Michigan CDL Hazmat flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Hazmat endorsement requirement

The H endorsement is required to drive a vehicle carrying hazardous materials that require placards. Michigan also requires a TSA threat assessment and fingerprint background check before issuing the endorsement.

Nine hazard classes

DOT groups hazmat into nine classes: explosives, gases, flammable liquids, flammable solids, oxidizers and organic peroxides, toxic and infectious substances, radioactive, corrosives, and miscellaneous.

Packing group meaning

Packing groups rank danger within a hazard class: I is great danger, II is moderate danger, and III is minor danger. Group I carries the strictest loading and quantity limits.

Shipping paper retention

The carrier must keep hazardous materials shipping papers for 90 days after the material is delivered. The papers must stay within the driver's reach in the cab while the shipment is in transit.

PHMSA carrier registration

Registration is required for high-risk shipments such as bulk Table 1 materials, more than 5,000 lb of one Table 2 material in a vehicle, and highway route controlled quantities of radioactive material.

Emergency response telephone number

Every hazmat shipping paper must show a 24-hour emergency response phone number that is monitored at all times the material is in transit, plus written emergency response information.

Bulk package placarding

Any bulk package of a hazardous material requires placards regardless of weight. Bulk means a package with capacity greater than 119 gallons for liquids or 882 pounds for solids.

Hazmat training cycle

Hazmat employees need initial training and recurrent training every three years covering general awareness, function-specific duties, safety, and security awareness. The employer certifies and retains records.

Basic description order

On a shipping paper the basic description runs proper shipping name, hazard class or division, UN or NA identification number, then packing group. It must not be interrupted by other entries.

Roman versus italic names

In the Hazardous Materials Table, proper shipping names appear in Roman type. Italic entries are not proper shipping names and cannot stand alone on shipping papers or package markings.

Placard versus label size

Placards measure 10.75 inches square and go on bulk packages and vehicles. Labels measure 4 inches square and are affixed to the individual non-bulk package.

ERG page colors

The Emergency Response Guidebook uses yellow pages for ID number lookup, blue pages for material name lookup, orange pages for response guides, and green pages for isolation and protective action distances.

Combustible versus flammable placard

A FLAMMABLE placard may substitute for a COMBUSTIBLE placard on combustible liquids, but a COMBUSTIBLE placard may never be used on a flammable liquid shipment.

Dangerous when wet

The DANGEROUS WHEN WET placard marks materials that react with water to release flammable gas. Keep such materials dry and never load them where water can reach them.

Shipping paper abbreviations

Only abbreviations authorized in the Hazardous Materials Table and special provisions may be used on shipping papers. Hazard classes are shown as numbers rather than words.

Placard threshold Table 2

Placards are required when 1,001 pounds or more of a Table 2 material in non-bulk packages are loaded, or when 5,001 pounds total of all classes are aboard one vehicle.

Cyanide and acid segregation

Cyanides and acids must never be loaded together because mixing them releases hydrogen cyanide gas. Acids also must be kept apart from sulfides and from oxidizers.

Explosive loading rule

Division 1.1 and 1.2 explosives may not be loaded with Division 1.3 or 1.4 materials or with other hazmat unless the segregation table in 49 CFR 177.848 permits it.

Open flame distance

Smoking, open flames, and lighted smoking materials are prohibited within 25 feet of a vehicle carrying explosives, flammable liquids, or flammable gases during loading and unloading.

Cargo securement for hazmat

Block, brace, or dunnage packages so they cannot shift. Place heavy containers on the bottom and never stack packages so labels or markings are hidden from view.

Tank vehicle unloading

During tank unloading, set the parking brake, chock the wheels, and stay within reach of the controls. Never leave a transfer operation unattended.

Vehicle inspection before loading

Inspect the cargo area for leaks, loose fittings, and residue from prior loads. A tank that carried hazmat must be cleaned and purged before food or feed products are loaded.

Passenger compartment rule

Hazardous materials may not be carried in the passenger compartment or in any package that could leak into the cab. Keep shipping papers and a flashlight within reach.

Heat sources during fueling

Cargo heaters and auxiliary power units must be shut off during fueling and must not run where flammable vapors can accumulate around the vehicle.

Incident approach direction

Approach a hazmat incident from upwind, uphill, and upstream. Isolate the area and deny entry before attempting to identify the material or take other action.

ERG green pages

The green-bordered pages of the Emergency Response Guidebook give initial isolation distances and protective action distances for small and large spills of the listed materials.

Flammable gas fire rule

Do not extinguish a flammable gas fire unless the gas flow can be shut off. Unburned gas can accumulate and re-ignite explosively after the flame is out.

Flammable liquid fire agent

For a flammable liquid fire, use foam, dry chemical, or carbon dioxide. A plain water stream may spread the burning liquid rather than extinguish it.

National Response Center

Report a hazardous materials release to the National Response Center at 1-800-424-8802 as soon as practicable, and notify the carrier. A written report may also be required.

Driver duties at release

Notify emergency responders, keep people away from the scene, and give the shipping paper and emergency response information to responders. Do not fight a fire beyond the incipient stage.

PPE selection by hazard

Match protective equipment to the material: structural firefighting gear for flammables, and chemical-protective suits with SCBA for toxic or corrosive materials. No eating or smoking in the exclusion zone.

Scene preservation after incident

Do not move the vehicle or cargo until responders release the scene. Preserve placards, shipping papers, and the scene for investigation, and decontaminate before leaving.