Unz

The official Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG) is a guide for use by transporters, firefighters, police, and other emergency services personnel who may be the first to arrive at the scene of a transportation incident involving a hazardous material. It is used by first responders in (1) quickly identifying the specific or generic classification of the material(s) involved in the incident, and (2) protecting themselves and the general public during this initial response phase of the incident. The ERG is updated every three to four years to accommodate new products and technology. For the first time, the 2008 ERG will be expanded to include a response section applicable to pipeline incidents.

The 2008 ERG can help you satisfy DOT's requirements that hazardous materials shipments be accompanied by emergency response information (49 CFR 172.602). The DOT Emergency Response Guidebook helps emergency responders find vital information fast. It is a great aid in emergency preparedness, planning, and training.

The ERG is developed jointly by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Transport Canada, and the Secretariat of Communications and Transportation of Mexico (SCT).

Summary of Changes from ERG2004 include:

General information (WHITE) pages - sections have been added, expanded and/or revised, including:

Shipping Documents (Papers)
How to use this Guidebook during an Incident
User's guide
Isolation and evacuation distances
Who to call for assistance
Hazard Classification System (the standard classes and divisions within classes used in hazardous materials transportation)
Table of placards and initial response guide to use on-scene
Rail car identification chart
Road trailer identification chart
Pipeline safety information
Protective clothing
Criminal/Terrorist use of chemical/biological/radiological agents
Glossary
Publication data (and related information)
Emergency response telephone numbers

Index list of Dangerous Goods in ID Number Order (YELLOW-bordered pages) and the index list of Dangerous Goods in Alphabetical Order (BLUE-bordered pages):

Addition of all new dangerous goods listed in UN recommendations on the transport of Dangerous Goods (14th and 15th revised editions)

Highlights in the YELLOW-bordered and BLUE-bordered sections indicating that the user turn directly to Table 1 - Initial Isolation and Protective Action Distances (if no fire) have been changed to green.

Safety Recommendations/Emergency Response Guides ("Guides," or ORANGE-bordered pages):

Tune-up of some guides

Guide 147, which had been left intentionally blank in the 2004 edition of the Guidebook now covers Lithium Ion Batteries

Table of initial isolation and protective action distances, and the Table of water-reactive materials which produce toxic gases (GREEN-bordered pages):

Added Table 1 and Table 2 to table titles
Addition of materials to both tables
Tune-up of initial isolation and protective action distances