Using the Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG)

In the ERG book itself, the contents are divided into color-coded sections as described below.聽 Note that this topic is about using the ERG book itself, as a separate resource. If you want to learn about the ERG information included in CAMEO 365bet娱乐, there is a separate topic on that.

White Pages

At the beginning of the ERG book, there is a collection of聽white pages. These include instructional materials for using the ERG, along with many useful reference pages related to shipping papers, documentation, hazard classification, and transport vehicle identification.

Emergency responders may want to take particular note of the聽Table of Markings, Labels, and Placards. This guide shows the placards that must be displayed on vehicles carrying hazardous materials, along with the number of the ERG initial response guideUntil you can identify a chemical by name or UN/NA number, the Emergency Response Guidebook provides an initial response guide assignment based on the placard. These initial response guides provide the most significant risk and/or hazard information for each type of placard. Once you have better identification for a chemical, switch to the chemical's specific ERG response guide number. for the class of substances represented by each placard. (This information is also included in the Placards Guide in the CAMEO 365bet娱乐' help.) See example of the placard table in useSee example of the placard table in use

For example, if you saw the placard shown below on a drum, you could use the Table of Markings, Labels, and Placards in the ERG to match the placard to an ERG initial response guideUntil you can identify a chemical by name or UN/NA number, the Emergency Response Guidebook provides an initial response guide assignment based on the placard. These initial response guides provide the most significant risk and/or hazard information for each type of placard. Once you have better identification for a chemical, switch to the chemical's specific ERG response guide number.. (This information is also available in the Placards Guide in the CAMEO 365bet娱乐' help.)

In the Table of Markings, Labels, and Placards, the number 136 appears near the placard for spontaneously combustibleCan be ignited and burned. substances. This is the number of the initial response guide for this chemical and similar substances.

At left, a placard on a drum indicating that the substance inside of it is spontaneously combustible. At right, part of the Table of Markings, Labels, and Placards from the ERG, showing how you can use the placard to find the initial response guide number.

Next, you would open the orange-bordered pages in the ERG and find response guide 136, which is for "Substances - Spontaneously Combustible - Toxic and/or Corrosive (Air-Reactive)."

Tip: If you're using the Placards Guide in the CAMEO 365bet娱乐' help, you can click on the number next to the placard to link directly to the response guide.

An excerpt from response guide 136 from the ERG.

Note:聽The initial response guides provide the most significant risk and/or hazard information for each type of placard. However, once you have better identification for a chemical (such as a name or UN/NA numberUnited Nations-North American number. (Also UN number or DOT number.) Four-digit number identifying an individual chemical or group of chemicals with similar characteristics. Required on shipping papers; often shown on placards. The four-digit number is often preceded by UN (such as UN1219).), switch to the chemical's specific ERG response guide number. (The response guides are available in CAMEO 365bet娱乐 as part of the UN/NA datasheets.)

Yellow Pages:聽365bet娱乐 Listed by ID Number

Look up the identification number (UN/NA numberUnited Nations-North American number. (Also UN number or DOT number.) Four-digit number identifying an individual chemical or group of chemicals with similar characteristics. Required on shipping papers; often shown on placards. The four-digit number is often preceded by UN (such as UN1219).) in the yellow-bordered pages, then find the guide number next to it. Look in the orange-bordered pages for the response guide with that number. See example of looking up by ID numberSee example of looking up by ID number

For example, if you saw the UN/NA numberUnited Nations-North American number. (Also UN number or DOT number.) Four-digit number identifying an individual chemical or group of chemicals with similar characteristics. Required on shipping papers; often shown on placards. The four-digit number is often preceded by UN (such as UN1219). "1219" on a placard on a tank that had been damaged during a storm, you could use the yellow-bordered pages of the ERG to look up that number in order to identify the colorless liquid that is leaking from the tank.

At left, a placard with the UN/NA number 1219 on it. At right, an excerpt from the yellow-bordered ERG pages, showing how you can look up UN/NA numbers to find out more information.

There are two names listed for this UN/NA number: Isopropanol and Isopropyl alcohol. However, both names point to response guide 129, which you can find in the orange-bordered pages.

An excerpt from ERG Response Guide 129 for flammable liquids (water-miscible/noxious).

Blue Pages: 365bet娱乐 Listed by Name

Look up the chemical name in the alphabetical list of shipping names on the聽blue-bordered pages, then find the guide number next to it. Look in the orange-bordered pages for the response guide with that number. See example of looking up by nameSee example of looking up by name

For example, if you saw the name "chlorine" stenciled on the side of a rail car that had been involved in a collision, you could use the blue-bordered pages of the ERG to look up that chemical in the alphabetical list.

At left, a picture of a tank car with the name chlorine stenciled on it. At right, an excerpt from the blue-bordered ERG pages, showing how you can look up names alphabetically to find out more information.

The blue-bordered page in the ERG tells you three pieces of information about chlorine:

  1. Its response guide is 124. You can flip to the orange-bordered pages in the ERG to find guide 124, where there is response-related information for chlorine and similar chemicals.
  2. Its UN/NA numberUnited Nations-North American number. (Also UN number or DOT number.) Four-digit number identifying an individual chemical or group of chemicals with similar characteristics. Required on shipping papers; often shown on placards. The four-digit number is often preceded by UN (such as UN1219). is 1017. You can use this to cross-check on placards and shipping papers to help verify that the tankcar really contains chlorine. Additionally, if the chemical is highlighted in green as this one is, you'll need the UN/NA number (ID No.) to look up the substance in Tables 1-3 in the green-bordered pages.
  3. It is a chemical that is dangerously toxicPoisonous; can injure or kill people or other organisms. by inhalationA route of chemical exposure in which a toxic material is brought into the bloodstream as particles or volatile compounds breathed into the lungs and nasal passages., as indicated by the green highlighting. If the chemical is highlighted in green, you should refer to Table 1 in the green-bordered pages to find its Initial Isolation and Protective Action Distances. (If the chemical might be spilled in water, you should also look at Table 2 to see if this substance will produce large amounts of toxic-by-inhalation gases when spilled in water. 1017 is not listed in Table 2.)

An excerpt from Table 1 of the ERG, showing the initial isolation and protective action distances for both small and large chlorine spills.

The table shows recommended distances for small spills (smaller than a 55-gallon drum) and large spills (much larger than a drum) of chlorine. In the case of chlorine, it refers you to Table 3 to see distances for large spills.

Initial isolation distance. For a small chlorine spill, you would direct people to move in a crosswind direction away from the spill to at least 200 feet.

Protective action distance. This distance encloses the area where people could be exposed to harmful levels of chlorine, so that you would need to take protective action. For example, for a small spill of chlorine during the day, you would take protective actions for 0.2 miles downwind (and half as far in either crosswind direction). This distance is shorter during the day than at night because, on average, chlorine gas dissipates more slowly at night.

Note: For some chemicals, you will see a Refer to Table 3 notation in the columns for large spills in Table 1. When you go to Table 3, you will see additional isolation and protective action distances for different quantities (such a rail tank car and a one-ton cylinder).

An excerpt from Table 3 of the ERG, showing the initial isolation and protective action distances for different quantities of chlorine spills.

Orange Pages: Response Guides

Review the orange-bordered pages to see hazards and recommendations for initial response and first aid. You can look up hazardous materials by name (blue-bordered pages) or UN/NA number (yellow-bordered pages) to find out their response guide assignments. See example response guideSee example response guide

An excerpt from ERG Response Guide 129 for flammable liquids (water-miscible/noxious).

Green Pages: ERG Tables 1, 2, and 3

The ERG Tables 1 and 3 (Initial Isolation and Protective Action Distances) on the green-bordered pages聽provide guidance for initially isolating the scene and protecting people. See example of ERG Tables 1 and 3See example of ERG Tables 1 and 3

If a chemical鈥攕uch as chlorine鈥攊s highlighted in green on the blue- or yellow-bordered pages, you should start by referring to Table 1 in the green-bordered pages to find its Initial Isolation and Protective Action Distances. The table shows recommended distances for small spills (smaller than a 55-gallon drum) and large spills (much larger than a drum). For chlorine, there is a note that refers you to table 3 for large spills.

An excerpt from Table 1 of the ERG, showing the initial isolation and protective action distances for both small and large chlorine spills.

Table 3 provides additional initial isolation and protective action distances for different quantities of six common toxicPoisonous; can injure or kill people or other organisms.-by-inhalationA route of chemical exposure in which a toxic material is brought into the bloodstream as particles or volatile compounds breathed into the lungs and nasal passages. gases. Table 3 materials are anhydrous ammonia (UN1005), chlorine (UN1017), ethylene oxide (UN1040), ethylene oxide with nitrogen (UN1040), hydrogen chloride (UN1050 for anhydrous and UN2186 for refrigerated liquid), anhydrous hydrogen fluoride (UN1052), and sulfur dioxide (UN1079).

Note: All of the Table 3 quantities are for large spills (more than 55 gallons), but the container sizes (and therefore volume capacities) vary. Also, Table 3 provides values for different wind speeds (unlike Table 1).

An excerpt from Table 3 of the ERG, showing the initial isolation and protective action distances for different quantities of chlorine spills.

If the chemical might be spilled in water, you should also look at Table 2 to see if this substance will produce large amounts of toxic-by-inhalation gases when spilled in water. However, for this example chemical, 1017 is not listed in Table 2.

The ERG Table 2 (Water-Reactive Materials Which Produce Toxic-by-Inhalation Gases)聽on the green-bordered pages聽Lists chemicals that produce large amounts of聽toxicPoisonous; can injure or kill people or other organisms. gases when spilled into water. See example ERG Table 2See example ERG Table 2

An excerpt from Table 2, showing which materials produce large amounts of toxic-by-inhalation gases when spilled in water. Here, chemicals with ID Number 1929 are marked with a red box.

365bet娱乐 that appear on the green-bordered pages are highlighted in green on the yellow- or blue-bordered pages.

An excerpt from the yellow-bordered pages in the ERG (look up by ID number), showing how chemicals that have related green-bordered pages are highlighted.

Caution: For spill volumes much larger than a railroad tank car, the ERG's distance estimates may be too short.