What Does
Hazardous Materials Handling Mean?
Hazardous materials handling refers to the safe and proper handling and storage of dangerous chemicals, radioactive substances, biological agents, and other materials that can cause harm to humans and the environment.
These substances can carry a variety of risks, ranging from mild to severe. While the safest option is to avoid handling them entirely, they are essential and unavoidable for manufacturing processes in various industries, including oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, and energy production.
While procedures for using these substances is an integral part of hazardous materials handling, there are steps employers must take to make safe handling possible. This includes properly labeling all materials on the worksite, providing safety data sheets (SDS) for each chemical product, and ensuring that all workers have been trained in how to use and store hazardous materials.
Safeopedia Explains Hazardous Materials Handling
The use of hazardous materials (HAZMAT) puts people and the environment at risk. Safe handling procedures are critical for preventing incidents when these materials are stored, used, or transported.
Hazardous materials can cause harm in a number of ways and can result in serious injuries or fatalities, acute or chronic health conditions, and damage to the natural environment.
Some of the major risks associated with HAZMAT include:
- Spills in coastal waters can disrupt transportation and affect marine life
- Ground spills can contaminate the soil and harm the health of those who reside or work in the area
- Spills in enclosed spaces can produce harmful fumes
- Using hazardous material with criminal intent falls under weapons of mass destruction (WMDs)
Many cases of hazardous materials handling are on a small scale, like applying paint thinner, decanting a cleaning product into another container, or safely storing flammable chemicals. Other cases involve large amounts of materials, massive explosions, or ecological disasters.
Hazardous Materials and Right-to-Know Legislation
In 1984, a chemical incident at a pesticide plant in Bhopal, India claimed the lives of more than 2,200 people and caused short- and long-term effects in more than half a million others.
This disaster and its consequences for those living near the plant brought widespread attention to the dangers of toxic chemicals, prompting the United States government to institute the 1986 Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-know Act (SARA Title III). This legislation imposes reporting requirements on organizations that use or store any of the more than 300 substances that the legislation deems extremely hazardous. SARA Title III also requires companies and state agencies to make this information available to the public and local governments.
Identifying Hazardous Material
Materials Considered Hazardous
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 400 defines HAZMAT as any substance or chemical that is capable of causing a physical or health hazard. It also specifies that both waste and usable products can fall under the HAZMAT category.
A material that can cause physical hazards is any substance that falls under one or more of the following classifications:
- Combustible or flammable solid, liquid, or gas
- Explosives
- Oxidizing agents
- Pyrophoric materials
- Water-reactive materials
- Unstable or reactive materials
- Radioactive materials
A material that can cause health hazards is any substance that falls under one or more of the following classifications:
- Asphyxiating agents
- Biohazards and toxic substances
- Pathogenic or allergenic materials
- Corrosive materials
Hazard Class and Color Symbols
The Hazardous Materials Identification System (HMIS), developed by the American Coatings Association (ACA), is a rating system for chemical hazards that uses colors, numbers, and letters to identify chemical hazards and communicate critical information about their properties. This system is similar to the NFPA’s Fire Diamond, which communicate the same information found on HMIS labels.
HMIS uses color coded bars and numbers to convey the hazards associated with a chemical substance:
- Blue Bar: Indicates a health hazard to people in the vicinity (the number denotes the severity of the associated health risks, while a star means it can result in a chronic health condition)
- Red Bar: Indicates that the product is flammable (the number represents the level of flammability)
- Orange Bar: Indicates physical hazards or reactivity (the number represents the level of reactivity)
- White Bar: Indicates the need to use PPE (the number represents the level of protection required)
Safety Data Sheets
OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standards (HCS) requires manufacturers and importers to develop a safety data sheet for each hazardous chemical they produce or ship. Employers must also keep an SDS for each hazardous chemical they use, warehouse, or otherwise keep on site.
The HCS applies to:
- Chemicals with an OSHA permissible exposure limit (PEL)
- Chemicals or substances listed with a threshold limit value by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)
- Any carcinogen listed by the International Agency for Research on Cancer – Groups 1, 2A and 2B
- Any carcinogen listed by the National Toxicology Program
- Any chemical regulated by OSHA as a carcinogen
OSHA’s Occupational Chemical Database
OSHA’s Occupational Chemical Database is a collection of chemical information compiled from different government agencies and organizations.
This database provides pertinent information about chemicals, including their physical properties (e.g. flash point, lower explosive limit, NFPA fire rating), sampling methods, and exposure limits.
Basic Rules for Handling Hazardous Materials
Below are some basic rules for safely handling hazardous materials:
- Be aware of the hazardous materials in your workplace
- Consider all the risks associated with materials you will be handling and plan your tasks accordingly
- Use the right PPE at all times (consult the SDS to know what type is required)
- Mark all hazardous materials, including those transferred into smaller containers
- Use hazardous materials only for their intended purposes
- Always review the SDS for a new chemical product to know how it should be handled
- Report any leaks or spills, even if they are contained and cleaned up quickly
Dealing with Hazardous Materials Incidents
Incidents can happen suddenly and unexpectedly. When they involve hazardous materials, the consequences can be serious and acting promptly can make all the difference.
It’s important to have an emergency response plan for hazardous materials incidents and to know every step of it so you can be ready no matter what happens.
The details will vary based on the specifics of the worksite and the types of materials used, but basic emergency response procedures for HAZMAT incidents include the following.
If the Incident Puts Personnel at Risk
- Assess the situation and determine the level of risk
- If the incident will pose a continued risk to those on site, initiate evacuation procedures to get everyone to safety
- Administer first aid to anyone who has been exposed
- Depending on the type and severity of exposure, you may also need to bring them to the hospital or call paramedics
- Bring the affected personnel to the emergency eyewash station or emergency shower, if needed
If the Incidents Could Cause Environmental Harm
- If possible, deactivate equipment to stop further spilling or leaking
- If the spill or leak is large enough, initiate evacuation procedures
- Contain the spill
- Cordon off the area
- Document the incident and report it to the proper authorities
- Clean up the spill (or bring in a HAZMAT team if the risks are too high)
Hazardous Materials Training
OSHA, the Department of Transportation (DOT), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) mandate employers to provide HAZMAT training to their employees.
These training programs are designed for specific occupations and industries. The extent of the training and subjects covered will differ for construction workers and chemical engineers, for instance.
Regardless of the specifics, these training programs must cover:
- How to identify hazardous materials
- The risks associated with hazardous materials
- How to store, handle, and transport hazardous materials
- What PPE is required for handling hazardous materials and how to use it properly
- How to safely dispose of hazardous materials
- Emergency response procedures for HAZMAT incidents
HAZMAT training courses must be conducted annually, or more frequently if new hazardous materials are introduced or there are significant changes in the work environment or work procedures.
Ready to learn more? Check out our free webinar on Protective Apparel Training for Hazardous Particle Remediation and Spill Response!
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