Oregon Required Hazards
The federal Tier II form mandates reporting of hazards associated with a chemical based on the physical and health hazards as per the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS). However, in OAR 837-085-0040, Oregon expands the definition of "Hazard Classification" to include four additional hazard classes as defined by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT): poisonous material, poisonous gas, radioactive material, and etiologic material.
As a result, facilities operating in Oregon must denote if any of these additional hazards are applicable to a chemical when submitting hazard information in a Tier II report.
Although Oregon's Administrative Rules do not explicitly detail the definitions of these hazards, the USDOT provides the following definitions:
Hazard | Definition | Example Substance |
Poisonous Material | A substance that can cause injury or death when inhaled, swallowed, or absorbed through the skin | Hydrogen cyanide (HCN) |
Poisonous Gas | Compressed or liquefied gas that, when released, can cause injury or death due to its toxic properties | Chlorine gas (Cl2) |
Radioactive Material | Material containing radionuclides with activity concentrations and total activities exceeding specified thresholds | Uranium-235 (U-235) |
Etiologic Material | Material containing pathogens that can cause disease in humans or animals | Bacillus anthracis |