Hazardous materials, or HazMat for short, are substances that contain ingredients that may be harmful to your health. They contain materials that may be lethal, corrosive, toxic, irritant, sensitizing, mutagenic, teratogenic or carcinogenic by nature. These hazardous materials can cause death, serious injury, long lasting health effects, and damage to structure and property. Examples of hazmat are explosives, flammable and combustible substances, poisons and radioactive materials.