The term ‘hazmat’ is short for ‘hazardous materials’. At your home or workplace, you might regularly handle such materials, and know how to do so without putting your health or anyone else’s at risk. However, at times you could still need help with hazmat management.
At residential and commercial sites across Auckland, we can reduce, minimise or entirely remove hazardous materials on behalf of local homeowners and entrepreneurs. So, how can you tell whether the specific type of material you would like us to manage for you should be classed as ‘hazardous’?
What Would Make a Material ‘Hazardous’?
When used to describe materials, the word ‘hazardous’ has a plain meaning: ‘dangerous’. One giveaway that a particular material is hazardous is if it comes in packaging labelled with words like ‘danger’, ‘warning’, ‘caution’ or ‘ignitable’.
Handling materials like this without the required care can risk you inflicting (upon yourself or someone else) health problems ranging from minor irritations and allergies to major illnesses, cancer or even death.
A Closer Look at Different Types of Hazardous Material
Yes, different materials can naturally be dangerous in different ways. Here are just a few selected examples of the broad categories into which hazardous materials can be sorted:
- Toxic: The toxicity of any given material is measured by how easily it can cause death or injury — for example, if the material is ingested or inhaled.
- Flammable: This means that the material can catch fire, perhaps due to being transported in conditions conducive to combustion.
- Explosive: A chemical reaction can lead particular items — such as fireworks, airbag inflators and pieces of ammunition — to explode.
- Corrosive: Many acidic or caustic materials can, if they come into contact with flesh or an object, eat away at it — resulting in injury or at least the need for something to be repaired or replaced.
In any case, if you are personally tasked with handling hazmat, you must know how to get it safely disposed of when you no longer need it.
This is where our hazmat removal experts can assist, visiting properties all over Auckland to take problematic materials away without imperilling human health or the building’s physical condition. To enquire about any of our hazmat management solutions, please email [email protected].
