Hazardous Materials

Definition
NFPA 400 defines a hazardous material as:
“A chemical or substance that is classified as
a physical hazard material or a health hazard
material, whether the chemical or substance is in
usable or waste condition.”
 Classification:

NFPA 400 classify hazardous materials into two

types:
 Physical hazard material
 Health hazard material
 Physical hazard material
A physical hazard material per NFPA 400 is a substance that is classified as
any one of the following:
 Explosive
 Flammable cryogen
 Flammable gas
 Flammable solid
 Ignitible (flammable or combustible) liquid
 Organic peroxide
 Oxidizer
 Oxidizing cryogen
 Pyrophoric
 Unstable (reactive)
 Water-reactive material
 Health hazard material

A health hazard material as per NFPA 400 is a

chemical or substance that is classified as any one
of the following:
 Toxic
 Highly toxic
 Corrosive material
 NFPA 400 Classes
The 14 categories of hazardous materials used in NFPA 400 are:
 Corrosive solids, liquids, or gases
 Flammable solids
 Flammable gases
 Flammable cryogenic fluids
 Inert cryogenic fluids
 Inert gases
 Organic peroxide formulations
 Oxidizer solids or liquids
 Oxidizing gases
 Oxidizing cryogenic fluids
 Pyrophoric solids, liquids, or gases
 Toxic or highly toxic solids, liquids, or gases
 Unstable (reactive) solids, liquids, or gases
 Water-reactive solids or liquids
 Identifying hazardous materials
 Identifying hazardous materials is a critical aspect of ensuring
safety in environments where such substances are used, stored, or
transported.
 Proper identification helps in preventing accidents and responding
effectively in case of an emergency.
 NFPA 704 labeling system is commonly use that uses a diamond-
shaped label to identify hazards associated with materials.
 Blue (Health Hazard): Indicates the level of health hazard.
 Red (Flammability): Indicates the flammability hazard.
 Yellow (Instability/Reactivity): Indicates the chemical's instability or
reactivity.
 White (Special Hazards): Indicates specific hazards such as oxidizers,
acids, alkalis, corrosive substances, etc.
Hazardous Material Identification
 Emergency response
 Emergency response for hazardous materials
involves a series of coordinated actions to
effectively manage incidents involving the
release or potential release of dangerous
substances.
 The main objectives are to protect human health,
safeguard the environment, and mitigate property
damage.
 Emergency response
 Here are the key components of emergency response for hazardous
materials:
1. Emergency Response Plans (ERPs)
2. Incident Command System (ICS):
3. Hazardous Materials Response Teams
4. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
5. Decontamination Procedures
6. Communication and Coordination
7. Containment and Control Measures
8. Medical Response and First Aid
9. Regulatory Compliance and Reporting
10. Training and Drills
 Emergency Response Plans
 Detailed plans developed by organizations to
handle hazardous materials incidents.
 Identification of potential hazards
 Procedures for evacuation, shelter-in-place, and
lockdown
 Roles and responsibilities of personnel
 Communication protocols
 Coordination with local emergency services
 Post-incident recovery and review procedures
 Incident Command System
 A standardized approach to the command,
control, and coordination of emergency response.
 Clear hierarchical structure
 Defined roles such as Incident Commander,
Safety Officer, Public Information Officer, and
various Section Chiefs (Operations, Planning,
Logistics, Finance/Administration)
 Scalability to adapt to incidents of any size
 Hazardous Materials Response
Teams (HazMat Teams)
 Specialized teams trained to handle hazardous
materials incidents.
 Advanced training in chemical, biological,
radiological, nuclear, and explosive (CBRNE)
materials
 Use of specialized equipment and protective gear
 Capability to identify, contain, and neutralize
hazardous materials
 Personal Protective Equipment
 Equipment worn to minimize exposure to
hazards.
 Levels of protection (Level A, B, C, D) based on
the severity of the hazard
 Respirators, protective suits, gloves, and eye
protection
 Decontamination Procedures
 Processes to remove or neutralize hazardous
substances.
 Establishment of decontamination zones
 Use of showers, scrubbers, and neutralizing
agents
 Proper disposal of contaminated materials
 Communication and Coordination
 Effective communication strategies during an
incident.
 Use of two-way radios, public address systems,
and emergency notification systems
 Coordination with local fire departments, police,
medical facilities, and environmental agencies
 Public information dissemination through media
and social media platforms
 Containment and Control
Measures
 Actions to contain and control the release of
hazardous materials.
 Use of barriers, booms, and dikes
 Application of absorbents and neutralizing agents
 Ventilation and isolation of the affected area
 Medical Response and First Aid
 Medical procedures for treating exposed
individuals.
 First aid measures for different types of exposure
(inhalation, skin contact, ingestion)
 Transportation to medical facilities
 Coordination with poison control centers
 Regulatory Compliance and
Reporting
 Adherence to laws and regulations governing
hazardous materials incidents.
 Reporting incidents to local, state, and federal
agencies
 Compliance with OSHA, EPA, and other
regulatory requirements
 Documentation and record-keeping
 Training and Drills
 Regular training and simulated drills to prepare
for real incidents.
 Scenario-based exercises
 Review and evaluation of response procedures
 Continuous improvement based on lessons
learned