What is a hazardous substance?

OSHA’s defines hazardous substance under the HAZWOPER standard as any substance designated or listed under the following definition, exposure to which results or may result in adverse affects on the health or safety of employees:

• Any substance defined under section 101(14) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA);
• Any biological agent and other disease-causing agent which after release into the environment and upon exposure, ingestion, inhalation, or assimilation into any person, either directly by ingestion through food chains, will or may reasonably be anticipated to cause death, disease, behavioral abnormalities, cancer, genetic mutation, physiological malfunctions (including malfunctions in reproduction) or physical deformations in such persons or their offspring;
• Any substance listed by DOT as hazardous materials under 49 CFR 172.101 and appendices; and
• Hazardous waste, including a waste or combination of wastes as defined by EPA in 40 CFR 261.3, or those substances defined as hazardous wastes in 49 CFR 171.8.