2008 Emergency 2008 Emergency Response Response Guidebook Guidebook (ERG)(ERG)

A guidebook for First Responders A guidebook for First Responders during the initial phase of a during the initial phase of a dangerous goods/hazardous dangerous goods/hazardous materials incidentmaterials incident

Orientation to the ERGOrientation to the ERG

The ERG 2008 was developed jointly The ERG 2008 was developed jointly by:by:DOT (USA)DOT (USA)

TC (Canada) TC (Canada)

SCT (Mexico)SCT (Mexico)

with the collaboration of CIQUIME (Argentina)with the collaboration of CIQUIME (Argentina)

This guide was developed for use by Firefighters, Police, This guide was developed for use by Firefighters, Police, and other emergency services personnel who may be and other emergency services personnel who may be the first to arrive at the scene of a HAZMATthe first to arrive at the scene of a HAZMAT

Orientation to the ERGOrientation to the ERG

The ERG is designed to The ERG is designed to – assist first responders in making initial assist first responders in making initial

decisionsdecisions– primarily for use with dangerous goods primarily for use with dangerous goods

incidents involving roadways and railroadsincidents involving roadways and railroads

The ERG may be of limited value for The ERG may be of limited value for use at fixed facilitiesuse at fixed facilities

It is not designed to be a substitute for It is not designed to be a substitute for product specific informationproduct specific information

Orientation to the ERGOrientation to the ERG

First Responders must be trained First Responders must be trained in the use of this guidebookin the use of this guidebook

– Occupational Safety and Health Occupational Safety and Health Administration 29 CFR 1910.120Administration 29 CFR 1910.120

– US Environmental Protection US Environmental Protection Agency 40 CFR Part 311Agency 40 CFR Part 311

2008 ERG contents2008 ERG contents

Yellow sectionYellow section Blue sectionBlue section Orange sectionOrange section Green sectionGreen section Other informational pagesOther informational pages

Yellow sectionYellow section

An index list of dangerous goods in order of An index list of dangerous goods in order of UNID numberUNID number

If a product in this section is highlighted, the If a product in this section is highlighted, the user should first turn to the green section for user should first turn to the green section for the table of initial isolation and protective the table of initial isolation and protective action distancesaction distances

A guide number is provided (orange)A guide number is provided (orange)

Blue sectionBlue section

An index list of dangerous goods in An index list of dangerous goods in alphabetical orderalphabetical order

If a product in this section is highlighted, the If a product in this section is highlighted, the user should first turn to the green section for user should first turn to the green section for the table of initial isolation and protective the table of initial isolation and protective action distancesaction distances

A guide number is provided (orange)A guide number is provided (orange)

Orange sectionOrange section

This is the most important section of the This is the most important section of the guidebook because it is where the safety guidebook because it is where the safety recommendations are providedrecommendations are provided

It comprises 62 individual sections presented It comprises 62 individual sections presented in a two page format designed to cover a in a two page format designed to cover a group of similar materialsgroup of similar materials

The individual guides are divided into three The individual guides are divided into three sections. Potential hazards, public safety, sections. Potential hazards, public safety, and emergency responseand emergency response

Potential hazardsPotential hazards

Fire or explosionFire or explosion

HealthHealth

– The highest potential hazard is listed The highest potential hazard is listed firstfirst

Public safetyPublic safety

Immediate isolation of the siteImmediate isolation of the site

Protective clothingProtective clothing

Evacuation Evacuation

– SpillsSpills

– Fire Fire

Emergency responseEmergency response

FireFire

Spill or leakSpill or leak

First aid First aid

Green sectionGreen section

Contains in order of UNID number, toxic Contains in order of UNID number, toxic inhalation hazards (TIH)inhalation hazards (TIH)

– Chemical warfare agentsChemical warfare agents

– Water reactive materials which may produce toxic Water reactive materials which may produce toxic gasses upon contact with watergasses upon contact with water

Divided by small and large spillsDivided by small and large spills

Subdivided by initial isolation, day, and nightSubdivided by initial isolation, day, and night

Other informational Other informational pagespages

White pages which contain other White pages which contain other valuable informationvaluable information

– Front of the bookFront of the book

– Preceding the Green section of the Preceding the Green section of the bookbook

– Back of the bookBack of the book

Front informational Front informational pagespages

Contain information pertaining toContain information pertaining to– Where to locate shipping papersWhere to locate shipping papers– How to use this guidebookHow to use this guidebook– A users guideA users guide– Safety precautionsSafety precautions– Who to call for assistanceWho to call for assistance– A list of the UNID classesA list of the UNID classes– Introduction to the table of placards, and a list Introduction to the table of placards, and a list

of placardsof placards

Front informational pages Front informational pages (cont.)(cont.)

Contain information pertaining toContain information pertaining to– Rail car identification chartRail car identification chart– Road trailer identification chartRoad trailer identification chart– Hazard identification codes displayed on Hazard identification codes displayed on

some intermodal containerssome intermodal containers– A note about when the responder should A note about when the responder should

go to the table of initial isolation go to the table of initial isolation distances if the product is not on firedistances if the product is not on fire

Middle informational Middle informational pagespages

Contain information pertaining toContain information pertaining to– Introduction to the table of initial Introduction to the table of initial

isolation and protective action isolation and protective action distancesdistances

– Protective action decision factors to Protective action decision factors to considerconsider

– Protective actionsProtective actions– Background of the initial isolation and Background of the initial isolation and

protective action distance tableprotective action distance table– How to use the tableHow to use the table

Back informational Back informational pagespages

Contain information pertaining toContain information pertaining to– Protective clothingProtective clothing– Fire and spill controlFire and spill control– Criminal/terrorist use of Criminal/terrorist use of

chemical/biological/radiological agentschemical/biological/radiological agents– Indicators of a possible chemical Indicators of a possible chemical

incidentincident– Indicators of a possible radiological Indicators of a possible radiological

incidentincident– GlossaryGlossary– Publication and distribution informationPublication and distribution information

Final thoughtsFinal thoughts

A A “P”“P” following the guide number in the following the guide number in the yellow and blue pages identifies those yellow and blue pages identifies those materials which present a materials which present a polymerization (any process in which polymerization (any process in which relatively small molecules, called relatively small molecules, called monomersmonomers, combine chemically to , combine chemically to produce a very large chainlike or produce a very large chainlike or networknetwork molecule, called a polymer) molecule, called a polymer) hazard under certain conditions.hazard under certain conditions.

2008 ERG’s are available for public 2008 ERG’s are available for public safety authorities free of charge. safety authorities free of charge.

Questions Questions

Workbook Workbook