Hazardous Materials Emergencies, Incidents, and Reporting
This domain tests the first ten minutes after something goes wrong, plus the paperwork that follows. Expect questions on the Emergency Response Guidebook, isolation, and the federal reporting triggers.
Using the ERG
Look up the material by its four-digit ID number in the yellow-bordered pages, or by name in the blue pages. The orange guide gives potential hazards, public safety distances, protective clothing, and spill and fire tactics. The green pages give isolation and protective action distances for poison inhalation hazards. If the material is unknown, isolate at least 50 m (150 ft) in all directions.
What the driver does
- Stop, warn traffic, and keep people upwind and uphill.
- Call 911 and the emergency response number on the shipping papers.
- Hand responders the shipping papers and the guide number.
- Do not handle leaking packages, and do not eat, drink, or smoke near a spill.
- Do not move the vehicle unless moving is necessary to prevent injury.
Reporting (sections 171.15 and 171.16)
An immediate report to the National Response Center at 1-800-424-8802 is required for events including a death or serious injury, evacuation of the public, closure of a major transportation artery or facility for one hour or more, a fire or packaging failure involving certain high-hazard materials, or a release of a hazardous substance above its reportable quantity. A written report on DOT Form 5800.1 follows within 30 days.
Worked example
A corrosive drum ruptures and 50 gallons reach the roadway, closing it for 90 minutes. That triggers immediate notification, because the closure exceeded one hour and a reportable quantity was released, and a written report is due within 30 days.
Traps
Thinking a police accident report satisfies DOT; skipping the written report because the immediate call was made; walking up to a spill to read the label; guessing the guide number instead of using the ID number.