LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Upon completing this chapter, you should be able to do the following:

1. Identify the hazardous materials found in Fire Controlman workspaces safety precautions associated with each material.

2. Identify the storage requirements for hazardous materials.

INTRODUCTION

What are hazardous materials (HM)? A hazardous material is any material that, because of its quantity, concentration, or physical or chemical properties, may pose a substantial hazard to human health or the environment when used incorrectly, spilled accidentally, or released purposefully. Subcategories of HM include: combustible materials; toxic materials; corrosive materials (including acids and bases); and oxider, aerosol, or compressed gases. Cleaning solvents, paints, batteries, and floor wax are specific examples of hazardous materials.

Part of doing our job and maintaining our equipment and workspaces involves using hazardous materials. Whether we use hazardous materials daily or infrequently, we need to know how to identify them and understand their use, storage, and disposal procedures.

Many hazardous materials, if not used properly, can be hazardous to your health. For example, they can burn or irritate your skin, cause internal damage if you inhale them, or poison you if you ingest them. You must, therefore, be aware of and follow safe handling, storage, and disposal procedures for all hazardous materials that you may have to use or work around.

You can find additional safety information on hazardous materials in the following publications:

Navy Occupational Safety and Health (NAVOSH) Program Manual for Forces Afloat, OPNAVINST 5100.19 (Series), Chapters B3, C23, and D15.

Navy Occupational Safety and Health (NAVOSH) Program Manual, OPNAVINST 5100.23 (Series), Chapters 6, 7, 9, 11, and 20.

Natural and Environmental Resources Manual, OPNAVINST 5090.1 (Series), Chapters 1, 3, 10, 12, 15, 19, 20, and 21; and Appendices A, C, G, H, I, K, and L.

This chapter discusses how to identify hazardous materials and the safety precautions related to these materials.

IDENTIFICATION OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

All hazardous material containers must be labeled. Manufacturers of hazardous materials must follow strict Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations on labeling. As a minimum, each label must clearly identify (1) the name of the material, (2) the name and address of the manufacturer, and (3) the nature of the hazard, including the target organ(s) affected by the material.

Hazardous materials provided through the stock system, including open-purchase materials, must meet these requirements. You are not authorized to relabel properly labeled hazardous materials.

The Navy places great importance on handling hazardous materials properly. To help you understand that importance, the following section describes the Material Safety Data Sheet required by OSHA, the Hazardous Material User's Guide (HMUG), and the labeling procedures required by the Department of Defense (DOD), the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), and the Navy.