Emergency Response
Guidebook
What is the ERG?
• A Guidebook for First Responders during
the initial phase of a Dangerous Goods /
Hazardous Materials Incident
• Developed by:
TC
Transport Canada
DOT
U.S. Department of
Transportation
SCT
Secretariat of Transport
and Communications
of Mexico
Color Coded Sections
Emergency Response Guide
• WHITE– General Information
• YELLOWYELLOW
– Locate product according to ID number
• BLUEBLUE
– Locate product according to product name
• ORANGEORANGE
– Action Guides for products
• GREENGREEN
– Isolation & Action Distances
White Section
• Hazard Classification
– Dangerous Goods Listed by Class & Division
White Section
• Table Of Placards
– Use when ID # or Name is not available
White Section
• Rail Car & Road Trailer Identification Chart
– Locate Rail Car or Road Trailer
– Refer to appropriate Guide number
White Section
• Hazard Identification Codes
– Top Number
(p.21)
• Indicates type of Hazard (two or three numbers)
• Single number will followed by a zero (e.g. 50)
• Doubling the digit indicates greater hazard (e.g. 33)
• Prefixed with an X indicates will react with water
• 9 as a 2nd or 3rd digit, Risk of Spontaneous Violent
Reaction
UN ID Number
X589
2015
Yellow Section
ID No. Guide No.
Name of Material
ID No. Guide No.
Name of Material
2306
152
Nitrobenzotrifluorides
2324
128
Triisobutylene
2307
152
3-Nitro-4chlorobenzotrifluoride
2325
129
1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene
2326
153
Trimethylcyclohexylamine
2327
153
Trimethylhexamethylene
diamines
2328
156
Trimethylhexamethylene
diisocyanate
2329
129
Trimethyl phosphite
2330
128
Undecane
2331
154
Zinc chloride, anhydrous
2332
129
Acetaldehyde oxime
157
Nitrosylsulfuric acid
2308
157
Nitrosylsulphuric acid
2309
128P
Octadiene
2310
127
Pentan-2,4-dione
127
2,4-Pentanedione
127
Pentane-2,4-dione
153
Phenetidines
153
Phenol, molten
2308
2310
2310
2311
2312
Polymerize
Yellow Section
• Listed Numerically listed according to the
Four Digit ID number
• Shaded (Toxic Inhalation Hazard or Water Reactive)
refer to Green section (if no fire)
• Guide number followed by P (Polymer)
container could fail violently, use caution
Yellow Section
• Listed Numerically listed according to
4 Digit ID number
1203
1203
DOT
UN
Blue Section
Name of Material
Guide No.
ID No.
Accumulators, pressurized 126
pneumatic or hydraulic
1956
Acetal
127
1088
Acetaldehyde
129
1089
Acetadehyde ammonia
171
1841
Acetaldehyde oxime
129
2332
Acetic acid, glacial
132
2789
Acetic acid, solution,
more than 10% but
not more than 80%
acid
153
2790
Acetic acid, solution,
more than 80% acid
132
2789
Name of Material
Guide No.
ID No.
Acetylene tetrabromide
159
2504
Acetyl iodide
156
1898
Acetyl methyl carbinol
127
2621
Acetyl peroxide
148
2084
Acid, liquid, n.o.s.
154
1760
Acid, sludge
153
1906
Acid butyl phosphate
153
1718
Acridine
153
2713
Acrolein, inhibited
131P
1092
Acrolein dimer, stabilized
129P
2607
Blue Section
• Listed in alphabetical order of the name of the
material
• Shaded (Toxic Inhalation Hazard or Water Reactive)
refer to Green section
• Guide number followed by P (Polymer)
container could fail violently, use caution
Blue Section
Orange Section
•
•
•
•
Emergency Response Guidelines
Action Guides for products
Guides in a two Page format
Covers group of materials with similar
Chemical & Toxicological Characteristics
• Left hand: Safety information
• Right hand: Emergency Response
Guidelines
Orange Section
• Left Side of Page (Safety Information)
– First Hazard Listed Is Most Severe
POTENTIAL HAZARDS
FIRE OR EXPLOSION
• May explode from heat, shock, friction or contamination.
• May react violently or explosively on contact with air, water or foam.
• May be ignited by heat, sparks or flames.
• Vapors may travel to source of ignition and flash back.
HEALTH
• Inhalation, ingestion or contact with substance may cause severe injury, or infection.
High concentration of gas ma ca se asph iation itho t arning
Orange Section
• Left Side of Page (Safety Information)
– Isolation & Evacuation Distances for
non-TIH Materials and/or Materials On Fire
– Protective Clothing
PUBLIC SAFETY
• CALL Emergency Response Telephone Number on Shipping paper first.
• Isolate spill or leak area immediately for at least 50 to 100 meters (160-330 feet).
• Keep unauthorized personnel away.
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
• Wear positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA).
• Structural firefighters’ protective clothing will only provide limited protection.
EVACUATION
• If tank, rail car or tank truck is involved in a fire, ISOLATE for 800 meters (1/2 mile).
Orange Section
• Right Side of Page (Emergency Response Guidelines)
– Firefighting Procedures
EMERGENCY RESPONSE
FIRE
CAUTION: Material may react with extinguishing agent.
Small Fires
• Dry chemical, CO2, water spray or regular foam.
Large Fires
• Water spray, fog or regular foam.
• Move containers from fire area if you can do it without risk.
Fire Involving Tanks
• Cool containers with flooding quantities of water until well after fire is out.
• Do not get water inside containers.
• Withdraw immediately in case of rising sound from venting safety devices or discoloration of tank.
• ALWAYS stay away from tanks engulfed in fire.
Orange Section
• Right Side of Page (Emergency Response Guidelines)
– Spill Or Leak Procedures
EMERGENCY RESPONSE
SPILL OR LEAK
• ELIMINATE all ignition sources (no smoking, flares, sparks or flames in immediate area).
• Keep combustibles (wood, paper, oil, etc) away from spilled material.
• Do not touch damaged containers or spilled material unless wearing appropriate protective clothing.
• Keep substance wet using water spray.
• Stop leak if you can do it without risk.
Small Spills
• Take up with inert, damp, noncombustible material using clean non-sparking tools and place
into loosely covered plastic containers for later disposal.
Large Spills
• Wet down with water and dike for late disposal.
• Prevent entry into waterways, sewers, basements or confined areas.
• DO NOT CLEAN-UP OR DISPOSE OF, EXCEPT UNDER SUPERVISION OF A SPECIALIST.
Orange Section
• Right Side of Page (Emergency Response Guidelines)
– First Aid Procedures
EMERGENCY RESPONSE
FIRST AID
• Move victim to fresh air. Call 911 or emergency medical service.
• Apply artificial respiration if victim is not breathing.
• Administer oxygen if breathing is difficult.
• Remove and isolate contaminated clothing and shoes.
• Remove material from skin immediately.
• In case of contact with substance, immediately flush skin or eyes with running water for at least 20 minutes.
• Keep victim warm and quiet.
• Ensure that medical personnel are aware of the material(s) involved, and take precautions to protect themselves.
Orange Section
• ORANGEORANGE
– If unable to identify go to GUIDE 111
Green Section
• Index Of Toxic Inhalation Hazards or Water
Reactive Materials
• Listed Numerically
• Shaded areas from yellow and blue sections
Green Section
Initial Isolation & Protective Action Distances
SMALL SPILLS
LARGE SPILLS
(From a small package or small leak from large package)
ID
No.
NAME
OF
Material
First
ISOLATE
in all
Directions
Meters (Feet)
(From a large package or from many small packages)
Then
PROTECT
persons Downwind duringDAY
NIGHT
Kilometers (Miles)
Kilometers (Miles)
First
ISOLATE
in all
Directions
Meters
(Feet)
1005
1005
Ammonia, anhydrous
Ammonia, anhydrous,
liquefied
30 m (100ft)
0.2 km (0.1 mi)
0.2 km
(0.1 mi)
60 m
(200 ft)
1005
Ammonia solution,
with more than
50% Ammonia
30 m (100ft)
0.2 km (0.1 mi)
0.2 km
(0.1 mi)
60 m
(200 ft)
1008
1008
Boron trifluoride
Boron trifluoride,
compressed
30 m (200 ft)
0.2 km (0.1 mi)
0.6 km
(0.4 mi)
1016
1016
Carbon monoxide
Carbon monoxide,
compressed
30 m (100ft)
0.2 km (0.1 mi)
0.2 km
30 m (100 ft)
0.3 km
1.1 km
(0.2 mi)
(0.1 mi)
(0.7 mi)
Then
PROTECT
persons Downwind duringDAY
Kilometers (Miles)
0.5 km
(0.3 mi)
0.5 km
(0.3 mi)
215 m (700 ft)
1.6 km
(1 mi)
125 m (400 ft)
0.6 km
(0.4 mi)
2.7 km
(1.7 mi)
275 m (900 ft)
NIGHT
Kilometers (Miles)
1.1 km (0.7 mi)
1.1 km (0.7 mi)
5.1 km (3.2 mi)
1.8 km (1.1 mi)
6.8 km (4.2 mi)
Green Section
• Water reactive materials
ƒƒ
Materials
Which Produce Large Amounts of Toxic (TIH) Gas(es) When Spilled in Water
*Dangerous From 0.5 to 10 km (0.3 - 6.0 miles) downwind*
ID
No.
Guide
No.
1242
139
Methyldichlorosilane
HCl
1250
155
Methyltrichlorosilane
HCl
1295
139
Trichlorosilane
HCl
1360
139
Calcium phosphide
PH3
Chemical Symbols for TIH Gases:
Bromine
Br2
Cl2
Chlorine
HBr
Hydrogen bromide
HCL
Hydrogen chloride
Name of Material
HF
HI
H2S
HS
Hydrogen fluoride
Hydrogen iodide
Hydrogen sulfide
Hydrogen sulphide
Toxic Vapor (PIH)
Produced
NO2
PH3
SO2
SO
Nitrogen dioxide
Phosphine
Sulfur dioxide
Sulphur dioxide
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