH reg 20(1).
- Faded or damaged labels. Sunlight, solvents and abrasion can make labels illegible. Replace them before they become unreadable.
- Only warehouse codes, no product names. Workers cannot look up hazards from a warehouse SKU.
- Missing SDS. Even if the label is perfect, the absence of a nearby SDS is a separate breach under reg 25.
How Naja Safety helps
Our chemical safety course trains workers to read labels, locate SDS information, and handle spills safely. We also help employers audit their chemical stores for labelling and SDS compliance before a DOSH inspection.