Managing hazardous materials Published Sept. 7, 2006 POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- Chemicals affect our everyday lives. They are used to produce almost everything we use, from paper and plastics to medicines and food to gasoline. More than 70,000 chemicals are used regularly around the world. Some occur naturally within the atmosphere, others are synthetic. When people use and dispose of them properly they may enhance our quality of life. However, when people use or dispose of them improperly, they can have harmful effects on humans, plants and animals. Even when used properly, many chemicals can still harm human health and the environment. When these hazardous substances are thrown away, they become hazardous waste. Hazardous waste is most often material left after products are made. Unless the hazardous waste is disposed of properly, it can create health risks for people and damage the environment. The Environmental Compliance and Assessment Program provides detailed inspection criteria to address the proper handling, on-site management and inspections of all hazardous wastes generated at a facility. The primary purpose of the inspections program is to protect and safeguard the public health and the environment by ensuring industry's compliance with the North Carolina Hazardous Waste Management rules. This effort is accomplished in a variety of ways, including comprehensive on-site evaluations of waste streams, hazardous waste management practices, including waste minimization and record keeping at all generators, transporters and treatment, storage and disposal facilities. Most hazardous waste is identified by one or more of its dangerous properties or characteristics. --Corrosive: A corrosive material can wear away or destroy a substance. --Ignitable: Ignitable material can burst into flames easily. It poses a fire hazard; can irritate the skin, eyes and lungs and may give off harmful vapors. Gasoline, paint and furniture polish are ignitable. --Reactive: Reactive material can explode or create poisonous gas when combined with other chemicals. For example, chlorine bleach and ammonia are reactive and create a poisonous gas when they come into contact with each other. --Toxic: Toxic materials or substances can poison people and other life. Toxic substances can cause illness and even death if swallowed or absorbed through the skin. Pesticides, weed killers and many household cleaners are toxic. After learning what makes waste hazardous, personnel should know there are resources available to help the hazardous waste handler or accumulation point manager properly store, handle and manage hazardous waste. One of the best tools is the Pope Hazardous Waste Management Plan. The hazardous waste plan is an all-inclusive directive addressing both federal and state requirements, along with complete manager's checklists to ensure compliance. To further help work centers, group environmental managers, along with the base hazardous waste program managers, have checklists ready for distribution. Personnel are encouraged to call them if they have not yet received the checklists. Proper management and control can greatly reduce the dangers of hazardous waste and enable compliance with all the applicable regulations. For more information on environmental issues, the 43rd Civil Engineer Squadron Environmental Flight at 394-4195. (Courtesy of 43rd Civil Engineer Squadron)