Hazardous material

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"Hazmat" redirects here. For the Marvel Comics/Electronic Arts character, see Hazmat (comics). For the protective clothing, see Hazmat suit.

A hazardous material (Hazmat or HAZMAT) is any solid, liquid, or gas that can harm people, other living organisms, property, or the environment. The term hazardous material is used in this context almost exclusively in the United States. The equivalent term in the rest of the English-speaking world is Dangerous Goods. A hazardous material may be radioactive, flammable, explosive, toxic, corrosive, biohazardous, an oxidizer, an asphyxiant, an allergen, or may have other characteristics that make it hazardous in specific circumstances.

Mitigating the risks associated with hazardous materials may require the application of safety precautions during their transport, use, storage and disposal. Most countries regulate hazardous materials by law, and they are subject to several international treaties as well.

Persons who handle hazardous materials will often wear protective equipment, and metropolitan fire departments often have a "Hazmat team" specifically trained to deal with accidents and spills. These teams train at a variety of specialized locations.

Laws and regulations on the use and handling of hazardous materials may differ depending on the activity and status of the material. For example one set of requirements may apply to their use in the workplace while a different requirements may apply to spill response, sale for consumer use, or transportation. Most countries regulate some aspect of hazardous materials.

The most widely applied regulatory scheme is that for the transportation of hazardous materials. The Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods of the United Nations Economic and Social Council issues Model Regulations on the Transportation of Dangerous Goods. Most regional and national regulatory schemes for hazardous materials are harmonized to a greater or lesser degree with the UN Model Regulation. For instance, the International Civil Aviation Organization has developed regulations for air transport of hazardous materials that are based upon the UN Model but modified to accommodate unique aspects of air transport. Individual airline and governmental requirements are incorporated with this by the International Air Transport Association to produce the widely used IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations. Similarly, the International Maritime Organization has developed the IMO Dangerous Goods Regulations for transportation on the high seas. Many individual nations have also structured their hazardous materials transportation regulations to harmonize with the UN Model in organization as well as in specific requirements.

Contents

[edit] United States

Oxidizing agent 5.1 placard (e.g., Plutonium dioxide)
Oxidizing agent 5.1 placard (e.g., Plutonium dioxide)

Due to the increased threat of terrorism in the early 21st century, funding for greater HAZMAT-handling capabilities was increased throughout the United States, in recognition of the fact that flammable, poisonous, explosive, or radioactive substances in particular could make attractive weapons for terrorist attacks.

The United States Department of Transportation (DOT) regulates hazmat transportation within the territory of the US. The regulations are found in 49 CFR (Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations).

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulates the handling of hazardous materials in the workplace as well as response to hazardous materials-related incidents, most notably through HAZWOPER (HAZ-ardous W-aste OP-erations and E-mergency R-esponse) regulations found at 29 CFR 1910.120.

The Environmental Protection Agency regulates hazardous materials as they may impact the community and environment, including specific regulations for environmental cleanup and for handling and disposal of waste hazardous materials.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission regulates hazardous materials that may be used in products sold for household and other consumer uses.

[edit] Hazard Classes for Materials in Transport

Following the UN Model, the DOT divides regulated hazardous materials into nine classes, some of which are further divided into divisions. Hazardous materials in transportation must be placarded. Some materials must always be placarded, others may only require placarding in certain circumstances. Some examples of the various classes and divisions are given.

A picture of the U.S. DOT classes in use.
A picture of the U.S. DOT classes in use.

Class 1: Explosives — Six subclasses.

1.1 — Explosives with a mass explosion hazard. (nitroglycerin/dynamite)
1.2 — Explosives with a blast/projection hazard.
1.3 — Explosives with a minor blast hazard. (rocket propellant, display fireworks)
1.4 — Explosives with a major fire hazard. (consumer fireworks, ammunition)
1.5 — Blasting agents.
1.6 — Extremely insensitive explosives.

Class 2: Compressed Gases — Three subclasses.

2.1 — Flammable gases. (propane, hydrogen)
2.2 — Non-flammable gases. (helium, nitrogen)
2.3 — Poison gases. (chlorine, phosgene)

Class 3: Flammable Liquids — Liquids with a flash point at or below 140 °F (gasoline, some alcoholic beverages)

Combustible Liquids — Liquids with a flash point between 140 and 200 °F

Class 4: Flammables — Three subclasses.

4.1 — Flammable solids. (magnesium powder, red phosphorus, etc.)
4.2 — Spontaneously combustible materials. (white phosphorus)
4.3 — Water reactive materials. (sodium, potassium)

Class 5: Oxidizing Materials — Two subclasses.

5.1 — Oxidizers. (ammonium nitrate, hydrogen peroxide)
5.2 — Organic peroxides. (benzoyl peroxide)

Class 6: Toxic Materials — Three subclasses.

6.1 — Poisonous liquids or solids. (potassium cyanide, mercuric chloride)
6.2 — Infectious/biohazardous substances. (anthrax, HIV)
6.3 — Liquids and solids with a lower toxicity than those in group 6.1.

Class 7: Radioactive Materials — Three subclasses.

7.1-7.3 — Radioactive I, II, III. (uranium, plutonium, radioactive waste)

Class 8: Corrosive Materials — acids and bases (sodium hydroxide, sulfuric acid)

Class 9: Miscellaneous Dangerous Goods — materials that are hazardous during transportation but do not meet the definition of any of the other hazard classes, for example dry ice in an airplane or hot asphalt).

Trailers of goods in transport are usually marked with a four digit UN (United Nations) number. This number can be referenced by first responders (Firefighters, Police Officers, and ambulance personnel) who can find information about the material in the Emergency Response Guidebook.

[edit] Fixed Facilities

Different standards usually apply for handling and marking HAZMATs at fixed facilities, including NFPA 704 diamond markings (a consensus standard often adopted by local governmental jurisdictions), OSHA regulations requiring chemical safety information for employees, and CPSC requirements requiring informative labeling for the public, as well as wearing Hazmat suits when handling hazardous materials.

[edit] Australia

Uses the standard international UN numbers, much as in the USA, with a few slightly different signs on the back, front and sides of vehicles carrying hazardous substances. Uses the same "HAZCHEM" as the UK HAZCHEM Code to provide advisory information to emergency services personnel in the event of an emergency situation.

[edit] Canada

Transport of hazardous materials in Canada is under the jurisdiction of Transport Canada. Hazard classifications are also based upon the UN Model and so are similar, but not identical, to those used in the United States.

[edit] Europe

The European Union has passed numerous directives & regulations to avoid the dissemination & restrict the usage of Hazardous Substances, the most famous being the Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive and the REACH directive. There are also long standing European Treaties such as ADR and RID that regulate the transportation of hazardous materials by road, rail, river and inland waterways, following the guide of the UN Model Regulation.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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