FAQ What is the difference between hazardous chemicals, hazardous substances, hazardous materials, and hazardous wastes? While these terms may seem to refer to the same thing, if your company must comply with environmental regulations under EPA, safety regulations from OSHA, and transportation requirements under DOT, the meanings must be very clear. Hazardous chemical EPA, at 40 CFR part 370, defines hazardous chemical as any hazardous chemical as defined under OSHA’s regulations at 29 CFR 1910.1200(c). OSHA’s hazard communication standard at 29 CFR 1910.1200 defines hazardous chemical as any chemical which is a physical hazard or a health hazard. In addition, OSHA’s Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories standard in 29 CFR 1910.1450, defines hazardous chemical 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. Hazardous substance EPA’s community right-to-know regulations define hazardous substance as any material that poses a threat to human health and/or the environment. Typical hazardous substances are toxic, corrosive, ignitable, explosive, or chemically reactive. The term also includes any substance that has been designated by EPA to be reported if the substance is spilled in the waters of the United States or if otherwise released into the environment. According to DOT Hazardous Materials Regulations at 49 CFR 171.8, a material, including a mixture or solution, is a hazardous substance if: · It is listed in Appendix A to 49 CFR 172.101, and · It is in a quantity, in one package, which equals or exceeds the reportable quantity (RQ) listed in Appendix A, and · When in a mixture or solution is in a concentration by weight which equals or exceeds the concentration corresponding to the RQ of the material, as shown in the table in 49 CFR 171.8. Under OSHA’s hazardous waste operations and emergency response regulations at 29 CFR 1910.120, a hazardous substance means any substance designated or listed under this definition, exposure to which results or may result in adverse affects on the health or safety of employees: · Any substance defined under section 101(14) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA); · Any biological agent and other disease-causing agent which after release into the environment and upon exposure, ingestion, inhalation, or assimilation into any person, either directly by ingestion through food chains, will or may reasonably be anticipated to cause death, disease, behavioral abnormalities, cancer, genetic mutation, physiological malfunctions (including malfunctions in reproduction) or physical deformations in such persons or their offspring; · Any substance listed by DOT as hazardous materials under 49 CFR 172.101 and appendices; and · Hazardous waste, including a waste or combination of wastes as defined in 40 CFR 261.3, or those substances defined as hazardous wastes in 49 CFR 171.8. Hazardous material As defined by DOT for shipping purposes, hazardous material means any substance or material, which has been determined by the Secretary of Transportation to be capable of posing an unreasonable risk to health, safety, and property when transported in commerce, and which has been so designated. The term includes hazardous substances, hazardous wastes, marine pollutants, and elevated temperature materials, materials designated as hazardous under 49 CFR 172.101 and 172.102, and materials that meet the defining criteria for hazard classes and divisions in 49 CFR part 173. OSHA regulations also contain an entire subpart devoted to hazardous materials. Subpart H of 29 CFR part 1910 includes requirements for compressed gases, flammable and combustible materials, process safety management, hazardous waste operations and emergency response, and several other topics. OSHA’s hazardous material regulations can be found in 1910.101 through 1910.126. Hazardous waste According to EPA, hazardous waste means a hazardous waste as defined in 40 CFR 261.3. In general terms, it refers to contaminated chemicals or by-products of a product process that no longer serves its purpose, and needs to be disposed of. It means any solid waste that exhibits hazardous characteristics (flammability, corrosivity, toxicity, or reactivity) or is specifically listed by EPA as being hazardous. For DOT shipping purposes, hazardous waste means any material that is subject to the hazardous waste manifest requirements of the U. S. EPA specified in 40 CFR part 262. HAZMAT HAZMAT refers to any aspect of hazardous materials production, transport, use, disposal, cleanup, and emergency response. HAZWOPER HAZWOPER, short for Hazardous Waste Operations & Emergency Response, refers to employee training on hazardous waste operations and emergency response to chemical spills or releases.