U.S. DOT issues new Emergency Response Guidebook for hazardous material incidents

The U.S. Department of Transportation has issued the new 2024 Emergency Response Guidebook.

This guidebook was issued on 4 April 2024.

The 2024 Emergency Response Guidebook serves as a comprehensive resource for first responders, providing essential information and guidance for handling transportation incidents involving hazardous materials or dangerous goods effectively.

The guidebook emphasizes the importance of shipping papers, which provide essential details about hazardous materials or dangerous goods to initiate protective actions. It highlights where to find critical information on shipping papers, such as the 4-digit identification number, proper shipping name, hazard class, emergency response telephone number, and more. Additionally, it clarifies the display of numbered placards or orange panels for easy identification of hazardous materials.

The guidebook also includes safety precautions for responders, urging caution and thorough assessment before taking action. It outlines notification procedures and the sequence for requesting technical information, emphasizing the importance of contacting the appropriate emergency response agency in case of multiple hazardous materials or complex incidents. Also, it provides a comprehensive hazard classification system, detailing the different classes of hazardous materials and their respective divisions.

For more information, please see the document below (available only to subscribers):

Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG) 2024