Training for Hazardous Materials Handling
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Posted On :
Nov-12-2010
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Article Word Count :
530
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Handling of hazardous materials differs a lot from that of the normal goods. The risk associated with their handling makes it a necessity to adopt special and extra measures for the safety of the workers as well as environment. Training sessions along with seminars are arranged for the workers concerned with the HAZMAT shipment to learn the guidelines for the safety handling of the hazardous substances.
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HAZMAT stands for the hazardous items. These items, if not handled with perfect care and precise professionalism, may pose a serious threat to environment. These hazardous materials are the essential ingredients of innumerable goods. Various bio-products such as fertilizers, pesticides etcetera, that are directly used in the fields, are also categorized as the hazardous elements. These chemicals impose a harmful effect on environment. The increasing use of these chemicals in both agricultural and industrial sectors has prodded the government of every country to devise and implement the hazardous materials management program.
Hazardous substances are of various types. In accordance with their nature, these items are categorized under nine heads such as oxidizers, radioactive, corrosive, gases, solid flammables and combustibles, liquid flammables and combustibles, poison and miscellaneous. Apart from the aforesaid items, the bio-waste including used needles, scabs from blood waste are also considered as the hazardous materials.
Shipment of these harmful items is a vital function conducted by many an organization. These are not normal goods and inadvertent handling can lead to massive mishap to both human being and nature. Therefore, transportation of hazardous materials requires special and extra care.
HAZMAT management program mandates the identification of every harmful material using a color or number code. This unique identification mark helps the workers understand the types of the hazardous materials. Blue, red and white color are used to indicate health hazards, flame hazards and special types of hazards respectively. Hazardous materials are also assigned numbers to denote the degree of hazard. 0 denotes the least hazard whereas 4 is used to indicate the highest hazard.
The hazardous materials management program provides some guidelines to minimize the risk and avert the hazards while handling these goods. Seminars are arranged to raise awareness about the baneful effects of these hazardous products. The experts explain the chemical compositions of various HAZMAT and what sort of hazard may emanate in the event of any negligence in handling them. The workers get to know which types of protective garments to put on while dealing with these hazardous items. Generally, the staffs are advised to wear aprons, jumpsuits, respirators gloves and boots etcetera during the shipment of the HAZMAT.
Training session is also conducted once or twice a year to teach the workers about the art of HAZMAT handling. IMDG training is imparted to those who are associated with the hazardous products shipment by sea.
IMDG is the truncated form of International Maritime Dangerous Goods code. The training session continues for two to three days and includes everything from labeling to packaging. It is very important for the workers to gain profound knowledge regarding the safety dealing of these hazardous materials via ocean. A threat to the environment translates into harmful impact to flora as well as fauna.
Any damage to them leads to inevitable danger to the ecological balance. So, the officials concerned with the hazardous materials shipment through water bodies must have a good hang of the shipping procedures. After all, it is a responsibility of all and sundry to ensure a safe and healthy environment for us and our future generation.
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Article Source :
http://www.articleseen.com/Article_Training for Hazardous Materials Handling_41490.aspx
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Author Resource :
Steve Decosta is a freelancer. He writes articles on hazardous materials and IMDG .For more information on them he suggest to visit http://www.learnhazmat.com/ .
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Keywords :
Hazardous materials, IMDG,
Category :
Business
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Business
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