1. Awareness-Level Lesson 2B Presentation
Hazardous Materials for First Responders, 3rd Ed.

2. 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

3. Sources for Names of Haz Mat in Facilities
MSDSs
Inventory records and other facility documents
Signs, markings, container shapes, and other labels
Awareness Level

4. Sources for Names of Haz Mat at Transportation Incidents
ERG
Shipping papers
Awareness Level

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. Canadian MSDS Information
Section 7 — Toxicological properties
Section 8 — Preventative measures
Section 9 — First aid measures
(2 of 2)
Awareness Level

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. Using the ID Number Index
(2 of 2)
Awareness Level

21. 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

22. 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

23. Using the Material Name Index
(2 of 2)
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24. 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

25. Initial Action Guides (Orange-Bordered Pages)
(2 of 2)
Awareness Level

26. 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

27. 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

28. Using the Initial Action Guides — Public Safety Section
Example question:
What protective clothing should be used for nitrogen trioxide?
(1 of 2)
Awareness Level

29. Using the Initial Action Guides— Public Safety Section
(2 of 2)
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30. 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

31. 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

32. 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

33. Using the Table of Initial Isolation and Protective Action Distances
Awareness Level

34. 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

35. General Types of Hazards Found on Each Guide Page
Fire and explosion hazard
Health hazard
Awareness Level

36. 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

37. Initial Isolation Distance
Distance within which all persons are considered for evacuation in all directions from the actual spill/leak source
Awareness Level

38. 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

39. 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

40. 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

41. 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

42. WARNING
Deliberately using the human senses to detect the presence of hazardous materials is both unreliable and unsafe. It could kill you!
Awareness Level

43. 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

44. 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

45. 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)
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46. 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

47. 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

48. 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 incidents.
(1 of 2)
Awareness Level

49. 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

50. Awareness-Level Lesson 2B Presentation
Hazardous Materials for First Responders, 3rd Ed.