Hazardous Materials Overview
Hazardousmaterials(hazmats)areanymaterialthathaspropertiesthatmayresultinriskorinjurytohealthand/ordestructionoflifeor facilities.Manyhazmatsdonothaveatasteoranodor.Somecanbedetectedbecausetheycausephysicalreactionssuchaswatering eyesornausea.Somehazmatsexistbeneaththesurfaceofthegroundandhaveanoilorfoam-likeappearance.Thesubstancecanbe
identifiedfromplacards,labelsormarkingsonthe transporters
Hazmats can be:
·CorrosiveMaterials:arestrongenough toeatawayatsteeldrumsorhumanskin.Becausethey caneatthrough thecontainersthey are carried in,they are of specialconcern duringtransportation.Example:carbattery acids
·IgnitableMaterials:presenta firehazardbecause they are flammableatrelativelylowtemperatures.Thiscausesariskofexplosionand the spreadingoftoxicgasover an area,aswellasfireand smoke.Examples:paintremovers,the chemical Benzene
·ReactiveMaterials:canexplodeorreleasedeadlyfumesbymixingwithwaterorreactingtoheatorpressure.Examples:oldweapons
and ammunition, sodiummetal, stannicchloride
·RadioactiveMaterials:includematerialswithbothhighandlowradioactivitythatcanleadtodangeroussideeffectsforthousandsof years.Mostofthese materialsare producedatnuclear powerplantsandby research facilities.
·ToxicMaterials:consistofpoisonouschemicals.Peopleandanimalsexposedtothesetypesofmaterialscandevelopseverehealth problems.Examples:lead,arsenic,mercury
·InfectiousMaterials:These materialsarealsotoxicwastes,butareinaseparate category.Theyconsistofmaterialsinfectedwithsome
typeofgerm,bacteria,orvirusthatcouldcausediseaseinhumansoranimals.Thesetypesofmaterialsoftencomefromhospitals. Examples:hypodermicneedles,human and animalwaste
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS EMERGENCY RESPONSE
Federalofficialssay thegeneralpublicshould first call 911 ifthey witnessa hazardousmaterialemergency.Ifitispossible withoutputting yourselfindanger,reportthesizeandmarkingsofthevehicle,specificallythecoloroftheplacardsandidentificationnumber.Please notethe followingorganizationsthathaveimportantinformationonhazmats:
NationalResponseCenter(NRC)-TheNRCisthenationalpointofcontactforreportingallchemical,radiological,andetiological dischargesintotheenvironmentanywhereintheU.S.anditsterritories.EmployersarerequiredtonotifytheNRCwheneverreportable quantitiesofhazmatsarespilledorreleasedintotheenvironment.TheNRCisneverclosed,operating24hoursaday,7daysaweek,
everyday oftheyear.Contactthemat:1-800-424-8802
DepartmentofTransportation'sOfficeofHazardousMaterialsSafety(OHM)-Anationalsafetyprogramchargedwithminimizingthe riskstolifeandpropertyinherentinthecommercialtransportationofhazmats.TheOHMprovidesinformationregardingpropershipment ofhazardoussubstances,includinglabelingofpackagesandplacardingofvehicles.Contactthemat:U.S.DOT,ResearchandSpecial ProgramsAdmin.,OfficeofHazardousMaterialsSafety,4007thSt.,S.W., Washington,DC20590,orTransportationSafetyHotline
1-888-DOT-SAFT(1-888-368-7238)
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS LAWS
- USA Patriot Act of 2001 Passed soon after 9/11. A state may not issue a hazmatlicensetoanyindividualunlesstheU.STransportationSecretary determinesthattheindividualposesnosecurityrisk;this includes licenserenewals.Also,the U.S.AttorneyGeneralmust conductan internationalbackgroundcheck
- Hazardous Material Transportation Uniform Safety Act of 1990 (HMTUSA) Clarifiedtheconfusingandconflictingstate,localandfederalhazardous materialregulations.
- Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA/Superfund) Oversees the cleaning up ofthousandsof knowncontaminatedsights acrossthe U.S.
- Resources Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976(RCRA) Thefirstnationalhazmat law.It identifiedhazardous wastes,listedguidelinesforusing,treatingandtransportingthem,anddevelopeda methodtotrack the hazardous materialsfromtheplacewheretheyarecreatedtotheireventualdisposal.
- Toxic Substances Control Act (1976) This law allows the EPA to monitorproduction,use andhealthandestablishguidelines totestthe environmentaleffects of various chemicals.
- TheHazardousMaterialsTransportationActof1975ImprovestheregulatoryandenforcementauthorityoftheTransportation Secretarytoprotectagainst risks tolife and propertywhichareinherent inthe transportationofhazmatsincommerce."
HAZARDOUSMATERIALSTRAINING
TheHazardousMaterialTransportationUniformSafetyActof1990(HMTUSA)authorizedtheDepartmentofTransportation(DOT)to createacoordinatedtrainingcurriculumtoimprovethequalityandscopeofhazardousmaterialtraining.HMTUSAdeterminedthatthe managementandqualitycontroloftrainingisalocalresponsibilityaswellasastateresponsibility.Thefederalroleistoprovidesupport and assistance to state and local management.
TheOccupationalSafetyandHealthAdministration(OSHA)andtheNationalFireProtectionAgency(NFPA)havebothdefinedminimum levelsofskillsthathazmatworkersshouldpossess,andwhiletheseminimumrequirementsdiffer,theunderlyingmessageisthat effectiveresponseisbasedontheskilllevelandcompetencyoftheworkersandnotonthenumberoftraininghourstheyacquire.
Eachhazmatemployer must:
Train,testand certifyemployees,and
developandretainrecordsofcurrenttraining(inclusiveoftheprecedingthreeyears)foreachhazmatemployee(duringtheperiodof employmentand 90 daysthereafter).
Hazmattraining must include:
Generalawareness/familiarization,function-specifictraining,safety,anddrivertraining(foreachhazmatemployeewhowilloperatea motor vehicle).
Frequencyof training:
Anewemployee,oranemployeewhochangesjobfunctions,mayperformhazmatjobfunctionsbeforecompletingtraining,provided:
a.the employee does so under the direct supervision of a properly trained and knowledgeable hazmat employee; and
b.thehazmattrainingiscompleted within 90 daysofemploymentor changein job function.
Recurrenttraining isrequired atleastonce every three years.The three-year periodbeginson the actualdateoftraining.
Relevanttrainingreceivedfromapreviousemployerorsourcemaybeusedtosatisfytherequirementsprovidedacurrentrecordof training isobtained fromthepreviousemployeror source.
TrainingRecords must includethe:
Hazmatemployee'sname,
completiondate ofmostrecenttraining,
trainingMaterials(copy,description,orlocation), nameandaddressofhazmattrainer,and
certificationthatthehazmatemployee hasbeentrainedandtested.
PERSONAL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT
PersonalProtectionEquipment(PPE)isgearthatisusedtoprotectthewearerfromthedangersofhazardousmaterials.Whileitis meanttoprotectthewearer,itdoesnotprotectthesurroundingenvironmentorotherindividualsinthearea.ThetypeofPPEneeded dependsonwhatmaterialsarebeingusedandmustbedeterminedonacase-by-casebasis.PPEincludesclothing,gloves,eye protection and respiratory protection.
Accordingtothe Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),therearefour basiclevelsofPPE:
LevelA:Thislevelofprotectionisrequiredwhenthegreatestlevelofskin,respiratoryandeyeprotectionisneeded,andthereisthe greatestpotentialforexposuretothehazardousmaterials.LevelAequipmentincludesfullfacerespiratorypiecesanddisposable chemicaland vapor protective suits.
LevelB:Thislevelofprotectionisrequiredwhenthehighestlevelofrespiratoryprotectionisneeded,butalesseramountofskin protection isneeded.LevelBequipmentincludesair respirators,face shieldsand chemical-resistantgloves.
LevelC:Thislevelofprotectionisrequiredwhentheamountandtypeofairbornematerialsareknownandthecriteriaforusing air-purifyingrespiratorsismet.ThedifferencebetweenLevelBandLevelCisthetypeofequipmentusedtoprotecttherespiratory system.LevelCequipmentincludeshard hats,escape masksand full-face air purifyingrespirators.
LevelD:Thisistheminimumlevelofprotectionrequired.Thislevelcanbeusedwhennohazardouslevelsofcontaminantsarepresent andthereisnopotentialforcontactwiththematerials.LevelDequipmentincludesgloves,safetyglasses,chemical-resistantbootsand coveralls.
HOMEOWNERSANDHAZMAT RISKS
Hazardoushouseholdproductsareproductspurchasedforuseinthehome,containingingredientsthat,becauseoftheirchemical properties, have the potential to harm people or the environment.
Alwaysusecautionwhenhandlinganyhazardoushouseholdproduct.Manyproductsonthemarkettodaycontaintoxicchemicalsthat cancauseseveredamage,evendeath,ifingestedorsplashedontotheskinorintoeyes.Theremaybelong-termnegativehealth effects, many of which are still not understood.
Storeallhazardoushouseholdproductsina secureplaceawayfromchildrenandpets;storeawayfrompotentialsourcesofheat,sparks or flames. Avoid storing flammable materials such as fuels. Always follow product instructions precisely.
Avoidcontactwithskinandeyes.Wearglovesandeyeprotectionwhenhandlinghazardousproducts,andmakesuretheareayouare workinginiswellventilated."Wellventilated"meansworkoutsideor,ifinside,havewindowsopenanduseafanthatcreatesacross breeze that draws vapors away from you.
Somecommonhouseholdhazardouswastesincludeoldpaintsandpaintrelatedproducts,pesticides,poolchemicals,draincleaners, and degreasers and other car care products.
DISPOSALTIPS
DO:
Keep leftover productin originallabeled containerssothatyou can refertodirectionsfor useandproper disposal.Alwaysstore in a safe, dryplace.
Shareunused materialswithothersonly ifproductisinitsoriginal containerwith alabel.
Locate firmsfor recycling oil,antifreeze,andbatteries. Drain allcontainersthoroughly before disposal.
When the labelindicatesthat containers can be placedin the trash,wrapthe empty containerin severallayersofnewspaper and dispose
ofwithother household garbage.
Triple rinse allcontainersofwater-solublematerials.Use rinsewater accordingtolabeldirections.
DON'T:
Donotdump leftover products.Itmay beillegalandit contaminatesthe soil,water,and air.
Donotburn usedor leftover productsorproductcontainers.Burning mayproduce toxicfumes. Donotbury leftoverproductsor containersin your yard orgarden.
Donotreusepesticide orother chemical containersfor other purposes.
Donotmixchemicalproductsor wastes. Donotputany liquidsinthe trash.