Awareness-Level
Lesson 2A Presentation
Hazardous Materials for
First Responders, 3rd Ed.
Are Hazardous Materials Present?
• What clues may indicate the presence of
hazardous materials?
• What information do container shapes,
placards, labels, and other markings give first
responders?
This lesson will help answer these
questions and aid you in identifying the
presence of hazardous materials.
Awareness Level
2A–2
Primary Clues Indicating
Hazardous Materials
• Occupancy types, locations, and pre-incident
•
•
•
•
•
•
surveys
Container shapes
Transportation placards, labels, and markings
Other markings and colors (nontransportation)
Written resources
Senses
Monitoring and detection devices
Awareness Level
2A–3
Purposes of Pre-Incident Surveys
•
•
•
•
Reduce the number of on-site decisions
Reduce oversights
Reduce confusion
Reduce duplication of efforts
(1 of 2)
Awareness Level
2A–4
Purposes of Pre-Incident Surveys
• Identify the following items:
– Exposures to people, property, environment
– Types, quantities, and locations of hazardous
materials
– Dangers of the hazardous materials
– Building features
– Site characteristics
– Possible access/egress difficulties
– Inherent limitations of the responding
organizations
Awareness Level
2A–5
(2 of 2)
Provisions Included in a LERP
• Identifications
– Reporting facilities
– High-risk facilities
– Likely routes for EHS transport
• Methods/procedures to be followed in the event
of any release of an extremely hazardous
substance (EHS)
(1 of 3)
Awareness Level
2A–6
Provisions Included in a LERP
• Designation of a community emergency
coordinator and facility emergency coordinators
• Procedures to be used by coordinators in
notifying:
– Public
– Persons designated in the emergency plan
• Methods for determining the occurrence of a
release and the area or population likely to be
affected by such release
Awareness Level
2A–7
(2 of 3)
Provisions Included in a LERP
• Description of emergency equipment and
facilities in the community
• Evacuation plans
• Training programs
• Methods and schedules for exercising the
emergency plans
(3 of 3)
Awareness Level
2A–8
Commercial Occupancies
Containing Hazardous Materials
• Fuel storage facilities
• Gas/service stations
and convenience
stores
• Paint supply stores
• Plant nurseries,
garden centers, and
agricultural facilities
• Pest control and lawn
•
•
•
•
care companies
Medical facilities
Photo processing
laboratories
Dry cleaners
Plastics and hightechnology factories
(1 of 2)
Awareness Level
2A–9
Commercial Occupancies
Containing Hazardous Materials
• Mercantile concerns
• Chemistry
• Warehouses
• Industrial and utility
laboratories
Lumberyards
Feed/farm stores
Veterinary clinics
Print shops
plants
• Port shipping
facilities
• Treatment storage
disposal facilities
•
•
•
•
(2 of 2)
Awareness Level
2A–10
Hazardous Materials Found
at Private Occupancies
• Drain cleaners
• Pesticides
• Fertilizers
• Paint products
• Flammable liquids
• Propane tanks
Awareness Level
2A–11
Locations Likely to Have
Hazardous Materials Incidents
•
•
•
•
Schools
Private property
Material transfer sites
Locations involving modes of transportation
–
–
–
–
–
Roadways
Railways
Waterways
Airways
Pipelines
Awareness Level
2A–12
Bulk Packaging
• Refers to a packaging, other than that on a
vessel or barge, in which materials are loaded
with no intermediate form of containment
• Meets one of the following criteria:
– Maximum capacity is greater than 119 gallons
(450 L) as a receptacle for a liquid
– Maximum net mass is greater that 882 pounds
(400 kg) or maximum capacity is greater than 119
gallons (450 L) as a receptacle for a solid
– Water capacity is 1,001 pounds (454 kg) or
greater as a receptacle for a gas
Awareness Level
2A–13
Nonbulk Packaging
• Is smaller than minimum criteria established for
bulk packaging
• Composite packages and combination
packages may also be classified as nonbulk
packaging
Awareness Level
2A–14
Atmospheric/Nonpressure
Containers
• Horizontal tank
• Cone roof tank
• Open top floating
• Covered top floating
roof tank
• Covered top floating
roof tank
roof tank with
geodesic dome
• Lifter roof tank
• Vapordome roof tank
• Atmospheric
underground storage
tank
Awareness Level
2A–15
Horizontal Tank
Awareness Level
2A–16
Cone Roof Tank
Awareness Level
2A–17
Open Top Floating Roof Tank
Awareness Level
2A–18
Covered Top Floating Roof Tank
Vents around the rim provide differentiation from cone
roof tanks.
Awareness Level
2A–19
Covered Top Floating Roof
Tank with Geodesic Dome
Awareness Level
2A–20
Lifter Roof Tank
Awareness Level
2A–21
Vapordome Roof Tank
Awareness Level
2A–22
Atmospheric Underground
Storage Tank
Awareness Level
2A–23
Low-Pressure Storage Tanks
and Pressure Vessels
•
•
•
•
•
•
Dome roof tank
Spheroid tank
Noded spheroid tank
Horizontal pressure vessel
Spherical pressure vessel
Cryogenic-liquid storage tank
Awareness Level
2A–24
Dome Roof Tank
Awareness Level
2A–25
Spheroid Tank
Awareness Level
2A–26
Noded Spheroid Tank
Awareness Level
2A–27
Horizontal Pressure Vessel
Awareness Level
2A–28
Spherical Pressure Vessel
Awareness Level
2A–29
Cryogenic-Liquid Storage Tank
Awareness Level
2A–30
Rail Tank Cars
•
•
•
•
•
Nonpressure tank car
Pressure tank car
Cryogenic liquid tank car
Pneumatically unloaded hopper car
High-pressure tube car
Awareness Level
2A–31
Nonpressure Tank Car
Awareness Level
2A–32
Pressure Tank Car
Awareness Level
2A–33
Cryogenic Liquid Tank Car
Awareness Level
2A–34
Pneumatically
Unloaded Hopper Car
Awareness Level
2A–35
High-Pressure Tube Car
Awareness Level
2A–36
Cargo Tank Trucks
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Nonpressure liquid tank
Low-pressure chemical tank
Corrosive liquid tank
High-pressure tank
Cryogenic liquid tank
Compressed-gas/tube trailer
Dry bulk cargo tanker
Awareness Level
2A–37
Nonpressure Liquid Tank
Awareness Level
2A–38
Low-Pressure Chemical Tank
Awareness Level
2A–39
Corrosive Liquid Tank
Awareness Level
2A–40
High-Pressure Tank
Awareness Level
2A–41
Cryogenic Liquid Tank
Awareness Level
2A–42
Compressed-Gas/Tube Trailer
Awareness Level
2A–43
Dry Bulk Cargo Tank
Awareness Level
2A–44
UN/DOT Hazard Classes
•
•
•
•
Class 1: Explosives
Class 2: Gases
Class 3: Flammable and combustible liquids
Class 4: Flammable solids, spontaneously
combustible materials, and dangerous-whenwet materials
• Class 5: Oxidizers and organic peroxides
(1 of 2)
Awareness Level
2A–45
UN/DOT Hazard Classes
• Class 6: Poison (toxic) and poison inhalation
hazard
• Class 7: Radioactive materials
• Class 8: Corrosive materials
• Class 9: Miscellaneous dangerous goods
(2 of 2)
Awareness Level
2A–46
UN Commodity
Identification Numbers
• A four-digit number assigned to each
hazardous material listed in the current ERG
– Often displayed on placards, labels, orange
panels, and/or white diamonds
– May be preceded by the letters NA or UN
– Also appears on shipping papers
• Assists first responders in identifying the
material and referencing it in the ERG
(1 of 4)
Awareness Level
2A–47
UN Commodity
Identification Numbers
• Display methods for UN commodity
identification numbers
– In a white rectangle inside a placard between the
placard symbol and hazard class
– In an orange rectangle beneath the placard
– On a plain white square-on-point display
configuration having the same outside dimensions
as a placard
(2 of 4)
Awareness Level
2A–48
UN Commodity
Identification Numbers
(3 of 4)
Awareness Level
2A–49
UN Commodity
Identification Numbers
• Must be displayed on the following
containers/packages:
–
–
–
–
–
Rail tank cars
Cargo tank trucks
Portable tanks
Bulk packages
Vehicle containers containing large quantities of
hazardous materials
– Certain nonbulk packages
(4 of 4)
Awareness Level
2A–50
Parts of a DOT Placard
Hazard Symbol
Background
Color
Diamond shaped
4-Digit ID Number
or Hazard Class
Designation
Hazard Class Number
Awareness Level
2A–51
Containers on Which DOT
Placards May Be Found
•
•
•
•
•
Bulk packages
Rail tank cars
Cargo tank vehicles
Portable tanks
Unit load devices over 640 cubic feet (18 m3) in
capacity containing hazardous materials
• Certain nonbulk containers
Awareness Level
2A–52
DOT Placard Color Codes
Explosive
Oxidizer
Health Hazard
Water Reactive
Awareness Level
2A–53
Flammable
Nonflammable Gas
DOT Symbols
Explosive
Poison
Oxidizer
Radioactive
Corrosive
Awareness Level
2A–54
Flammable
Nonflammable Gas
DOT Hazard Class 1: Explosives
• Division 1.1 — Explosives with
a mass explosion hazard
• Division 1.2 — Explosives with
a projection hazard
(1 of 3)
Awareness Level
2A–55
DOT Hazard Class 1: Explosives
• Division 1.3 — Explosives with
predominantly a fire hazard
• Division 1.4 — Explosives with
a minor explosion hazard
(2 of 3)
Awareness Level
2A–56
DOT Hazard Class 1: Explosives
• Division 1.5 — Substances that
have a mass explosion hazard
but are very insensitive
• Division 1.6 — Extremely
insensitive detonating articles
(3 of 3)
Awareness Level
2A–57
DOT Hazard Class 2: Gases
• Division 2.1 — Flammable gases
• Division 2.2 — Nonflammable,
nonpoisonous compressed gases
(1 of 2)
Awareness Level
2A–58
DOT Hazard Class 2: Gases
• Division 2.3 — Gases toxic by
inhalation
• Oxygen placard — May be seen
on containers with compressed
gas or refrigerated liquid
(2 of 2)
Awareness Level
2A–59
DOT Hazard Class 3: Flammable
and Combustible Liquids
• Flammable placard
• Gasoline placard
(1 of 2)
Awareness Level
2A–60
DOT Hazard Class 3: Flammable
and Combustible Liquids
• Combustible placard
• Fuel oil placard
(2 of 2)
Awareness Level
2A–61
DOT Hazard Class 4: Flammable Solids,
Spontaneously Combustible Materials, and
Dangerous-When-Wet Materials
• Division 4.1 — Flammable solids
• Division 4.2 — Spontaneously
combustible materials
• Division 4.3 — Dangerous-when-wet
materials
Awareness Level
2A–62
DOT Hazard Class 5: Oxidizers
and Organic Peroxides
• Division 5.1 — Oxidizers
• Division 5.2 — Organic peroxides
Awareness Level
2A–63
DOT Hazard Class 6: Poison (Toxic)
and Poison Inhalation Hazard
• Division 6.1 — Poisonous material
• Division 6.2 — Infectious substances (See labels)
• Packing Group III
(1 of 2)
Awareness Level
2A–64
DOT Hazard Class 6: Poison (Toxic)
and Poison Inhalation Hazard
• Inhalation Hazard Placard
• Harmful Placard
(2 of 2)
Awareness Level
2A–65
DOT Hazard Class 7:
Radioactive Materials
• Radioactive materials
Awareness Level
2A–66
DOT Hazard Class 8:
Corrosive Materials
• Corrosive materials
Awareness Level
2A–67
DOT Hazard Class 9:
Miscellaneous Dangerous Goods
• Miscellaneous placard
• Dangerous placard
Awareness Level
2A–68
Primary Hazard Characteristics of
DOT Hazard Class Materials
• Class 1: Explosives
– Thermal
– Mechanical
• Class 2: Gases
–
–
–
–
Thermal
Asphyxiation
Chemical
Mechanical
(1 of 5)
Awareness Level
2A–69
Primary Hazard Characteristics of
DOT Hazard Class Materials
• Class 3: Flammable and combustible liquids
–
–
–
–
Thermal
Asphyxiation
Chemical
Mechanical
(2 of 5)
Awareness Level
2A–70
Primary Hazard Characteristics of
DOT Hazard Class Materials
• Class 4: Flammable solids, spontaneously
combustible materials, and dangerous-whenwet materials
– Thermal
– Chemical
– Mechanical
• Class 5: Oxidizers and organic peroxides
– Thermal
– Mechanical
(3 of 5)
Awareness Level
2A–71
Primary Hazard Characteristics of
DOT Hazard Class Materials
• Class 6: Poison (toxic) and poison inhalation
hazard
– Chemical
– Thermal
• Class 7: Radioactive materials — Radiological
hazards, including burns and biological effects
(4 of 5)
Awareness Level
2A–72
Primary Hazard Characteristics of
DOT Hazard Class Materials
• Class 8: Corrosive materials
– Chemical
– Thermal
• Class 9: Miscellaneous dangerous goods
– Thermal
– Chemical
(5 of 5)
Awareness Level
2A–73
Characteristics of DOT Labels
• Provide same information as vehicle placards
• Are posted on packages
• Are 3.9-inch (100 mm), square-on-point
diamonds, that (with the exception of Class 7
labels) may or may not have written text
• Require subsidiary risk labels for materials that
meet the definition of more than one hazard
class
Awareness Level
2A–74
Unique DOT Labels
• Explosive subsidiary risk
• Flammable liquid
(1 of 6)
Awareness Level
2A–75
Unique DOT Labels
• Infectious substances
• Biohazard
(2 of 6)
Awareness Level
2A–76
Unique DOT Labels
• Etiological agents
(3 of 6)
Awareness Level
2A–77
Unique DOT Labels
• Radioactive I
• Radioactive II
• Radioactive III
(4 of 6)
Awareness Level
2A–78
Unique DOT Labels
• Fissile
• Empty
(5 of 6)
Awareness Level
2A–79
Unique DOT Labels
• Magnetized material
• Danger (cargo aircraft only)
(6 of 6)
Awareness Level
2A–80
DOT Chart 12 Markings
• Hot
• Marine pollutant
(1 of 4)
Awareness Level
2A–81
DOT Chart 12 Markings
• Inhalation hazard
• Fumigant
(2 of 4)
Awareness Level
2A–82
DOT Chart 12 Markings
• Orientation
• ORM-D
(3 of 4)
Awareness Level
2A–83
DOT Chart 12 Markings
• ORM-D-Air
• Inner packaging
(4 of 4)
Awareness Level
2A–84
Canadian Class 1: Explosives
• Class 1.1 — Mass explosion hazard
• Class 1.2 — Projection hazard
but not a mass explosion hazard
(1 of 3)
Awareness Level
2A–85
Canadian Class 1: Explosives
• Class 1.3 — Fire hazard and either
a minor blast hazard or a minor
projection hazard or both but not
a mass explosion hazard
• Class 1.4 — No significant hazard
beyond the package in the event
of ignition or initiation during transport
(2 of 3)
Awareness Level
2A–86
Canadian Class 1: Explosives
• Class 1.5 — Very insensitive
substances with a mass
explosion hazard
• Class 1.6 — Extremely
insensitive articles with
no mass explosion hazard
(3 of 3)
Awareness Level
2A–87
Canadian Class 2: Gases
• Class 2.1 — Flammable gases
• Class 2.2 — Nonflammable
and nontoxic gases
(1 of 2)
Awareness Level
2A–88
Canadian Class 2: Gases
• Class 2.3 — Toxic gases
• Oxidizing gases
(2 of 2)
Awareness Level
2A–89
Canadian Class 3:
Flammable Liquids
• Flammable liquids
Awareness Level
2A–90
Canadian Class 4: Flammable Solids,
Substances Liable to Spontaneous Combustion,
and Water-Reactive Substances
• Class 4.1 — Flammable solids
• Class 4.2 — Substances liable
to spontaneous combustion
• Class 4.3 — Water-reactive
substances
Awareness Level
2A–91
Canadian Class 5: Oxidizing
Substances and Organic Peroxides
• Class 5.1 — Oxidizing substances
• Class 5.2 — Organic peroxides
Awareness Level
2A–92
Canadian Class 6: Toxic
and Infectious Substances
• Class 6.1 — Toxic substances
• Class 6.2 — Infectious substances
Awareness Level
2A–93
Canadian Class 7:
Radioactive Materials
• Category I
• Category II
• Category III
Awareness Level
2A–94
Canadian Class 8: Corrosives
• Corrosives
Awareness Level
2A–95
Canadian Class 9: Miscellaneous
Products, Substances, or Organisms
• Miscellaneous products,
substances, or organisms
Awareness Level
2A–96
Other Canadian Placards,
Labels, and Markings
• Danger
• Elevated temperature
(1 of 2)
Awareness Level
2A–97
Other Canadian Placards,
Labels, and Markings
• Fumigation
• Marine pollutant
(2 of 2)
Awareness Level
2A–98
Other Markings and Colors
Indicating Hazardous Materials
• Other markings, markings systems, labels,
labeling systems, colors, color-codes, and
signs may indicate the presence of hazardous
materials
– May be as simple as a stenciled word
– May be site-specific
Awareness Level
2A–99
Specialized Systems for
Hazardous Materials
• NFPA 704
• Common hazardous communications labels
• International Organization for Standardization
(ISO)
• Globally harmonized system
• Military markings
• Pipeline identifications
(1 of 2)
Awareness Level
2A–100
Specialized Systems for
Hazardous Materials
•
•
•
•
Piping systems
American Petroleum Institute (API) markings
Pesticide labels
Color codes
(2 of 2)
Awareness Level
2A–101
NFPA 704
Flammability
Health
Instability
(1 of 8)
Awareness Level
2A–102
NFPA 704
• Provides a method for indicating the presence
of hazardous materials at:
–
–
–
–
Commercial facilities
Manufacturing facilities
Institutional facilities
Other fixed-storage facilities
(2 of 8)
Awareness Level
2A–103
NFPA 704
• Not designed for the following situations:
–
–
–
–
–
–
Transportation
General public use
Nonemergency occupational exposures
Explosive and blasting agents
Chronic health hazards
Etiologic agents, and other similar hazards
(3 of 8)
Awareness Level
2A–104
NFPA 704
• Benefits of NFPA 704
– Provides an appropriate signal to first responders
that hazardous materials are present
– Identifies the general hazards and degree of
severity for health, flammability, and instability
– Provides immediate information necessary to
protect lives of the public and emergency
response personnel
(4 of 8)
Awareness Level
2A–105
NFPA 704
• Health — Blue
–
–
–
–
–
4 — Severe hazard
3 — Serious hazard
2 — Moderate hazard
1 — Slight hazard
0 — Minimal hazard
(5 of 8)
Awareness Level
2A–106
NFPA 704
• Flammability — Red
– 4 — Flammable gases, volatile liquids, pyrophoric
materials
– 3 — Ignites at ambient temperatures
– 2 — Ignites when moderately heated
– 1 — Must be preheated to burn
– 0 — Will not burn
(6 of 8)
Awareness Level
2A–107
NFPA 704
• Instability — Yellow
– 4 — Capable of detonation or explosive
decomposition at ambient conditions
– 3 — Capable of detonation or explosive
decomposition with strong initiating source
– 2 — Violent chemical change possible at elevated
temperature and pressure
– 1 — Normally stable, but becomes unstable if
heated
– 0 — Normally stable
(7 of 8)
Awareness Level
2A–108
NFPA 704
• Special hazards
– Located at 6 o’clock
– Have no special background although white is
most often used
– May contain one of two special symbols
– W — Unusual reactivity with water
– OX — Oxidizer
(8 of 8)
Awareness Level
2A–109
Hazard Communications
Labels and Markings
• A variety of labeling systems are used to
comply with the requirements of the OSHA
Hazard Communication Standard (HCS)
–
–
–
–
Many resemble NFPA 704
Communicate hazards under normal conditions
May have differences in ratings
Usually provided on vertically stacked bars
Awareness Level
2A–110
Manufacturer’s Labels
and Signal Words
• Must be used by chemical manufacturers and
importers
• Must include one of four signal words if for
consumer use:
–
–
–
–
CAUTION — Minor health effects
WARNING — Moderate hazards
DANGER — Highest degree of hazard
POISON — Highly toxic (pesticides)
(1 of 2)
Awareness Level
2A–111
Manufacturer’s Labels
and Signal Words
• Must include specific information:
– Name and business address of the manufacturer,
packer, distributor, or seller
– Name of each hazardous ingredient
– Statement of the principal hazard
– Precautionary statements
– Instructions for first-aid treatment
– Instructions for special handling or storage
– Statement “Keep out of the reach of children.”
(2 of 2)
Awareness Level
2A–112
Hazard Communication Symbols
Biological
Chemical
Nuclear/
Radiological
Awareness Level
2A–113
Carcinogen/
Cancer
Canadian WHMIS
Supplier Labels
• Must appear on all controlled products at
workplaces in Canada
• Must have text in English and French
• Must have the WHMIS hatched border
(1 of 2)
Awareness Level
2A–114
Canadian WHMIS
Supplier Labels
• Must contain:
–
–
–
–
–
–
Product and supplier identifier
Statement that MSDS is available
Hazard symbols
Risk phrases
Precautionary measures
First aid measures
(2 of 2)
Awareness Level
2A–115
Canadian WHMIS
Workplace Labels
• Must appear on all controlled products
produced in a workplace or transferred to other
containers by the employer
• Must include:
– Product identifier
– Information for safe handling of the product
– Statement that a MSDS is available
Awareness Level
2A–116
Canadian WHMIS
Hazard Classes
• Class A: Compressed gas
• Class B: Flammable and
combustible material
• Class C: Oxidizing material
(1 of 3)
Awareness Level
2A–117
Canadian WHMIS
Hazard Classes
• Class D: Poisonous and Infectious Materials
– Class D, Division 1: Immediate
and serious toxic effects
– Class D, Division 2: Other toxic effects
– Class D, Division 3: Biohazardous
infectious materials
(2 of 3)
Awareness Level
2A–118
Canadian WHMIS
Hazard Classes
• Class E: Corrosive material
• Class F: Dangerously reactive material
(3 of 3)
Awareness Level
2A–119
U.S. Military Fire
Division Symbols
• Division 1: Mass explosion
– May also be used for Division 5:
Mass Explosion — Very insensitive
explosives
• Division 2: Explosion with
fragment hazard
– May also be used for Division 6:
Nonmass Explosion — Extremely
insensitive ammunition
(1 of 2)
Awareness Level
2A–120
U.S. Military Fire
Division Symbols
• Division 3: Mass fire
• Division 4: Moderate fire — No
blast
(2 of 2)
Awareness Level
2A–121
U.S. Military Hazardous
Chemical Markings
• Wear full protective clothing
(Set One) — Indicates the presence
of highly toxic chemical agents that
may cause death or serious damage
to body functions
– Mnemonic: “Red You’re Dead”
• Wear full protective clothing (Set
Two) — Indicates the presence of
harassing agents
– Mnemonic: “Yellow You’re Mellow”
Awareness Level
2A–122
(1 of 3)
U.S. Military Hazardous
Chemical Markings
• Wear full protective clothing
(Set Three) — Indicates the presence
of white phosphorus and other
spontaneously combustible material
– Mnemonic: “White is Bright”
• Wear Breathing Apparatus — Indicates
the presence of incendiary and readily
flammable chemical agents that present
an intense heat hazard
(2 of 3)
Awareness Level
2A–123
U.S. Military Hazardous
Chemical Markings
• Apply No Water — Indicates a
dangerous reaction will occur if
water is used in an attempt to
extinguish the fire
(3 of 3)
Awareness Level
2A–124
U.S. Military Supplemental
Chemical Hazards Markings
• G-Type Nerve Agents
• VX Nerve Agents
• Incapacitating Nerve Agent
(1 of 2)
Awareness Level
2A–125
U.S. Military Supplemental
Chemical Hazards Markings
• H-type Mustard Agent/
Blister Agent
• Lewisite Blister Agent
(2 of 2)
Awareness Level
2A–126
Pipeline Marker Information
• Signal words CAUTION, WARNING, or
DANGER
• Information describing the transported
commodity
• Name and emergency telephone number of the
carrier
Awareness Level
2A–127
Pipeline Color Codes
•
•
•
•
Yellow — High-hazard materials
Green — Low-hazard liquids or liquid mixtures
Blue — Low-hazard gases or gaseous mixtures
Red — Fire-suppression materials
Awareness Level
2A–128
Pipe Markings
• Identify contents of the pipe
• Additional information if special hazards are
concerns
• Arrows showing direction of flow within the pipe
Awareness Level
2A–129
U.S. and Canadian
Safety Color Codes
• Red — Means Danger or Stop; is used on
containers of flammable liquids, emergency
stop bars, stop buttons, and fire-protection
equipment
• Orange — Means Warning; is used on
hazardous machinery with parts that can crush
or cut or energized equipment
(1 of 3)
Awareness Level
2A–130
U.S. and Canadian
Safety Color Codes
• Yellow — Means Caution; solid yellow, yellow
and black stripes, or yellow and black checkers
may be used to indicate physical hazards such
as tripping hazards; also used on containers of
corrosive or unstable materials
• Green — Marks safety equipment such as firstaid stations, safety showers, and exit routes
(2 of 3)
Awareness Level
2A–131
U.S. and Canadian
Safety Color Codes
• Blue — Marks safety information signage such
as labels or markings indicating the type of
required personal protective equipment (PPE)
(3 of 3)
Awareness Level
2A–132
Summary
• Awareness-level first responders need to be
able to identify the possible presence of
hazardous materials at an incident. There are
many clues that first responders need to be
aware of and knowledgeable about.
• Awareness-level first responders should be
familiar with transportation placards, labels, and
markings as well as other clues such as
container shapes and written resources.
Awareness Level
2A–133
Awareness-Level
Lesson 2A Presentation
Hazardous Materials for
First Responders, 3rd Ed.