1. Introduction

As the title suggests, Unit 8c is concerned with emergency situations, health hazards, hazardous materials management (HAZMAT) and warning labels, danger signs (diamond placards on vehicles), and panels (on vehicles) associated with them.*

According to the U.S. General Services Administration website, a hazardous material is defined as any item or chemical which is a "health hazard" or "physical hazard", including the following:

  • Chemicals that are carcinogens, toxic or highly toxic agents, reproductive toxins, irritants, corrosives, hepatotoxins, nephrotoxins, neurotoxins, agents that act on the hematopoietic system, and agents that damage the lungs, skin, eyes, or mucous membranes;

  • Chemicals that are combustible liquids, compressed gases, explosives, flammable liquids, flammable solids, organic peroxides, oxidizers, pyrophorics, unstable (reactive) or water-reactive; and

  • Chemicals that, in the course of normal handling, use or storage, may produce or release dusts, gases, fumes, vapors, mists or smoke having any of the above characteristics.

 

(From: https://www.gsa.gov/buying-selling/purchasing-programs/requisition-programs/gsa-global-supply/supply-standards/hazardous-materials-management-hazmat).

 

Usually, companies take the issue of occupational health and safety (OHS) very seriously because it is much easier and less expensive to take safety precautions than to deal with accidents resulting in severe injuries or even fatalities. In order to prevent these incidents, safety officers usually do the following:

  • Organize OHS training workshops for company employees;

  • Have company equipment analysed and inspected in terms of risks in accordance with valid national and EU standards;

  • Oversee if warning labels and danger signs are used both in workplaces and on trucks whenever hazardous materials are transported.

Unit 8c mainly deals with the third point listed above.

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* Warning labels = warning information on items.

Warning/Danger signs = warning information on walls, for example, in a workplace.

Warning panels = warning rectangular signs usually with an ID number and used on vehicles.

Warning placards = diamond signs with warning symbols.

 

Contents

Vocabulary related to work safety.

Phrases introducing answers:

  • My answer is a strong YES: absolutely, definitely, without a doubt, certainly.

  • My answer is a strong NO: certainly not, definitely not, absolutely not.

  • My answer is partly YES and partly NO: yes and no, up to a point, to some extent.

  • My answer is slightly different from the one you are expecting: in fact, actually.

  • My answer is the opposite of the one you are expecting: on the contrary.