Irritant Tag

Irritant Tag for Flagging Skin and Respiratory Irritant Materials

An irritant tag is hung on a container, drum or piece of equipment to warn crew that the contents or residue present can irritate skin, eyes or the respiratory system on contact, prompting the use of gloves, eye protection or ventilation before handling. It sits alongside the harmful and corrosive tags in this range, marking a distinct hazard level so crew can judge the right precautions at a glance rather than treating every hazardous substance the same way.

Referenced under IMPA 33.2506 and ISSA 47.525.06, the tag carries the standard yellow hazard-triangle symbol with a crossed mark, together with printed ‘Authorised by’ and ‘Date’ fields, so whoever identifies the irritant material can record their name and the date the tag was applied. This gives a clear point of contact for anyone needing more information before handling the tagged item.

Supplied at 150x75mm, this irritant tag is sized to hang cleanly from a drum handle, valve or storage rack without obstructing nearby fittings.

Typical Uses Aboard Ship

An irritant tag is commonly fitted to cleaning chemicals, solvents, paints and other substances known to cause skin or eye irritation, as well as equipment or containers contaminated with irritant residue during maintenance work. Flagging these items individually helps crew choose the correct PPE, such as gloves or eye protection, before handling a specific container rather than relying on a general chemical store warning that may not cover every item inside.

Because the tag records who applied it and when, it also supports a vessel’s hazardous substances register, letting a safety officer or surveyor cross-check tagged items against the paperwork during a routine inspection.

Hang-Tag Format and Installation

This irritant tag is supplied as a punched hang-tag rather than a self-adhesive label, since it needs to move with the container or item it is flagging rather than staying fixed to a bulkhead. It attaches with a cable tie, wire loop or standard tagging cord threaded through the punched hole, making it quick to apply to a drum handle, valve wheel or storage rack without needing an adhesive surface.

Material, Sizing and Compliance

The irritant tag is produced on durable, fire-retardant, photoluminescent laminated card stock a long-duration afterglow, so the warning stays visible in a dimly lit store or during a power outage. The material is waterproof and resistant to saltwater exposure, holding up to handling in chemical stores, paint lockers and engine room spaces.

Tags of this kind support the graphical symbol conventions set out in IMO Resolution A.1116(30) for shipboard use, and fit into the same broader hazardous substance management practice addressed in general workplace safety guidance published by Safe Work Australia. See the complete Tie Tags range for the full set of matching hang-tags used to flag hazards and equipment status across a vessel.