Awareness-Level
Lesson 2B Presentation
Hazardous Materials for
First Responders, 3rd Ed.
What Types of Hazardous
Materials Are Present?
• What written resources can give first
responders information about hazardous
materials?
• How do I use the ERG?
This lesson will help answer these
questions and aid you in determining the
type of hazardous material present and
appropriate actions to take.
Awareness Level
2B–2
Sources for Names of
Haz Mat in Facilities
• MSDSs
• Inventory records and other facility documents
• Signs, markings, container shapes, and other
labels
Awareness Level
2B–3
Sources for Names of Haz Mat at
Transportation Incidents
• ERG
• Shipping papers
Awareness Level
2B–4
Shipping Paper Information
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Shipper’s name and address
Receiver’s name and address
Proper shipping name of material(s)
Hazard class of material(s)
UN/NA identification number
Packing group
Gross weight or volume of material(s) shipped
(1 of 2)
Awareness Level
2B–5
Shipping Paper Information
• First-listed order of the materials on the
shipping papers
• “X” placed before the shipping name in the
column captioned “HM” for hazardous material
(“X” may be replaced by “RQ” when the
material is considered a reportable quantity)
• Emergency response telephone number
(2 of 2)
Awareness Level
2B–6
Shipping Paper Entries
Indicating Hazardous Materials
•
•
•
•
•
Proper shipping name of material(s)
Hazard class/division of material(s)
UN/NA identification number
Packing group
“X” placed before the shipping name in the
column captioned “HM” for hazardous material
(“X” may be replaced by “RQ” when the
material is considered a reportable quantity)
Awareness Level
2B–7
Shipping Paper Identification
• Air transport
– Shipping paper name — Air bill
– Location of shipping paper — Cockpit
– Responsible party — Pilot
• Highway transport
– Shipping paper name — Bill of lading
– Location of shipping paper — Vehicle cab
– Responsible party — Driver
(1 of 2)
Awareness Level
2B–8
Shipping Paper Identification
• Rail transport
– Shipping paper name — Waybill/consist
– Location of shipping paper — Engine or caboose
– Responsible party — Conductor
• Water transport
– Shipping paper name — Dangerous cargo
manifest
– Location of shipping paper — Bridge or pilothouse
– Responsible party — Captain or master
(2 of 2)
Awareness Level
2B–9
Where to Find an MSDS
•
•
•
•
•
•
Manufacturer of the material
Supplier
Shipper
Emergency response center
Facility’s hazard communication plan
Shipping papers and containers
Awareness Level
2B–10
U.S. MSDS Information
•
•
•
•
Top — Chemical Identity
Section I — Manufacturer’s ID and Information
Section II — Hazardous Ingredients
Section III — Physical and Chemical
Characteristics
• Section IV — Fire and Explosion Hazard Data
• Section V — Reactivity (Instability) Data
(1 of 2)
Awareness Level
2B–11
U.S. MSDS Information
• Section VI — Health Hazard Data
• Section VII — Precautions for Safe Handling
and Use
• Section VIII — Control Measures
(2 of 2)
Awareness Level
2B–12
MSDS Entries Indicating
Hazardous Materials
•
•
•
•
•
•
Hazardous ingredients
Fire and explosion hazard data
Reactivity data
Health hazard data
Precautions for safe handling and use
Control measures
Awareness Level
2B–13
Canadian MSDS Information
•
•
•
•
•
•
Section 1 — Hazardous ingredients
Section 2 — Preparation information
Section 3 — Product information
Section 4 — Physical data
Section 5 — Fire or explosion hazard
Section 6 — Reactivity data
(1 of 2)
Awareness Level
2B–14
Canadian MSDS Information
• Section 7 — Toxicological properties
• Section 8 — Preventative measures
• Section 9 — First aid measures
(2 of 2)
Awareness Level
2B–15
Emergency Response Guidebook
• The Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG) is
primarily for use at a dangerous
goods/hazardous materials incident occurring
on a highway or railroad.
• Explosives are not listed individually but appear
under the general heading Explosives on the
first page of the ID Number Index and
alphabetically in the Name of Material index.
(1 of 2)
Awareness Level
2B–16
Emergency Response Guidebook
• The letter P following the Guide number in the
yellow-bordered and blue-bordered pages
identifies those materials that present a
polymerization hazard under certain conditions.
• First responders should be familiar with the
ERG before using it in an emergency!
(2 of 2)
Awareness Level
2B–17
ERG ID Number Index
(Yellow-Bordered Pages)
• Index hazardous materials in numerical order of
their 4-digit ID numbers
• Follow ID number with material’s assigned
ERG Guide number followed by the material’s
name
• Highlight substances that release toxic
inhalation hazard (TIH) gases
Awareness Level
2B–18
Using the ID Number Index
• Example questions:
What material has the ID number 1090?
Is this material a TIH?
What guide page should be consulted?
(1 of 2)
Awareness Level
2B–19
Using the ID Number Index
(2 of 2)
Awareness Level
2B–20
ERG Material Name Index
(Blue-Bordered Pages)
• Alphabetically index hazardous materials by
name
• Follow the material’s name with the ERG Guide
number and the material’s 4-digit ID number
• Highlight substances that release toxic
inhalation hazard (TIH) gases
Awareness Level
2B–21
Using the Material Name Index
• Example questions:
What guide page would be used for
Sulphuric (Sulfuric) acid?
Is this material a TIH?
(1 of 2)
Awareness Level
2B–22
Using the Material Name Index
(2 of 2)
Awareness Level
2B–23
Initial Action Guides
(Orange-Bordered Pages)
• Provide safety recommendations and general
hazard information
• Present each guide in a two-page format
– Potential hazards section
– Public safety section
– Emergency response section
(1 of 2)
Awareness Level
2B–24
Initial Action Guides
(Orange-Bordered Pages)
(2 of 2)
Awareness Level
2B–25
Initial Action Guides —
Potential Hazards Section
• Describes potential fire and explosion hazards
and health effects upon exposure
• Lists highest potential first
• Should be consulted first, allowing first
responders to make decisions regarding the
protection of the emergency response team as
well as the surrounding population
Awareness Level
2B–26
Initial Action Guides —
Public Safety Section
• Provides directions for taking immediate public
safety and incident isolation measures
• Describes type of protective clothing and
respiratory protection that should be worn
• Lists preliminary fire and spill evacuation
distances for small and large spills and fire
situations
Awareness Level
2B–27
Using the Initial Action Guides —
Public Safety Section
• Example question:
What protective clothing should be used for
nitrogen trioxide?
(1 of 2)
Awareness Level
2B–28
Using the Initial Action Guides—
Public Safety Section
(2 of 2)
Awareness Level
2B–29
Initial Action Guides —
Emergency Response Section
• Covers emergency response actions for fires
and spills and leaks
• Outlines special precautions for incidents that
involve fire, spill, or chemical exposure
• Indexes materials in groups that possess
similar chemical and toxicological
characteristics
Awareness Level
2B–30
Table of Initial Isolation
and Protective Action Distances
(Green-Bordered Pages)
• List TIH materials by ID number in Table of
Initial Isolation and Protective Action Distances
• Include water-reactive materials that produce
toxic gases in Table of Water-Reactive TIH
Materials
Awareness Level
2B–31
Using the Table of Initial Isolation
and Protective Action Distances
• Example questions: Assume you are
responding to a small spill involving a material
with ID No. 1953, liquefied gas, flammable,
poisonous, not otherwise specified (n.o.s.)
(Inhalation Hazard Zone B).
What is the initial isolation distance?
What distance should persons downwind be
protected during the day?
(1 of 2)
Awareness Level
2B–32
Using the Table of Initial Isolation
and Protective Action Distances
(2 of 2)
Awareness Level
2B–33
Methods for Determining the ERG
Page for a Hazardous Material
• Using the numerical index for UN/NA ID
numbers
• Using the alphabetical index for chemical
names
• Using the Table of Placards and Initial
Response Guides
Awareness Level
2B–34
General Types of Hazards
Found on Each Guide Page
• Fire and explosion hazard
• Health hazard
Awareness Level
2B–35
Small Spills vs. Large Spills
• Small spill — A spill that involves a single, small
package (such as a drum containing up to
approximately 53 gallons [200 L], a small
cylinder, or a small leak from a large package
• Large spill — A spill that involves a spill from a
large package, or multiple spills from many
small packages
Awareness Level
2B–36
Initial Isolation Distance
• Distance within which all persons are
considered for evacuation in all directions from
the actual spill/leak source
Awareness Level
2B–37
Protective Action Distance
• A downwind distance from a spill/leak source
within which protective actions should be
implemented (steps taken to preserve the
health and safety of emergency responders
and the public)
Awareness Level
2B–38
Inventory Records
and Facility Documents
• Chemical Inventory Lists (CILs)
– Hazard Communication Standard requires U.S.
employers to maintain CILs
– Contain information about locations of materials
within a facility
– Useful in identifying containers that have been
damaged or missing labels or markings
(1 of 2)
Awareness Level
2B–39
Inventory Records
and Facility Documents
• Other documents and records
– Shipping and receiving documents
– Inventory records
– Risk management and hazardous communication
plans
– Chemical inventory reports
(2 of 2)
Awareness Level
2B–40
Limitations of Using Senses to
Detect Hazardous Materials
• All but vision require close contact with
hazardous material in order to hear, smell,
taste, or feel it.
• Deliberately using the human senses to detect
the presence of hazardous materials is both
unreliable and unsafe.
Awareness Level
2B–41
WARNING
Deliberately using the human senses to
detect the presence of hazardous
materials is both unreliable and unsafe.
It could kill you!
Awareness Level
2B–42
Equipment That May Indicate
Hazardous Materials Presence
• Loading/unloading
•
•
•
•
facilities
Forklifts
Dollies and hand
trucks
Booms
A-frames
•
•
•
•
Ramps
Assorted riggings
Loading docks
Fume hood vents or
chemical exhaust
stacks
• Spray rigs
Awareness Level
2B–43
Visible Physical Actions or Chemical
Reactions Indicating Haz Mat
•
•
•
•
•
•
Spreading vapor cloud or smoke
Unusual colored smoke
Flames
Melting gloves
Changes in vegetation
Container deterioration
(1 of 2)
Awareness Level
2B–44
Visible Physical Actions or Chemical
Reactions Indicating Haz Mat
•
•
•
•
Bulging containers
Dead or dying birds, animals, insects, or fish
Discoloration of valves or piping
Sick humans
(2 of 2)
Awareness Level
2B–45
Difficulties in Determining
Names of Hazardous Materials
• Fires or explosions can destroy shipping
papers, labels, and other markings
• Shipments may contain mixed loads
• Shipments may contain quantities of materials
so small that placards are not required
• Facilities may not be in compliance with
regulations requiring MSDSs
(1 of 2)
Awareness Level
2B–46
Difficulties in Determining
Names of Hazardous Materials
• Mistakes can be made in labeling and
placarding
• Responders may be unable to get close
enough to the material or container to make an
accurate identification
(2 of 2)
Awareness Level
2B–47
Summary
• Written resources are an important tool in
helping first responders identify hazardous
materials. Important written resources include
MSDSs, shipping papers, the ERG, as well as
other inventory records, facility documents,
signs, markings, container shapes, and labels.
• First responders should know where to find
written resources identifying hazardous
materials in both fixed facility and transportation
(1 of 2)
incidents.
Awareness Level
2B–48
Summary
• The ERG is a primary guide to aid first
responders in identifying hazardous materials.
First responders should be familiar with and
know how to use the ERG before an incident.
• The presence of hazardous materials may also
be indicated by equipment or by visible physical
actions or chemical reactions.
(2 of 2)
Awareness Level
2B–49
Awareness-Level
Lesson 2B Presentation
Hazardous Materials for
First Responders, 3rd Ed.