How to Create GHS Labels Using the Avery GHS Wizard®

by Avery Products

February 23, 2024

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Step-by-step instructions (with pictures) for using the GHS Wizard to autofill a predesigned GHS label template

The GHS Wizard subscription service provides access to a collection of advanced GHS label tools within Avery Design and Print Online (ADPO) software. If you’re not subscribed, subscribe now to start creating GHS labels in under five minutes.

When you are logged into your free or subscription Avery account, you can save your work in the cloud and access saved designs from any device. For the purpose of this article, we will be logged into our Avery account (with paid GHS Wizard subscription) and using UltraDuty® 60503 3-1/2″ x 5″ GHS labels.

In this article you will get step-by-step instructions for creating a compliant GHS label using the subscription-only GHS Wizard software. The chemical example we will use is bleach (sodium hypochlorite, CAS #7681-52-9).

Step 1: Find the template options for your product in ADPO

Go to Find a Template from the main menu on the Avery Industrial website. Enter your GHS label product number (in our example 60503). Then click Start Designing.

Screen shot showing how to find Avery templates using the product number on the Avery.com/Customize page which is a landing page with a field to enter the product number or options to browse templates by product category below

Screen shot showing an example of a template page for a specific Avery product including an option to start designing in Avery Design and Print Online or download blank templates for Microsoft word, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator and Adobe PDF.

Step 2: Choose a GHS label template to start your project

Once you click Start Designing, dozens of templates for your size of GHS labels will appear. Choices include everything from blank templates you can design from scratch to various safety and inspection labels.

A screenshot showing an example of a wide variety of predesigned Avery templates for a Avery product 60503, which includes free GHS label templates, subscription GHS Wizard templates, OSHA safety labels and many more.

For creating GHS labels, you can choose from a selection of predesigned free GHS label templates or subscription GHS Wizard templates. The free templates will require you to manually type in all chemical information and choose the appropriate GHS pictograms yourself.

GHS Wizard templates will autofill your GHS labels for you. Please note, GHS Wizard templates are only available to print without watermark when you are signed in to a subscription account). 

Step 3: Add your company information and optional lot informaton

When you open a GHS Wizard template, the GHS Wizard screen will automatically pop up. The information you enter here will be applied to all the GHS labels on the label sheet. In this case, using our specific example (GHS label 60503) info will be added to all four labels on the label sheet.

Screen shot showing the Avery GHS Wizard pop up in Avery Design and Print Online. The pop up includes fields for entering the substance or CAS number as well as company information and optional lot information.

IMPORTANT: Do not click CONTINUE until you have entered either a CAS number or substance name.

Step 4: Use the GHS Wizard to autofill chemical info

The GHS Wizard chemical database is powered by Chemwatch™ and includes over 300,000 substances, mixtures and popular branded chemicals.

Enter the substance name or CAS number and watch as the GHS Wizard autofills the GHS label template with chemical information including:

  • Product Identifier
  • Signal Word 
  • Hazard Statements 
  • Precautionary Statements 
  • Pictograms
A screen shot showing information that the GHS Wizard has filled in automatically based on the CAS number entered. Auto fill information includes, GHS pictograms, product identifier, signal word, hazard statements and precautionary statements.

Double check that your CAS number and/or substance name is correct, then click CONTINUE.

 

Step 5: Edit auto-filled information codes and pictograms on your GHS labels

Minimize the black bar across the bottom of the GHS Wizard pop up. Use your SDS to update or edit information that has been auto-filled into the GHS label template.

Screen shot showing where to click in the GHS Wizard to minimize the success message so you that you can fully see all elements

Click Edit Hazard Codes and/or Edit Precautionary Codes to make changes to the corresponding fields. Use the scroll in the center of the GHS Wizard pop up to view all GHS pictograms. Click any pictogram to select or deselect.

Two screen shots side by side with red boxes showing where to edit hazard codes,  precautionary codes and pictograms in the Avery GHS Wizard pop up

At this stage you may also add statements in Spanish, by clicking the box in the GHS Wizard pop up. The GHS Wizard will automatically add the Spanish statements and reduce the font so all statements fit on your GHS label.

A screen shot showing how to add Spanish statements to a GHS label which is done by clicking GHS Wizard Spanish. A preview shows how the statements will be displayed and how the text will automatically be resized to fit.

Since we’re using a 3-1/2″ x 5″ label for our example, adding Spanish statements may cause the font to be too small to read.

Pro Tip:

  1. Create a separate Spanish-only label by unchecking the English box
  2. Add a QR code that links to the full Spanish SDS online
  3. Start over with a bigger label size if the container permits it.

Because our GHS label size is fairly small, for purpose of this example, we will not be using the Spanish language feature.

A screen shot showing how the GHS wizard automatically resizes text based on the autofill when Spanish statements are not selected.

Step 6: Review your GHS labels and approve autofill information

Use the slider to zoom in or out on the preview of your GHS label. Cross-check the information on your GHS label with the information provided on the corresponding SDS.

Note: If there is information that must be entered manually, it will be highlighted in red and can be edited after you have exited the GHS Wizard pop up.

When you are satisfied with the hazard codes, precautionary codes and pictograms, click the box indicating that you are responsible for ensuring the accuracy of the label information. Then click the FINISH button.

Note: Avoid clicking FINISH until you’re absolutely sure you’re done using the GHS Wizard tool. You will not be able to re-open the GHS Wizard tool for your current project after you have clicked FINISH.

A screen shot showing the preview screen in GHS Wizard before finishing. Features of the preview screen include slider to zoom in and out, red text for anything that has to be filled in manually  and an acknowledgement that the user is responsible for reviewing information on GHS labels.

Here’s quick guide on the exact SDS sections you need to cross-check your GHS labels:

­­­­­­GHS Label Element

SDS Section

Product Name/Identifier

Section 1/Section 3 (will include the CAS number if not found in Section 1)

Signal Word

Section 2

Hazard Statement

Section 2

Pictograms

Section 2

Precautionary Statements

Section 2

Supplier Information

Section 1

You will be able edit text on all labels or one by one once you have clicked FINISH and exited the GHS Wizard pop up.

Step 7: Edit GHS label text and customize with logos and barcodes

Once you’ve clicked FINISH, the GHS Wizard pop up will close and you will be able to edit your GHS labels using all the standard Avery Design and Print Online design tools, including the free barcode generator tool.

IMPORTANT: When you click FINISH the Edit All button will be automatically selected. Any changes you make will be applied to all the labels on the project. Learn more about the Edit All /Edit One feature with a short tutorial and video.

Screen shot showing how to edit a GHS label in the Avery Design and Print Online canvas after the GHS Wizard tool has closed. The edit all button is highlighted to indicate that any changes made to the one label will be applied to all labels on the GHS label sheet.

Edit All is ideal for adding elements and/or changes you want applied to all your GHS labels. For example, editing precautionary statement text, completing statements that were highlighted in red, adding a company logo image or adding barcodes using the Import Data /Mail Merge feature.

Pro Tip: Our barcode asset tag video is a great comprehensive tutorial on adding barcodes to a project using Import Data/Mail Merge (also known as Data Merge).

We recommend completing the precautionary statements highlighted in red first, as you may find you need to enlarge the font slightly. This will allow you accurately judge whether you need to adjust the position of other elements in order to accommodate the text.

After you have completed any red-highlighted statements, change the font to black. Then you can adjust the layout and add a logo or barcode as desired.

Note: Most GHS label templates default to Arial font. When resizing elements, if your text sizes down below font size 5 you will receive warnings that your font may not be legible. Simply resize any fonts to minimum Arial 6.

A screen shot of the Avery Design and Print Online editing canvas showing how to edit Avery GHS labels using the Edit All button to make changes on all labels included in a project.

Step 8: Edit information on individual GHS labels

Change to Edit One and select the desired label to edit elements on any individual GHS label, for example, lot and/or batch numbers.

Screen shot showing how to use the Edit One feature in Avery Design and Print Online to make changes that will only be applied to one label on a sheet. The Edit One button is highlighted to show where to click to make individual changes.

Step 9: Preview and print your GHS labels

When you have made all desired changes to individual labels or all the GHS labels on your project, click the Preview & Print button to continue to the next stage.

Here you will be able to view your GHS labels in sheet layout, zoom in and out to review or go back to continue customizing. 

A screen shot showing the preview screen in Avery Design and Print Online which allows you to see all the labels on each sheet as well as zoom in and out to review on this screen. Buttons on the side of the screen provide options to print the labels yourself or have them custom printed using the Avery WePrint service.

Once you are satisfied with your labels, you can choose to print yourself, or let us print for you. Prompts will guide you through the printing process based on your selection.

Printing yourself will generate a PDF file that can be printed, saved to your device and/or shared with others. If you are printing GHS labels for chemicals that will be shipped overseas, please refer to our BS5609 printer compatibility guideThis will ensure that you’re using the correct GHS label product and printer for BS5609 Section 3 compliance.

When you print GHS labels with our professional printing service the printing is automatically optimized to meet BS5609 Section 3 standards.

More resources for creating compliant GHS labels

Please note, the contents of this article and related articles on Avery.com/industrial are for informational purposes only, are general in nature, and are not intended to and should not be relied upon or construed as a legal opinion or legal advice regarding any specific issue or factual circumstance.