ABSTRACT
Environmental professionals, water and wastewater professionals, and even occupational safety and health professionals do not need to be toxicologists to be successful in the industrial workplace. This chapter focuses on the hazards of handling hazardous materials—especially hazardous wastes, all of which should be a major concern of occupational safety and health professionals. Hazardous waste includes toxic, biologic, and radioactive waste. From the occupational safety and health professional's perspective, any hazardous waste release that could alter the environment or impact the health and safety of employees in any way is a major concern. The study of the effects of chemicals on our health and the health of wildlife combines toxicology with risk assessment. Risk assessment evaluates the relative safety of chemicals from an exposure approach, considering that both contact with a chemical and any inherent toxicity of that chemical are required having an effect.
