What does the NFPA 704 System indicate about hazardous materials?

• A. Chemical name
• B. A five-digit number
• C. The name of the product
• D. Potential hazards

Answer: (D)

NFPA 704 communicates the hazards you might face with a material, not its name or identity. The system uses a diamond with three colored sections that rate health, flammability, and reactivity on a scale from 0 (no hazard) to 4 (severe hazard). A white section notes any special hazards. Together, these ratings give a quick snapshot of the potential hazards you could encounter and guide protective actions, isolation distances, and response steps. Because it’s about how hazardous the material could be in exposure, not what the material is called or a numeric product code, it best represents potential hazards.