Free HMIS Color-Bar Label Generator & Maker
Make and print a free HMIS III color-bar label — Health, Flammability, Physical Hazard, and PPE — for chemical containers, drums, and workplace storage. Print-ready PDF, no account required.
Use the name as it appears on the Safety Data Sheet.
0 — Minimal hazard; no significant risk to health
0 — Will not burn under typical conditions
0 — Stable; not reactive, even under fire conditions
The employer assigns the PPE letter based on the task and exposure.
Translates the bar labels (e.g. Health → Salud) for Spanish-speaking workers. Ratings and PPE letters stay the same.
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HMIS® III — Verify ratings against SDS and assign the PPE code for your facility before posting.
⚠ Important — Read before you print
- This tool is provided as a utility only, on an "as is" basis, with no warranty of accuracy, completeness, or fitness for any particular purpose.
- It is not legal, regulatory, or EHS advice. You are solely responsible for verifying that any label you generate is accurate and complete for your specific product and use.
- You must ensure compliance with OSHA HCS 2024 (29 CFR 1910.1200) and any other applicable federal, state, local, or international regulations (e.g. DOT, EPA, GHS Rev.10).
- Always cross-check generated content against the manufacturer's current Safety Data Sheet (SDS).
- Tellus EHS, Inc. and its affiliates are not liable for any damages, injuries, fines, or losses arising from use of this tool or any label generated by it.
See the full Free Tool Terms & Disclaimer.
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Start Free Trial — 14 days, no credit cardWhat is an HMIS color-bar label?
HMIS (Hazardous Materials Identification System) is a workplace hazard-rating label developed by the American Coatings Association. The current version, HMIS III, communicates a chemical’s hazards to workers using four stacked color bars and a personal-protection code — so anyone handling the container can read the hazards and required PPE at a glance. It is designed to work alongside your written HazCom program and employee training. This free generator formats a print-ready HMIS label in under 60 seconds, with no account required.
What do the HMIS colors and numbers mean?
Each bar carries a 0–4 rating (0 = minimal hazard, 4 = severe), except the white bar, which carries a PPE letter:
Health (Blue)
A 0–4 rating of the acute health hazard. An asterisk (*) to the right of the number flags a chronic — long-term — health hazard, such as a carcinogen, mutagen, or sensitizer.
Flammability (Red)
A 0–4 rating of how easily the material ignites, based on flash point and boiling point — the same criteria NFPA 704 uses for its red quadrant.
Physical Hazard (Orange)
A 0–4 rating of reactivity and instability — water reactivity, organic peroxides, explosives, and pyrophorics. HMIS III renamed the older yellow “Reactivity” bar to the orange “Physical Hazard” bar.
Personal Protection (White)
A letter (A–K) that maps to a specific set of PPE — safety glasses, gloves, apron, respirator, and so on. X means the employer must specify special handling. NFPA 704 has no equivalent PPE field — this is HMIS’s signature feature.
HMIS vs. NFPA 704 — what’s the difference?
The two systems look similar — same 0–4 scale, same blue and red — but they are built for different audiences and are not interchangeable:
- →Audience: HMIS is for workers handling the chemical day to day; NFPA 704 is for emergency responders arriving at the facility.
- →Shape: HMIS is a stack of horizontal color bars; NFPA 704 is a four-quadrant diamond.
- →PPE: HMIS adds a Personal Protection letter code (A–K, X). NFPA 704 has no PPE field at all.
- →Third bar: HMIS III uses orange “Physical Hazard”; NFPA 704 uses yellow “Reactivity/Instability.”
- →Chronic hazards: HMIS marks long-term health hazards with an asterisk (*); NFPA 704 has no chronic indicator.
Need the diamond instead? Use the free NFPA 704 Diamond Generator.
HMIS PPE letter codes (A–K, X)
The white Personal Protection bar uses a letter that maps to a defined set of PPE. The employer assigns the letter based on the task and exposure at their facility:
How to create an HMIS label with this free tool
- 1
Enter the Product Name
Type the product or material name as it appears on the Safety Data Sheet so the label and SDS cross-reference.
- 2
Set the Three Hazard Ratings
Choose 0–4 for Health (blue), Flammability (red), and Physical Hazard (orange). 0 is minimal, 4 is severe. Flag a chronic health hazard with the asterisk if the SDS lists a long-term effect such as a carcinogen.
- 3
Pick the PPE Letter Code
Select the Personal Protection letter (A–K) that matches the required PPE, or X when the employer must specify special handling.
- 4
Download the Print-Ready PDF
Choose a label size and download a print-ready PDF at true physical scale. The first download requires an email; later downloads in the same session are unlocked.
How to print your HMIS labels
Every label this tool makes downloads as a print-ready PDF sized to the exact label dimensions, so it prints at true physical scale. Because the HMIS bars carry meaning in color — blue (Health), red (Flammability), orange (Physical Hazard), white (Personal Protection) — print on a color laser or a color-capable label printer; a black-and-white print loses the code. For a few labels, adhesive label sheets on an office printer work; for drums and containers exposed to splash or handling, use synthetic polypropylene or polyester label stock so the colors and ratings stay legible. For a full walkthrough of printers, label stock, and sizes, read How to Print HMIS Labels.
Frequently asked questions
How do I print HMIS labels?+
Enter the product name, set the Health, Flammability, and Physical Hazard ratings (0–4), pick the PPE letter code, choose a size, and download the print-ready PDF. The PDF page matches the physical label size, so print at 100% / actual size — not "fit to page." For a few labels, an office color laser printer with adhesive label sheets works (color matters, because the blue/red/orange/white bars carry meaning). For volume or durability on drums and shop-floor containers, use a color-capable thermal label printer with synthetic (polypropylene/polyester) label stock. See our full guide on how to print HMIS labels.
What printer and label stock should I use for HMIS labels?+
HMIS bars must print in accurate color, so use a color laser or a color-capable label printer — a black-and-white print loses the meaning of the blue/red/orange/white bars. For indoor, low-exposure containers, standard adhesive label sheets are fine. For drums, totes, and containers exposed to splash or handling, print on synthetic polypropylene or polyester label stock and laminate if needed so the colors and ratings stay legible.
What is an HMIS color-bar label?+
HMIS (Hazardous Materials Identification System) is a workplace hazard-rating label developed by the American Coatings Association (formerly the National Paint & Coatings Association). The current version, HMIS III, uses four stacked color bars — blue (Health), red (Flammability), orange (Physical Hazard), and white (Personal Protection) — to communicate chemical hazards and required PPE to workers at a glance.
What is the difference between HMIS and NFPA 704?+
They look similar (same 0–4 scale, blue/red coloring) but serve different audiences. NFPA 704 is a diamond designed for emergency responders arriving at a facility — it has no PPE information. HMIS is a horizontal color bar designed for workers handling the chemical day to day — it adds a Personal Protection letter code (A–K) and a chronic-health asterisk, and it renames NFPA’s yellow “Reactivity” to orange “Physical Hazard.” HMIS is meant to be paired with employee HazCom training.
What do the HMIS colors and numbers mean?+
Blue = Health, Red = Flammability, Orange = Physical Hazard, and White = Personal Protection. The three hazard bars carry a 0–4 rating where 0 is minimal hazard and 4 is severe. The white bar carries a letter (A–K) instead of a number, identifying the PPE the worker must wear.
What does the asterisk (*) in the Health bar mean?+
An asterisk to the right of the Health number indicates a chronic (long-term) health hazard — for example a carcinogen, reproductive toxin, or respiratory sensitizer — where repeated or prolonged exposure is the concern, not a single acute dose. It is unique to HMIS; NFPA 704 has no chronic-hazard indicator.
What do the PPE letter codes (A–K, X) mean?+
Each letter maps to a defined set of personal protective equipment. For example: A = safety glasses; B = safety glasses + gloves; C = safety glasses + gloves + apron; D = face shield + gloves + apron; and so on through K = airline hood/mask + gloves + full suit + boots. X means “consult your supervisor or specialist for special handling.” The employer assigns the letter based on the tasks and exposure at their facility.
Is HMIS required by OSHA?+
No. HMIS is a proprietary system owned by the American Coatings Association — it is not mandated by any OSHA standard. OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) requires that workplace (secondary) containers convey the product identifier and general hazard information, but it does not require any specific system. HMIS is one acceptable way to meet that workplace-labeling requirement when workers are trained on what the bars and codes mean.
Can I make an HMIS label in Spanish?+
Yes. This generator prints the bar labels in English, Spanish (Español), or bilingual EN/ES. In Spanish the bars read SALUD (Health), INFLAMABILIDAD (Flammability), PELIGRO FÍSICO (Physical Hazard), and PROTECCIÓN PERSONAL (Personal Protection); bilingual mode shows both languages stacked on each bar. The 0–4 ratings and the PPE letter codes (A–K, X) are the same in every language. Spanish and bilingual labels help meet the OSHA expectation that workers understand the hazard information in a language they read.
Can an HMIS label satisfy OSHA secondary container labeling?+
Yes. Under 29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(6), a secondary (workplace) container needs the product identifier plus words, pictures, or symbols giving general hazard information. An HMIS color bar is an accepted approach — alongside GHS pictograms or an NFPA 704 diamond — as long as employees are trained on the HMIS system and the Safety Data Sheets remain accessible. HMIS does NOT satisfy primary container labeling (1910.1200(f)(1)), which requires the full GHS format.
Is this tool free?+
Yes. Generate and download as many HMIS color-bar labels as you need with no account, no payment, and no usage limits.