Hazardous materials can be important to your everyday life if handled correctly. However, if handled improperly, they can cause injury, death and destruction, as well as have lingering effects that can last for years to come. To address the risk of an uncontrolled release of hazardous materials, a coordinated effort is needed to identify, locate, and quantify hazardous materials in a particular location (Drexel University Safety & Health, 2001). Generally, industry and government agree that a hazardous materials accident is one in which: The intentional or accidental release of a hazardous material is responsible for serious injury or death. Release of hazardous material or resulting exposure to fire requires evacuation of 25 or more people • Closure of major transportation hub following release of hazardous material • Hazardous material is radioactive or poses a biological risk • Any time there is a release of more than 11.9 gallons or 88.2 pounds of a serious marine pollutant, or hazardous materials (Hazmat Incidents and Supplies, n.d.). Any single organization or group cannot successfully address hazardous materials response planning. Rather, it must be accomplished through the efforts of local, state, and federal authorities and in partnership with the private sector. Due to various limitations, it is not possible to prepare for every type of release, however, the plan can be written to address those releases that are most likely to occur. Regardless, hazardous materials response plans must be designed to minimize risks to human health and the environment resulting during the intentional or accidental release of a hazardous material. The plan should be written under the authority permitted by... middle of paper... (March 15, 2001). Drexel Safety and Health. Retrieved June 3, 2010, from Drexel Safety and Health: www.drexelsafetyandhealth.com/hazmat/hazmatplan.docHazmat Incidents and Supplies. (n.d.). Retrieved June 3, 2010, from Safety Supplies-Work Gloves-Spill Containment-Janitorial Supplies: http://www.bestvalsup.com/v/vspfiles/hazmat_response_tips_and_supplies.aspPennsylvania Small Business Development Center. (n.d.). Emergency Response Planning: Disaster Preparedness for Small Businesses | pasbdc.org. Retrieved June 3, 2010, from Helping Businesses Start, Grow, and Prosper | pasbdc.org: http://www.pasbdc.org/index/resources/emergency.asp#envemergencyWashoe County LEPC. (2006, March 1). Washoe County Local Emergency Planning Committee. Retrieved June 3, 2010, from Washoe County Local Emergency Planning Committee: http://www.washoelepc.com/pdf/Section1.pdf