Incident Reporting and Emergency Response
You are driving a cargo tank truck carrying 5,000 gallons of sulfuric acid (UN 1830, Class 8, Packing Group II). While traveling on a highway, a tire blows out, causing you to swerve. The tanker overturns, and the tank is ruptured. Approximately 500 gallons of sulfuric acid spill onto the roadway and into a nearby ditch. There is a small fire near the engine compartment. You are uninjured. You have a cell phone and a fire extinguisher. The weather is clear, and traffic is light. You are 10 miles from the nearest town. You have the shipping papers and an emergency response guidebook.
1. What are your immediate actions, and what reporting requirements apply?
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Immediate actions: First, ensure your safety and the safety of others. Move to a safe location upwind and uphill from the spill. Do not attempt to fight the fire unless it is small and you are trained and have proper equipment; the fire involves sulfuric acid, which is corrosive and can react. Call 911 or the emergency response telephone number on the shipping papers. Provide the details: location, material, quantity spilled, fire, and injuries. Use the emergency response guidebook to identify the guide number for sulfuric acid (Guide 137). Isolate the area and keep people away. Reporting: You must notify the National Response Center (NRC) at 1-800-424-8802 as soon as possible if the spill meets the reportable quantity (RQ). Sulfuric acid has an RQ of 1,000 pounds; 500 gallons is about 7,000 pounds (since sulfuric acid weighs about 15 lb/gal), so it exceeds the RQ. You must also notify the local emergency planning committee (LEPC) and the state emergency response commission (SERC) if required. Additionally, you must report the incident to your employer. The carrier must make a written report to the DOT if the incident meets certain criteria (e.g., release of hazardous material). You should also complete the required incident reports.
2. What information should you provide to emergency responders, and how should you use the shipping papers and guidebook?
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Provide the shipping papers to the responders. They contain the proper shipping name, hazard class, UN number, packing group, and emergency response telephone number. Also provide the emergency response guidebook, specifically Guide 137 for sulfuric acid. Tell them the material is sulfuric acid, a corrosive liquid, and that about 500 gallons spilled. Mention the fire and that the material is water-reactive? Actually, sulfuric acid is not water-reactive but reacts violently with water; it is also a strong acid. The guidebook will advise to use water spray to knock down vapors, but avoid getting water inside containers. Also, inform them of the wind direction and any nearby water sources. The responders will use the information to set up isolation zones and choose protective equipment. You should also tell them about the truck's cargo tank and any other hazards (e.g., battery, fuel). Cooperate with responders and follow their instructions.