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stages of an investigation. The Project Manager will often be forced to select protective measures based on little or no information. iFinally, workers are subject not only to the hazards of direct exposure, but also to dangers posed by the disorderly physical environment of hazardous waste sites and the'stress of working in protective clothing. The combination of all these conditions 'results in a working environment that is characterized by numerous and varied hazards which: ❑ May pose an immediate danger}to life or health L ❑ May not be immediately obvious or identifiable ❑ May vary according to the location on site and the task being performed ❑ May change as site activities progress. General categories of hazards that may k el present at a site are described in this section. In approaching a site, it is prudent to assume that all these hazards are present until site characterization has shown otherwise. 5.1 Chemical Exposure Preventing exposure to toxic chemicals is a primary concern at hazardous waste sites. Most sites contain a variety of chemical :substances in gaseous, liquid, or solid form. These substances can enter the unprotected body by inhalation, skin absorption, ingestion, or through a puncture wound (injection). A contaminant can cause damage at. F the point of contact or can act systematically, causing a toxic effect at a part of the body distant from the point of initial contact. Chemical exposures are generally divided into two categories: acute or chronic. Systems resulting from acute exposures usually occur during or shortly after. exposure to a sufficiently high concentration of a contaminant. The concentration required to produce such effects varies widely from chemical to' chemical. The term "chronic exposure" generally refers to exposures to "low" concentrations of a contaminant over a long period of time. The "low" concentrations required to produce symptoms of chronic exposure S:\BFS\STOCKTON\HSPOOIJ 10/15/99 5-2