hazmat

[ˈhæzˌmæt]
nounpl: hazmats
material perigoso
1. Short for hazardous materials; substances or goods that pose a risk to health, safety, property, or the environment during transport, storage, or handling
The hazmat team was called to clean up the chemical spill.
A equipe de materiais perigosos foi acionada para limpar o derramamento químico.
2. Relating to the transportation or handling of dangerous materials
He works in hazmat transport and must follow strict regulations.
Ele trabalha no transporte de materiais perigosos e deve seguir regulamentações rigorosas.
3. A worker or professional trained to handle hazardous materials
The hazmat arrived at the scene with proper protective equipment.
O profissional de materiais perigosos chegou ao local com equipamento de proteção apropriado.
Hazmat is primarily used in English-speaking countries and is increasingly adopted in Brazil's industrial and regulatory contexts. In the USA, hazmat compliance is strictly enforced by federal agencies (EPA, DOT), and hazmat certification is required for transport workers. In Brazil, the term 'material perigoso' is preferred in official documentation, though 'hazmat' is used in international trade and specialized industries. This reflects Brazil's adoption of English terminology in technical and safety professional fields.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
hazardous materialdangerous goodstoxic substancehazardous waste
Antonyms / Antônimos
safe materialnon-toxic substance

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
material perigoso
Standard term used in official documentation and safety regulations
São Paulo
material perigoso / hazmat
Both terms commonly used in industrial and transport sectors
Rio de Janeiro
material perigoso
More formal usage in official contexts
Portugal
matéria perigosa / mercadoria perigosa
Portuguese prefers 'mercadoria perigosa' in transport regulations

Related Words

HAZWOPEREPADOTchemical spillprotective equipmentcontainmentdecontamination

Related Idioms & Phrases

hazmat suit
hazmat team
hazmat response
hazmat certification
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