CHAPTER  2 HAZARDOUS MATERIALS What  are  hazardous  materials?  They  are  substances which, depending on their concentration, chemical or physical  characteristics,  or  quantity,  pose  a  threat  to human   health   or   the   environment.   Any   flammable material,  compressed  gas,  aerosol,  toxic  material  or corrosive  is  a  hazardous  material.  Cleaning  solvents, paints,  batteries,  and  floor  wax  are  all  examples  of hazardous   materials.   To   do   our   job,   and   maintain equipment and areas, we must use hazardous materials. Whether   we   use   hazardous   materials   daily   or infrequently, we need to know how to identify them and to understand their use, storage, and disposal. RECOGNIZING  HAZARDOUS MATERIALS All  hazardous  materials  and  hazardous  material containers must be labeled. Manufacturers of hazard- ous materials must follow strict OSHA regulations on labeling. Each label must contain, at least: 1. The name of the material 2. The name and address of the manufacturer 3. The nature of the hazard Hazardous  materials  we  receive  from  the  stock system, and even open purchase materials, must meet these requirements. You are not authorized to relabel properly  labeled  hazardous  materials.  If  you  dispense  a hazardous  material  into  an  unlabeled  container,  you must  indicate  on  the  new  container  the  same  label information shown on the original container. The Department of Defense (DOD) has a standard label  for  marking  hazardous  materials  dispensed  or produced  by  DOD  agencies.  You  may  also  use  this label to mark unlabeled containers. The label is called the  Hazardous  Chemical  Warning  Label,  DD  Form 2522, and is shown in figure 2-1. The information for this  label  is  printed  directly  from  the  Hazardous Material   Information   System   (HMIS)   computer database. You  may  also  see  Department  of  Transportation (DOT)   shipping   symbols   on   the   outside   of   some hazardous material containers. These symbols, shown in figure 2-2 depict the hazard category of the material. Theses symbols are used on outer packaging, and are also  found  on  trucks  and  railway  cars  transporting those  materials. Types  of  materials  that  are  either   Dangerous, Flammable   or  Combustible   are  indicated  by  a diamond  with  applicable  nomenclature  that  is  red  in color.   Materials   that   are   Explosive   by   nature   are indicated by a diamond with applicable nomenclature and red coloring. Types  of  materials  that  are  either  oxidizing agents,   organic   peroxide,   or  radioactive  are indicated by a diamond with applicable nomenclature with  yellow  coloring.  Materials  that  are  either poisonous gas, poison, or corrosive are indicated by a diamond  with  applicable  nomenclature  and  all  black and   white   coloring.   Non-flammable   gases   are indicated by a diamond with applicable nomenclature and  green  coloring.  Flammable  solid   materials   are indicated by a diamond with applicable nomenclature and red, blue, and white coloring. You  must   read   the   labels   on   the   hazardous materials  you  use.  The  label  may  also  contain  some handling precautions or other warnings that help you use the product safely. HAZARDOUS  MATERIAL INFORMATION Many  hazardous  materials,  if  not  used  properly, can  be  hazardous  to  your  health.  They  can  burn  or irritate your skin, cause internal damage if you inhale them, or poison you if you ingest them. You must be aware  of  and  follow  safe  handling,  storage,  and disposal  procedures  for  the  hazardous  materials  you work with. OSHA  regulations  require  employers  to  provide every employee with safety information on the hazard- ous materials they deal with at work. This law also per- tains   to   federal   civilian   and   military   personnel. Manufacturers must provide hazardous material infor- mation  for  all  hazardous  materials  they  produce  and must make a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) avail able  to  the  user  for  each  hazardous  material.  In  the Navy, MSDSs are provided in a computer database on compact  disk-read  only  memory  (CD-ROM)  system 2-1