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Introduction to Hazardous Substances

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1. Introduction

As we have seen in the introduction to general principles, there are many categories of hazardous substance, and there are laws governing the labelling, packaging, storage and transport of all such materials.

You may also encounter hazardous substances in the environment or your working area. Legitimate goods should comply with all these rules and you should receive a copy of the material safety data sheet if you have to inspect and sample such goods.

However, you may find yourself dealing with mis-declared or illegal goods. It is important that you understand the dangers and take appropriate precautions.

2. What is a hazardous substance?

A hazardous substance is any material which can cause harm to you either directly or indirectly. You may encounter hazardous substances either during the sampling or in the working environment where you are conducting the sampling.
Dangerous goods are hazardous substances which are being transported. They are covered by the ADR Regulations and should be documented and labelled. You will find many references to both hazardous substances and dangerous goods however from a practical point of view you should treat them the same and take the necessary precautions. If you are not trained to deal with them you should not enter a hazardous environment or attempt to sample goods if they are declared cargo. Certain goods must only be sampled by qualified personnel or contractors. Some goods should never be sampled.

Generally, materials that are being transported are referred to as Dangerous Goods. There is little difference in practical terms for you when you are sampling, they are all hazardous.

To help you understand what ‘hazardous substance’ means, we will define each word separately.

‘Hazardous’ substances will normally be classified and labelled as falling into one of the following groups:
 

  • toxic;
  • very toxic;
  • corrosive;
  • harmful;
  • irritant;
  • oxidising agent;
  • reducing agent;
  • spontaneously combustible;
  • flammable;
  • explosive;
  • carcinogenic;
  • damaging to the environment;
  • dangerous when wet;
  • radioactive.

‘Substance’ can include any of the following:
 

  • gases;
  • vapours;
  • dusts;
  • micro-organisms;
  • liquids;
  • solids;
  • fumes;
  • mists.

So a hazardous substance can be anything which has the potential to cause injury or damage to people and/or property.

3. How do I know a substance is hazardous?

Usually, in order to comply with national and European legislation, all hazardous chemicals should be labelled somewhere on the packaging. The label will include a sign similar to one of those shown here and full details of the risks associated with the product and the precautions required when handling it. The H and P phrases are shown here.

YOU MUST ALWAYS READ THE LABEL AND FOLLOW THE GUIDANCE.

Only correctly packaged and labelled goods will be immediately identifiable. If you come across any type of substance which you cannot identify, never assume it is safe.

Remember: some types of hazardous substance are not visible to the human eye (e.g. gases, fumes and micro-organisms).

4. Unmarked hazardous substances

Whilst legitimate cargo should always be marked with the appropriate labelling, you may encounter undeclared or un-manifested goods that are also hazardous.

You may also find hazardous substances in the environment where you are working. This may include any of the forms listed above.

If you suspect that you have encountered a hazardous substance in the area where you are working you should leave the area immediately until you are satisfied it is safe to proceed, either because you have the appropriate protective equipment or you are satisfied the area is free of hazardous substances.

5. Where can I get more information?

There is more information about different types of hazardous substance in the following sub-sections:

6. What if I have been exposed to a hazardous substance?

If you think you have been exposed to a hazardous substance in the course of your work, you should seek medical help/advice immediately and tell your manager.

You should report the incident to others to prevent further exposure.

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You must refer to the legislation and the guidance of your national administration for more information.
The guidance contained in this section intended to serve as a general reminder of the risks that are sometimes encountered during the examination and sampling procedure and of the safety equipment that you should use and precautions that you should take.