Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG)

Cover of the 2024 Emergency Response Guidebook.You can use the ERG to look up hazardous materials by 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). to see emergency response recommendations.

It is a familiar resource for first responders, who use the ERG as a tool to protect themselves and the general public during the initial response phase of a transportation incident.

In CAMEO 365betÓéÀÖ, ERG information is available primarily on UN/NA datasheets. (It may also be found in the Response Recommendations section of some chemical datasheets.)

ERG Info on UN/NA Datasheets

Up to five pieces of information from the ERG are displayed (if they apply to that UN/NA number):

  • Response guidesResponse guides

    The link to the Response Guide PDF is in an orange box.

    Click on the response guide link to go to a PDF with general response recommendations.

    Use the radio buttons to choose the language (English, Spanish, or French) for the PDF.

    An excerpt from ERG Response Guide 125 (for gases - toxic and/or corrosive).

  • Material namesMaterial names

    Material names from the ERG are in a blue box.

  • Initial isolation and protective action distances (ERG Tables 1 and 3)Initial isolation and protective action distances (ERG Tables 1 and 3)

    If the ERG has initial isolation and protective action distances, you will see a green box like this one showing an excerpt from ERG Table 1:

    The ERG Table 1--initial isolation and protective action distances--is shown in a green box.

    In a few cases, you will also see a green box showing an excerpt from ERG Table 3, which shows 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).

    For a few chemicals (such as ammonia), ERG Table 3 values are also shown in a green box.

    Beginning with CAMEO 365betÓéÀÖ 3.0.0, you can also view the initial isolation and protective action distances from ERG Table 1 and Table 3 on a map. Use the panel on the right of the map to set the location and other details about the spill (such as time of day). When the objects are drawn on the map, an Export to KML button appears. This allows you to export the map objects to view them in other mapping programs like MARPLOT or Google Earth.

    For datasheets with ERG Tables 1 and/or 3, you can also view the ERG distances on a map.

  • Toxic-by-inhalation gases (ERG Table 2)Toxic-by-inhalation gases (ERG Table 2)

    If the ERG predicts that large amounts of 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 might be produced if materials with this 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). are spilled in water, then you will see a green box like this one:

    If large amounts of toxic-by-inhalation gases might be produced, the type of gases are listed in this green box.

  • Polymerization hazardsPolymerization hazards

    If materials with this 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). might polymerize, you will see this statement:

    If the material might polymerize, you will see this statement: Materials may undergo violent polymerization if subjected to heat or contamination.

Tip: The ERG uses color-coded pages for each book section, and these colors are also used to display the ERG content on UN/NA datasheets in CAMEO 365betÓéÀÖ. For more information on the ERG itself, see the Using the Emergency Response Guidebook reference help topic.

How do I...?

  • Get to ERG information in CAMEO 365betÓéÀÖ?Get to ERG information in CAMEO 365betÓéÀÖ?

    The quickest way to get to ERG information is to do a simple search for a 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)., which will take you straight to the UN/NA datasheet for that number.

    Additionally, if you run a simple search for a name, the search results will include any UN/NA datasheets that matched on the material names listed in the ERG. However, if many chemical datasheets also match on the name, it may be harder to find the UN/NA datasheet that you want.

  • Find ERG Guide Datasheets (for unassigned UN/NA numbers) in CAMEO 365betÓéÀÖ?Find ERG Guide Datasheets (for unassigned UN/NA numbers) in CAMEO 365betÓéÀÖ?

    Most hazardous substances in the ERG can be looked up by chemical 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)., and the table will indicate what response guide from the ERG should be used for that substance. However, there are a few substances that can only be looked up by name (that is, there is no UN/NA number assignment) to see the ERG response guide information.

    Since these substances do not have UN/NA number assignments in the ERG, the information from the ERG cannot be shown in CAMEO 365betÓéÀÖ on UN/NA datasheets. Instead, the information is shown on separate ERG Guide Datasheets (for unassigned UN/NA numbers). They look very similar to UN/NA datasheets, but they only show the ERG information for the substances in the ERG that do not have UN/NA numbers.

    You can use the browse function to see these datasheets listed at the bottom of the UN/NA list. Additionally, if you search on a name that matches on one of these substances, you will see an abstractThe identifying datasheet information (such as chemical name, UN/NA number, key characteristics, and synonyms) shown within a color-coded box on the Search Results page. The colors indicate the type of datasheet: chemical datasheets are in gray boxes, UN/NA datasheets are in orange boxes, and reactive group datasheets are in brown boxes. for the ERG Guide Datasheet in the search results list.

  • Get a copy of the ERG or ERG-related resources?Get a copy of the ERG or ERG-related resources?

    Although CAMEO 365betÓéÀÖ includes key pieces of the ERG, you may also want to obtain a copy of the ERG itself. Go to the External link. to (a) download PDF versions of the ERG in English, French, or Spanish, (b) locate your State Coordinator to request a print copy of the ERG, or (c) access other ERG-related resources.

  • Find out where the ERG information is from?
  • Learn how to use the ERG as a standalone resource?