What is a Hazardous Material?

What is a Hazardous Material?

Hazard Communication laws cover more than 50,000 chemicals and hundreds of thousands of commercially available products. A hazardous material is defined as:

A chemical for which there is statistically significant evidence based on at least one study conducted in accordance with established scientific principles that acute or chronic health effects may occur in exposed employees or a chemical that exerts a physical hazard.

Hazardous materials include:

Agents which damage the lungs, skin, eyes, or mucous membranes
Carcinogens
Combustible liquids
Compressed gases
Corrosive chemicals
Explosive chemicals
Flammable liquids, gases, or solids
Agents which act on the blood or Hematopoietic system
Hepatotoxins
Irritants
Nephrotoxins
Neurotoxins
Organic peroxides
Oxidizers
Pyrophoric chemicals
Reproductive toxins
Sensitizers
Toxic or highly toxic agents
Unstable reactive chemicals
Water reactive chemicals
Agents which may cause target organ effects

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