A

Absorption - materials that may be taken into the body through the skin or lungs; taking in or reception on a molecular or chemical level involving gases or liquids Acute effect - a health effect that develops rapidly, such as exposure to carbon monoxide in a confined space Alkali - any chemical with a high pH that is bitter in water solution; strong alkalies in solution are corrosve to the skin and mucuous membranes Anhydrous - free from water Asphyxiant - a vapor or gas that can cause unconsciousness or death by suffocation Acid - any chemical with a low pH that can cause damage to skin and/or tissue; neutralizes alkalis (or bases) to form salts Aerosol - Particles dispersed in a gas

B

Base - a solid or liquid with a pH higher than 7

C

Carcinogen - a substance or chemical that can cause cancer Catalyst - a substance or chemical that speeds up a chemical reaction Central Nervous System (CNS) - the part of the nervous system composed of the brain and spinal cord Concentration - the amount of one substance within another substance Confined space - any area limiting natural ventilation, allowing for the accumulation of vapors and gases Corrosive - a liquid or solid that eats away another material or substance when it comes in contact with it Chronic - occuring over a substantial period of time Combustion - the process of burning Container - anything that holds material, including storage tanks, pipelines and packaging Cryogenic - a material at a very low temperature Carrier - a person engaged in transporting passengers or property by (1) land or water, (2) or civil aircraft Consignee - business or person to whom a shipment is delivered CEN - Committee on European Normalization COHMED - Cooperative Hazardous Materials Enforcement Development

D

Decontamination - a chemical or physical process of reducing, removing and preventing the spread of contamination from persons and equipment use during a hazardous materials accident Department of Transportation (DOT) - department of government that regulates transportation, the transportation of shipments and the transfer of hazardous materials Dilution - method of reducing the concentration of a substance Division - a sub-category of a hazard class

E

Emergency - a sudden, urgent, usually unexpected occurence or occasion requiring immediate attention and action Emergency response plan - written descriptions of planned actions and personnel responsibilities for emergency response actions Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - federal agency concerned with environmental air, water and land quality EPA - United States Environmental Protection Agency Exception - a provision in the regulations that excludes a specific item of hazardous material from the requirements normally applicable to that item

F

Flash point - the temperature at which a liquid will give off enough flammable vapor to burn FEC - Facility Emergency Coordinator FEMA - United States Federal Emergency Management Agency FMCSR - Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations Freight container - a reusable container having a volume of 64 cubic feet or more, designed and constructed to permit being lifted with its contents intact and intended primarily for containment of packages (in unit form) during transportation Fuel tank - a tank, other than a cargo tank, used to transport flammable or combustible liquid or compressed gas for the purpose of supplying fuel for propulsion of the transport vehicle to which it is attached, or for the operation of other equipment on the transport vehicle FAA - Federal Aviation Administration

G

Gram (gm) - a metric unit of weight. One U.S. ounce is approximately 28.4 grams. Gross weight - the weight of a packaging plus the weight of its contents

H

Hazmat Employee - Definition from 49 CFR (§171.8) means a person who is employed by a hazmat employer and who in the course of employment directly affects hazardous materials transportation safety. This term includes an owner-operator of a motor vehicle which transports hazardous materials in commerce. This term also includes an individual, employed by a hazmat employer who, during the course of employment:

• loads, unloads, or handles hazardous materials;
• manufactures, tests, reconditions, repairs, modifies, marks, or otherwise represents containers, drums, or packagings as qualified for use in the transportation of hazardous materials;
• prepares hazardous materials for transportation;
• is responsible for safety of transporting hazardous materials;
• operates a vehicle to transport hazardous materials

Hazardous material - any substance capable of causing harm to people, animals, property or the environment Hazard class - the category of hazard assigned to a hazardous material under the definitional criteria of Part 173 and the provisions of the Sec. 172.101 Table. A material may meet the defining criteria for more than one hazard class but is assigned to only one hazard class

I

Irritant - a substance which causes an inflammatory response when brought into contact with the eyes, skin or respiratory system Inhalation - breathing in through the mouth or nose of a substance in the form of a gas, vapor, fume, mist or dust Incident Commander (IC) - individual responsible for the management and coordination of all incident operations Insoluble - unable to be dissolved any further Intermediate bulk container (IBC) - rigid or flexible portable packaging, other than a cylinder or portable tank, which is designed for mechanical handling. Standards for IBCs manufactured in the United States are set forth in subparts N and O §178 of the 49 CFR IATA - International Air Transport Association IAEA - International Atomic Energy Agency ICAO - International Civil Aviation Organization IMDG Code - International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code IMO - International Maritime Organization Incompatible - describing hazardous materials which, if mixed, would be liable to cause a dangerous reaction of heat or gas or produce a corrosive substance. Substances of this nature must not be loaded or placed in a position where they can come into contact with one another

L

Limited quantity - the maximum amount of a hazardous material for which there may be specific labeling or packaging exception

M

Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) - informational sheet which is sent with hazardous materials, typically listing chemical properties, emergency response procedures, reactivity data, control measures, safe handling procedures and manufacturer information Marking - descriptive name, identification number, instructions, cautions, weight, specification, or UN marks or combinations thereof, required on outer packaging of hazardous materials Mixture - a material composed of more than one chemical compound or element MSC - Marine Safety Committee

N

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) - a federal research agency responsible for issues related to occupational safety and health Neurotoxin - a substance that is toxic to the brain and nerves NFPA - National Fire Protection Assocation NIOSH - United States National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health Non-flammable - not capable of being burned under normal circumstances N.O.S. - Not otherwise specified NAFTA - North American Free Trade Agreement NAFTA LTSS - NAFTA Land Transportation Standards Subcommittee

O

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) - a federal agency responsible for creating and enforcing laws related to occupational safety and health Oxidation - a reaction where a substance combines with oxygen, the oxygen being provided by an oxidizer or oxidizing agent Oxidizer - a substance that gives up oxygen readily to stimulate the combustion of organic matter OSHA - United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration OECD - Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development Overpack - an enclosure used by a single shipper to contain one or more packages and to form one handling unit for convenience of handling and stowage

P

Permeation - process by which a chemical dissolves in or moves through a protective clothing material on a molecular level Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) - the highest level of a substance to which a person can be exposed, set by OSHA pH - applies to liquids. A pH less than 7 is considered an acid. A pH equal to 7 is neutral. A pH greater than 7 is considered an alkaline (or base) Pulmonary toxin - toxic to the lungs Peroxide - chemicals that contain two oxygen atoms bonded together, often explosive Package - complete product of the packaging operation consisting of the packaging and contents prepared for transportation Packaging - receptacles and other components necessary for the receptacle to perform its containment function Packing group - an indication of the relative degree of danger presented by various articles and substances within a class or division Proper shipping name - the name to be used to describe a particular article or substance in all shipping documents and notification and, where appropriate, on packagings

R

Risk - a measure of the chances that damage life, property or the environment if a hazard occurs RSPA - Research and Special Programs Administration, United States Department of Transportation

S

Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) - written descriptions of tasks and activities to be followed during work SCBA - Self Contained Breathing Apparatus

T

Technical name - a recognized chemical name or microbiological name currently used in scientific and technical handbooks, journals and texts Transport vehicle - a cargo carrying vehicle such as an automobile, van, tractor, truck, semi-trailer, tank car, or rail car used for the transportation of cargo by any mode

U

United Nations' Identification Number (UN Number) - a number used internationally to identify a hazardous material UN standard packaging - a specification packaging conforming to the standards in the UN recommendations UN - United Nations UN ECOSOC - United Nations Economic and Social Council UNCED - United Nations Conference on Environment and Development

V

Vapor - gaseous form of a substance normally in liquid or solid state at room temperature Viscosity - the amount of resistance to flow, related to liquids

W

WHO - World Health Organization WSO - World Safety Organization