Which organization is responsible for the NFPA 704 Marking System?

• A. OSHA
• B. EPA
• C. CDC
• D. NFPA

Answer: (D)

NFPA 704 is a standard created and maintained by the National Fire Protection Association, a private nonprofit organization that develops consensus hazard communication and fire protection standards. This marking system—the familiar diamond with color-coded sections for health (blue), flammability (red), and reactivity (yellow), plus a white section for special hazards—was authored by NFPA to convey essential chemical hazard information quickly and consistently.

Regulatory bodies like OSHA, EPA, or the CDC may reference or enforce regulations that rely on NFPA standards, but they did not originate or control the NFPA 704 system itself. That origin lies with NFPA, making it the correct identifying organization.