Hazardous Material can be:
· Corrosive Hazmat Materials: are strong enough to eat away at steel drums or
human skin. Because they can eat through the containers they are carried in,
they are of special concern during transportation. Example: car battery
acids
· Ignitable Hazmat Materials: present a fire
hazard because they are flammable at relatively low temperatures. This
causes a risk of explosion and the spreading of toxic gas over an area, as
well as fire and smoke. Examples: paint removers, the chemical Benzene
· Reactive Materials: can explode or
release deadly fumes by mixing with water or reacting to heat or pressure.
Examples: old weapons and ammunition, sodium metal, stannic chloride
· Radioactive Materials: include
materials with both high and low radioactivity that can lead to dangerous
side effects for thousands of years. Most of these materials are produced at
nuclear power plants and by research facilities.
· Toxic Hazardous Materials: consist of
poisonous chemicals. People and animals exposed to these types of materials
can develop severe health problems. Examples: lead, arsenic, mercury
· Infectious Materials: These
materials are also toxic wastes, but are in a separate category. They
consist of materials infected with some type of germ, bacteria, or virus
that could cause disease in humans or animals. These types of materials
often come from hospitals. Examples: hypodermic needles, human and animal
waste
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS EMERGENCY RESPONSE
Federal officials say the general public
should first call 911 if they witness a hazardous material emergency.
If it is possible without putting yourself in danger, report the size and
markings of the vehicle, specifically the color of the placards and
identification number. Please note the following organizations that have
important information on hazmats:
National Response Center (NRC)
- The NRC is the national point of contact for reporting all chemical,
radiological, and etiological discharges into the environment anywhere in
the U.S. and its territories. Employers are required to notify the NRC
whenever reportable quantities of hazmat are spilled or released into the
environment. The NRC is never closed, operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a
week, every day of the year. Contact them at: 1-800-424-8802
Hazardous Material