The GHS Environment Pictogram: What It Means and Whether OSHA Requires It

Environment pictogram (GHS09): red diamond border with a black symbol on white — **GHS09 · Environment**
Used for aquatic toxicity.

Short answer: the environment pictogram — a dead tree and a dead fish — marks chemicals that are toxic to aquatic life. OSHA lists it as non-mandatory: it is not one of the eight pictograms required on labels under the Hazard Communication Standard.

What OSHA says about it

OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard pictogram QuickCard (OSHA 3491, 2024 revision) shows nine pictograms and marks one of them “Environment (non-mandatory)”, for aquatic toxicity.

Appendix C to 29 CFR 1910.1200, which sets the label elements for the hazard classes the standard covers, says “One of eight standard hazard symbols shall be used in each pictogram” (C.2.3.2). The environment symbol is not among those eight, and Appendix C has no aquatic or environmental hazard class with a required pictogram, signal word or hazard statement. OSHA's standard is about hazards to workers.

Why you still see it

Because it is non-mandatory rather than prohibited, some manufacturers print it on labels and safety data sheets anyway. When it appears, it tells you about disposal and spills more than about worker exposure: read the environmental and disposal sections of the safety data sheet (sections 12 and 13) before pouring anything down a drain — see the 16 sections of an SDS.

What it looks like

Appendix C to 29 CFR 1910.1200 defines every pictogram the same way: a square set at a point with a black hazard symbol on a white background and a red frame wide enough to be clearly visible (C.2.3.1), which is why pictograms look like red diamonds. A red frame with no symbol inside is not a pictogram and is not permitted on a label, and each pictogram may appear only once on a label even when several hazards call for it (C.2.3.4).

Free, no signup: SDS search finds the manufacturer's safety data sheet for a product, and section 2 of that sheet lists exactly which hazards earned the pictogram. Then use the free GHS label maker to print a label with the right pictograms for a spray bottle or other secondary container.

Frequently asked questions

Does OSHA require the environment pictogram?

No. OSHA's pictogram QuickCard lists the environment pictogram as non-mandatory, and Appendix C to 29 CFR 1910.1200 requires one of eight standard hazard symbols, which do not include it.

What does the environment pictogram mean?

It marks aquatic toxicity: the chemical is toxic to aquatic life. It shows a dead tree and a dead fish.

How many GHS pictograms does OSHA require?

Eight. OSHA's QuickCard shows nine pictograms, and the ninth, environment, is non-mandatory.

This guide summarises the cited rules for general information and is not legal advice.

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