Hazmat Basic Information

Hazmat, short for hazardous materials, is a name used by federal agencies to describe chemicals or components that could cause harm to humans, animals or the environment. The storage, transportation and manufacturing of hazardous materials are regulated by several U.S. federal agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Transportation, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, each of which has its own definition of hazardous materials.

Classification

• A federal code of regulations specifies which chemical compounds are automatically considered hazmats, such as mercury and explosive materials. However a material can and should be labeled and handled with caution as a hazmat if it its ignitable, corrosive, chemically reactive or toxic.

Tracking

• If a facility produces hazardous materials, it is required to be assigned an EPA identification number. This helps federal agencies keep track of how much and where hazardous materials are located.

Labeling

• Hazardous material manufacturers are responsible for testing, classifying, and properly labeling any hazardous chemicals they produce. They must label storage containers with information detailing the type of hazardous material (for example, flammable or radioactive), its concentration, origin and any other mandated handling instructions or warnings.