ERG

If an index entry is highlighted in green and there is no threat of fire, what do you do?

Flip to Table 1 in the green bordered pages, look up the I.D. number/material name, and I.D. the Initial Isolation/Protective Action Distances.

If an index entry is highlighted in green and there is a threat of fire or fire involvement, what do you do?

Go to the appropriate Orange paged guide number and apply the evacuation information from the "Public Safety" section.

What does it mean if an index entry is highlighted in green?

Green highlighted index entries indicate that it is a Toxic Inhalation Hazard (TIH) material, chemical warfare agent, or a Dangerous Water Reactive Material (that produces toxic gas upon contact with water).

If a guide number has a "P" next to it, what does that mean?

It indicates that the material may undergo violet polymerization if subjected to heat or contamination.

What is "Initial Isolation Distance"?

It is a distance within which all persons should be considered for evacuation in all directions from the actual spill/leak source.

How many individual orange guides are there?

62. And they are presented in a two page format.

How do you approach a HazMat scene?

Uphill, upwind, and upstream of the incident if at all possible.

What are the 3 steps to using the ERG?

1) I.D. the material. Look for I.D. number (placard, orange panel or shipping paper); Gather name from the shipping paper 2) I.D. the 3 digit guide number (either by the I.D. number index in the yellow pages or by proper chemical name in the blue pages). 3) Turn to the numbered guide in the orange pages.

How is the ERG laid out?

1) Non-bordered white pages (how to read the ERG, class I.D., placard I.D. rail car/road trailer chart, pipeline info). 2) Yellow bordered pages (index list of dangerous goods in numerical order of I.D. number). 3) Blue bordered pages (index list of dangerous goods in alphabetical order of material name). 4) Orange bordered guide pages (Safety recommendations provided. the left side of the guide gives you safety recommendations in the form of "Potential Hazards" and "Public Safety" info, the right side gives you "Emergency Response" info). 5) Green bordered pages (four separate portions to the green pages... First portion is a "how to" use the green pages; second portion is "Table 1", third portion is "Table 2" and fourth portion is "Table 3"). 6) Another non-bordered white pages (containing contents, definitions, and guides for various types of HazMat and PPE use).

What information can be found on shipping documents (papers)?

1) The 4 digit I.D. number or UN. 2) Proper shipping name. 3) Hazard class or division number of material. 4) Packing group. 5) Emergency response telephone number. 6) Info describing the hazards of the material.

What do you do if a reference to a guide cannot be found or the incident is believed to be involving dangerous goods?

1) Use guide 111 if you are unable to I.D. the substance. 2) Use guide 112 for Explosives (but not explosives in class 1.4 and 1.6). 3) Use guide 114 for Explosives in class 1.4 and 1.6.

What divisions are in Class 1: Explosives?

Division 1.1: Explosives w/ a mass explosion hazard. Division 1.2: Explosives w/ a projection hazard. Division 1.3: Explosives w/ predominantly a fire hazard. Division 1.4: Explosives w/ no significant blast hazard. Division 1.5: Very insensitive explosives w/ a mass explosion hazard. Division 1.6: Extremely insensitive articles.

What divisions are in Class 2: Gases?

Division 2.1: Flammable Gases. Division 2.2: Non-flammable, non-toxic gases. Division 2.3 Toxic gases.

What divisions are in Class 4: Flammable Solids?

Division 4.1: Flammable solids. Divisions 4.2: Spontaneously combustible materials. Divisions 4.3: Water reactive substances. Dangerous when wet materials.

What divisions are in Class 5: Oxidizing substances and organic peroxides?

Division 5.1: Oxidizing substances Division 5.2: Organic peroxides.

What divisions are in Class 6: Toxic substances and infectious substances?

Division 6.1: Toxic substances. Division 6.2: Infectious substances.

What is a Toxic Inhalation Hazard (TIH)?

It is a gas or volatile liquid which is known to be so toxic to humans as to pose a health hazard during transportation. It has a lethal concentration 50 (LC50) value of no more than 5000 ppm.

What is "Protective Action Distance"?

It is those steps taken to preserve the health and safety of emergency responders and the public. People in that area should be evacuated or sheltered in place.

In the green bordered pages, what does Table 2 cover?

Lists by I.D. number order, materials that produce large amounts of Toxic Inhalation Hazard (TIH) gases when spilled in water and identifies the TIH gases produced.

In the green bordered pages, what does Table 1 cover?

Lists, by I.D. number order, TIH materials including certain Chem. Warfare Agents and Water Reactive Materials which produce toxic gases upon water contact. This table provides two different types of recommended safe distances which are "initial isolation distances" and "protective action distances". This table breaks it down further for protective distances for small and large spills.

What divisions are in Class 3: Flammable Liquids?

No specific divisions in class 3

What divisions are in Class 7: Radioactive materials?

No specific divisions in class 7.

What divisions are in Class 8: Corrosive materials?

No specific divisions in class 8.

What divisions are in Class 9: Misc. hazardous materials?

No specific divisions in class 9.

Toxic is synonymous with...?

Poisonous or poison.

in the green bordered pages, what does Table 3 cover?

Provides, by alphabetical order of material name, initial isolation and protective action distances for six Toxic Inhalation Hazard material that may be more commonly encountered (Ammonia, Chlorine, Ethylene Oxide, Hydrogen Chloride, Hydrogen Fluoride, and Sulfer Dioxide/Sulphur Dioxide).

Shipping documents (papers) are synonymous and can be found where in Road/Rail/Aviation/Marine?

Road: Kept in the cab of the vehicle. Rail: Kept in possession of a crew member. Aviation: Kept in possession of the aircraft pilot. Marine: Kept in a holder on the bridge of a vessel.

What is considered a Small spill and what is considered a large spill?

Small Spill: 55 gallons or less of liquid. 660 pounds or less of a solid when spilled in water. Large Spill: More than 55 gallons of a liquid. More than 660 pounds of a solid spilled in water.

How many hazard classes are there and what are they?

There are 9 hazard classes. 1) Explosives. 2) Gases. 3) Flammable Liquids. 4) Flammable Solids. 5) Oxidizing substances/organic peroxides. 6) Toxic substances and Infectious substances. 7) Radioactive Materials. 8) Corrosive Substances. 9) Misc. hazardous materials.