Definition - What does hazardous material mean?
Hazardous material is any solid, liquid, or gas that has the potential to cause harm to animals, humans, or the environment. A substance that can cause harm or death on its own or in combination with another element by being inhaled, ingested, or absorbed is deemed to be a hazardous material. They are typically found in industrial plants, service stations, hospitals, chemical manufacturers, and waste disposal sites but can also be found in cleaning solutions that are found in numerous workplaces.
SureHire explains hazardous material
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and the Department of Transportation (DOT), deal with the regulation of hazardous materials in the United States. The laws used by these agencies serve to ensure that hazardous materials are produced, utilized, stored, transported, and disposed of safely in order to protect the lives of workers and the environment. Establishments that make use of materials that are deemed to be hazardous must provide training and information to the workers handling them. Hazardous materials include physical, biological, radiological, and chemical elements and are usually in the form of explosives, irritants,carcinogens, poisons, corrosive and flammable materials.
