Hazard facts for kids

NFPA diamonds show the hazards for chemicals. The blue square tells how bad it is to your health. The yellow square tells how easily it can react with things. The red square tells how easily it can burn. The white square has any extra hazards. 0 in the squares is least hazardous; 4 is most hazardous.

A hazard is something that can be dangerous. Fire, Explosives and Fuel are all examples of hazards. Many chemicals can be a hazard. There are ways to get rid of hazardous things. There are different types of hazards; some can catch things on fire; some can burn skin; some can irritate the eyes, etc.

The term 'hazard' is used in driving instruction, and in some traffic-related laws. It simply means 'something a motorist should notice and drive accordingly'. For example, children playing on the pavement (U.S. = sidewalk; Austr. = footpath) are a potential hazard. If any go into the actual road, then they are a real hazard, and motorist should do whatever is safe.

Images for kids

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  A proposed level crossing at railroad tracks would result in "the worse death trap in Los Angeles", a California traffic engineer warned in 1915, because of the impaired view of the railway by automobile drivers. A viaduct was built instead.

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  Wreck on rocks off Orchard Beach, New York, The Bronx during the winter of 2007.

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  Ukrainian "danger" road sign. Stop for dangers, including traffic accidents, natural disasters or other road obstructions

See also

In Spanish: Peligro para niños