How to Package & Label Dangerous Substances

If you have explosive, flammable, toxic or simply harmful substances stored in your home, safety should be a top concern. These items must be labeled properly, and flammable substances should never be kept near combustible objects like newspapers or rags. In addition to keeping hazardous substances away from children, parents should also provide youngsters with visual labels of dangerous substances. Parents should review all labels and packaging with their children so that there is no confusion as to what substances are dangerous and thus, off limits.

Things You'll Need

• Hazardous material packaging
• Computer
• Internet access
• Printer
• 8.5-by-11 inch sheets of stickers for your printer
• Paint or drawing software

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Instructions

• 1

  Purchase packaging with sturdy fastenings that will not permit the contents to fall out and that will not disintegrate due to contact with the dangerous substance. This will be specific to the substance that you are storing. For instance, pesticides should be kept in packaging with a tight threaded lid; explosive materials, such as fireworks, should be kept in a nonflammable airtight container. Appropriate packaging can typically be found at your local hardware store.

• 2

  Find images for labeling dangerous substances. These can easily be found online, including the websites listed in the Resources section of this article.

• 3

  Copy and paste the labels that you need for your home into a graphic design program on your computer. Re-size the images so that they fit onto printable sticker sheets. If you do not have design software, use your favorite search engine to search for "hazardous substance labels" and purchase the labels online.

• 4

  Print out the dangerous substance labels you have just made and affix them to the appropriate storage containers. If you have children, explain to them what the warning labels mean, and that these substances should not be touched or played with.