The explosive pictogram is the exploding-bomb warning symbol, formally GHS01, that appears on chemical containers, Safety Data Sheets, and workplace signage to warn that a substance can detonate, deflagrate, or throw dangerous fragments.1National Library of Medicine. GHS Classification Summary It is one of nine pictograms used under the Globally Harmonized System, and OSHA requires it in U.S. workplaces through the Hazard Communication Standard.
What the Symbol Looks Like
GHS01 shows a black exploding bomb on a white background, framed by a red diamond-shaped border set on one of its points.1National Library of Medicine. GHS Classification Summary The red diamond frame is shared by all nine GHS pictograms, so the bomb graphic in the middle is what identifies this one. You’ll see it printed on the container itself and reproduced in Section 2 of the Safety Data Sheet, where the manufacturer lays out the chemical’s hazard classification.
The pictogram never travels alone. A compliant label pairs it with the signal word “Danger” and one or more hazard statements that spell out the specific risk in words. Depending on the substance, that text might read “Unstable explosive,” “Explosive; mass explosion hazard,” “Fire, blast or projection hazard,” or similar. Workers get both the visual cue and a written description of what the chemical can do.
Which Chemicals Carry It
The exploding bomb symbol is not limited to dynamite and TNT. Under OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard, it covers three distinct categories of physical hazards, and the sub-type matters because it tells you how sensitive the material is.
Explosives, Divisions 1.1 Through 1.4
Explosives are split into six divisions based on how they behave when they ignite or detonate:2eCFR. 49 CFR Part 173 Subpart C – Definitions, Classification and Packaging for Class 1
- Division 1.1: mass explosion hazard, meaning virtually the entire quantity detonates at once.
- Division 1.2: projection hazard (flying fragments) but no mass explosion.
- Division 1.3: fire hazard with minor blast or projection, but no mass explosion.
- Division 1.4: minor explosion hazard largely confined to the package; an external fire will not cause the whole load to blow.
- Division 1.5: very insensitive substances with a theoretical mass explosion hazard but extremely unlikely to initiate under normal conditions.
- Division 1.6: extremely insensitive articles with negligible probability of accidental detonation.
The GHS01 pictogram is required for Divisions 1.1 through 1.4 and for unstable explosives. Divisions 1.5 and 1.6 are insensitive enough that they fall under different labeling rules, though DOT still treats them as Class 1 for transportation.
Self-Reactive Substances, Types A and B
Some chemicals aren’t traditional explosives but are thermally unstable enough to decompose violently without any oxygen present. Self-reactive Type A materials can detonate or deflagrate rapidly in their packaging. Type B may not fully detonate but can still undergo a thermal explosion. Both carry the exploding bomb pictogram because their behavior under the wrong conditions mirrors that of conventional explosives.3eCFR. 29 CFR 1910.1200 – Hazard Communication
Organic Peroxides, Types A and B
Organic peroxides are energetic compounds sensitive to heat, friction, and shock. Type A can detonate or deflagrate rapidly, and Type B can undergo thermal explosion. Only Types A and B carry the GHS01 pictogram; Types C through G may still be hazardous but are labeled with different symbols, such as the flame.
What OSHA Requires at the Workplace
The legal duty to display the explosive pictogram in U.S. workplaces comes from OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard at 29 CFR 1910.1200.4eCFR. 29 CFR 1910.1200 – Hazard Communication Manufacturers and importers must classify every hazardous chemical and apply the correct label elements — pictogram, signal word, hazard statements — before shipping. Employers who receive those chemicals have to keep the labels intact, maintain Safety Data Sheets on site, and train workers on what the labels mean.
Training is required before an employee starts working with hazardous chemicals. Under 29 CFR 1910.1200(h), it must cover how to read shipped-container labels, how the employer’s own workplace labeling system works, and how to find and interpret information on an SDS. There is no fixed retraining interval in the standard, but training has to be updated whenever a new physical or health hazard enters the workplace.
For anything carrying the GHS01 symbol, useful training goes beyond recognizing the icon. Workers need to know what conditions can trigger detonation, which includes heat, friction, shock, and contact with incompatible chemicals, and they need to know where the SDS collection lives so they can look up precautions quickly.
Storage and Handling
Chemicals carrying the explosive pictogram require careful storage. OSHA’s explosives storage rules at 29 CFR 1910.109 require quantities above 50 pounds to be kept in Class I magazines, which are bullet-resistant, weather-resistant, fire-resistant, and ventilated. Smaller quantities can use lighter-duty Class II magazines. Blasting caps and detonators must be stored in a magazine separate from other explosives.5eCFR. 29 CFR 1910.109 – Explosives and Blasting Agents
Organic peroxides have their own handling rules: airtight containers, storage away from light and heat, and regular inspection for warning signs like crystallization or discoloration, both of which indicate the material has become shock-sensitive. If a container shows those signs, do not move it. Contact the facility’s hazardous materials team or a professional disposal service.
Penalties
Failing to label containers properly or to train employees on explosive hazards can trigger substantial OSHA fines. As of January 2025, a serious violation of the Hazard Communication Standard carries a maximum penalty of $16,550 per violation, and a willful or repeated violation can reach $165,514 per violation.6Occupational Safety and Health Administration. OSHA Penalties These figures adjust annually for inflation. A single inspection can produce multiple citations when several containers are unlabeled or training records are missing for several employees.
Emergency Response When Something Goes Wrong
For a spill, fire, or release involving material classified with the explosive pictogram, first responders use the Emergency Response Guidebook published by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. Divisions 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, and 1.5 route to Guide 112; Divisions 1.4 and 1.6 route to Guide 114.7Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. Emergency Response Guidebook 2024 Those orange-bordered pages give evacuation distances, firefighting tactics, and first aid measures.
If you work near explosive-classified materials, know your facility’s emergency action plan and where the SDS for each chemical lives. The SDS lists the fire-extinguishing media appropriate to that substance (water is sometimes prohibited), the recommended personal protective equipment, and the conditions that make the substance more dangerous, such as confinement or elevated temperature.
How It Differs From a DOT Transportation Placard
The GHS01 pictogram on a container and the DOT placard on a truck warn about similar risks but come from different regulatory systems and look different. DOT regulates hazardous material shipments under 49 CFR.8eCFR. 49 CFR 171.1 – Applicability of Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) to Persons and Functions Class 1 placards for Divisions 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3 have an orange background with black text, an exploding-bomb symbol, and the division number in the lower corner, and they go on transport vehicles and bulk packages rather than individual containers.9eCFR. 49 CFR 172.522 Divisions 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3 shipments must be placarded regardless of quantity; Divisions 1.4, 1.5, and 1.6 need a placard only when the shipment exceeds 1,001 pounds.
The practical rule: when a chemical enters your facility and goes on a shelf, GHS labeling and OSHA govern. When it leaves on a truck, DOT placarding takes over. Both sets of rules can apply during loading and unloading, so anyone in receiving or shipping needs training on both.