The Laboratory Chemical Safety Summary (LCSS) is based on the format described by the National Research Council in the publication "Prudent Practices in the Laboratory: Handling and Management of Chemical Hazards" (2011) (free PDF available from http://www.nap.edu/catalog/12654/prudent-practices-in-the-laboratory-handling-and-management-of-chemical). The LCSS in PubChem contains pertinent chemical hazard and safety information. It is available when a GHS Classification (Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals) is present for a given PubChem Compound record. The GHS classification codes and hazard pictograms are summarized in the PubChem GHS page.
The LCSS provided by PubChem is intended to augment, not replace, safe laboratory practices and procedures for chemical information, such as those found in chemical inventory management systems or laboratory-specific personal protective equipment information. It is the responsibility of PubChem users to determine applicability of or gaps in the LCSS information to support safe use of a chemical. In addition, laboratory risks can arise not only from the specific chemicals used, but also from 1) changes in the concentrations and quantities of those chemicals, 2) new chemicals that are produced, 3) energy sources that occur during a laboratory process, and other variables. For more information, see this newsletter article as well as this PubChem Blog post.