hazmat
Perilous cargo, informally
Hazmat is short for hazardous materials—substances that pose risks to health, safety, or the environment, such as chemicals, radioactive materials, or biological agents.
The term usually appears as a modifier: hazmat suit, hazmat team, hazmat training.
A hazmat crew responded to the chemical spill.
Accidental liquid release
- leakEscape through a breach
- contaminationIntroduction of impurities
- exposureState of being unprotected
- releaseTo let go
accident · explosion · fire · breach · rupture · discharge · seepage · dispersal
Matched formal garments
- respiratorBreathing protection device
- glovesHand coverings with fingers
- maskFace-worn concealment
- gogglesSealed protective eyewear
boots · coveralls · SCBA · Tyvek · facepiece · cartridge · filter · dosimeter
Substance with defined composition
- radioactiveEmitting nuclear decay particles
- biohazardDangerous living organism risk
- corrosiveDestroys by chemical action
- flammableProne to ignition
toxic · reactive · asbestos · mercury · lead · pesticide · solvent · waste
Preventing hostile expansion
- decontaminationRemoving dangerous substances
- evacuationRemoval from danger
- cleanupRestoration of order
- remediationAct of correcting faults
neutralization · disposal · abatement · mitigation · triage · technician · specialist · staging
Federal workplace safety regulator
- EPAFederal environmental regulator
- NFPAFire safety standards body
- placardsSigns carried at demonstrations
- labelsIdentifying markers attached to items
MSDS · SDS · compliance · training · certification · protocols · standards · classification
Capacity to cause harm
- flammabilityEase of catching fire
- corrosivityTendency to chemically degrade
- reactivityTendency to chemically combine
- radioactivitySpontaneous nuclear decay
carcinogenicity · volatility · persistence · bioaccumulation · half-life · threshold · concentration · potency
spill
Accidental liquid release
- leakEscape through a breach
- contaminationIntroduction of impurities
- exposureState of being unprotected
release · accident · explosion · fire · breach · rupture · discharge · seepage · dispersal · plume
suit
Matched formal garments
- respiratorBreathing protection device
- glovesHand coverings with fingers
- maskFace-worn concealment
goggles · boots · coveralls · SCBA · Tyvek · facepiece · cartridge · filter · dosimeter · detector
chemical
Substance with defined composition
- radioactiveEmitting nuclear decay particles
- biohazardDangerous living organism risk
- corrosiveDestroys by chemical action
flammable · toxic · reactive · asbestos · mercury · lead · pesticide · solvent · waste · drum
containment
Preventing hostile expansion
- decontaminationRemoving dangerous substances
- evacuationRemoval from danger
- cleanupRestoration of order
remediation · neutralization · disposal · abatement · mitigation · triage · technician · specialist · staging · perimeter
OSHA
Federal workplace safety regulator
- EPAFederal environmental regulator
- NFPAFire safety standards body
- placardsSigns carried at demonstrations
labels · MSDS · SDS · compliance · training · certification · protocols · standards · classification · shipping
toxicity
Capacity to cause harm
- flammabilityEase of catching fire
- corrosivityTendency to chemically degrade
- reactivityTendency to chemically combine
radioactivity · carcinogenicity · volatility · persistence · bioaccumulation · half-life · threshold · concentration · potency · lethality
- nuclear radiationradiation exposure, radiation poisoning, radioactive isotopes, fallout, nuclear meltdown
- environmental regulationClean Air Act, Clean Water Act, EPA, emissions standards, pollution control
- public safetypolice, 911, ambulance, fire department, firefighters
- safetysafety helmet, airbag, alert, occupational safety, danger
- truckingsemi, 18-wheeler, trucks, truckers, big rig
- emergency rescue911, CPR, ambulance, paramedic, paramedics
hazmatnon-toxic materials
Substances safe for contact
general cargo · consumer goods · common goods · potable water · household items
- hazmat suitSealed garment blocking toxins
- hazmat teamDangerous materials response group
- hazmat spillUncontrolled discharge of dangerous materials
- hazmat unitDangerous substance response team
- hazmat zoneContaminated area requiring protection
- hazmat truckVehicle transporting dangerous materials