Final answer:
Flammable and combustible materials pose risks of fire, explosion, and toxic fume inhalation, requiring strict adherence to safety instructions and awareness of hazards indicated by the NFPA hazard diamond.
Step-by-step explanation:
The hazards of flammable and combustible materials include the risk of fire or explosion especially when exposed to sparks, open flames, or high temperatures as in the cases of fuel combustion. These materials can produce fumes that may be toxic when inhaled, posing a health hazard such as secondhand smoke and carbon monoxide poisoning. Handling these substances requires following instructions carefully to avoid these dangers. An important tool for identifying the risks of chemical substances is the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) hazard diamond, sometimes called a "fire diamond" or "hazard diamond," which provides valuable summarized information about the dangers of a chemical.
Everyday examples of such hazards include combustion of sulfur-based fuels like diesel and coal, which may release harmful gases. The fumes from paints, solvents, and dry cleaning fluids should also be handled with caution as they may contain harmful chemicals like tetrachloroethylene. Even past materials like asbestos, which are no longer in use due to the severe health risks they pose, represent the potential dangers associated with hazardous materials in our environment.