Hazardous Materials Overview

This set of flashcards covers key vocabulary related to hazardous materials including definitions, types of hazards, classifications, and emergency response guidelines.

Hazardous Materials

Any material or substance that is capable of causing harm to people, property, or the environment.

Specific Gravity

The weight of a solid or liquid compared to the weight of an equal volume of water.

pH

Measure of acidity or alkalinity of a liquid.

Flammability

The susceptibility of a material to burning.

Flash Point

Minimum temperature at which a liquid or explosive solid gives off vapors at its lower explosive limit to form an ignitable mixture with air.

Asphyxiation

Inability to take in oxygen.

Chemical Hazard

Dangers arising from hazardous materials that can cause chemical reactions.

Infection Hazard

Dangers from hazardous materials that can lead to health infections.

Mechanical Hazard

Dangers from hazardous materials that can cause physical injury.

Radioactive Hazard

Dangers from hazardous materials that emit radiation.

Thermal Hazard

Dangers from hazardous materials that expose individuals to extreme temperatures.

Routes of Entry

The five ways hazardous materials can enter the body: absorption, contact, inhalation, injection, ingestion.

Hot Zone

Area where contamination is, and exposure to hazardous materials occurs.

Warm Zone

Area between hot and cold zones where potential exposure could happen.

Cold Zone

Area where contaminants are not present.

Hazardous Materials Classes

Main categories of hazard assigned to a hazardous material.

Hazardous Materials Divisions

Subdivisions within the main categories of hazardous materials.

AWARENESS LEVEL Personnel

Employees trained to understand what hazardous materials are.

Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG)

A guide that provides information on hazardous materials according to their UN numbers and other identifiers.

BLEVE

Boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion; occurs when a pressurized container fails due to overheating.

Color-coded ERG sections

Designations in the ERG that provide critical information about hazardous materials, including UN numbers and container profiles.