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Hazmat emergencies: ERG, crashes, fires, leaks and required reports

Hazardous Materials (H)8 minManual section 9.7

In a hazmat emergency your job is not to be a hero. It is to keep people away, warn them, call for help, and give responders the shipping papers. This lesson also covers what to do for each class and who must be called.

ERG and your job at a crash

The DOT Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG) tells firefighters, police and industry workers how to protect themselves and the public. It is indexed by proper shipping name and ID number. Responders look for these on the shipping paper, so the name, ID number, labels and placards must be correct.

At the scene of a crash or incident your job is to:

  • keep people away from the scene,
  • keep the material from spreading, but only when that is safe for you,
  • communicate the danger to emergency responders,
  • give responders the shipping papers and emergency response information.

Fires

You might control minor truck fires, but unless you have the training and equipment, do not fight hazmat fires. They need special training and protective gear.

When you find a fire, call for help. Until firefighters get there, your extinguisher can stop a small truck fire from reaching the cargo.

Feel trailer doors before opening them. If they are hot, you may have a cargo fire: do not open them. Fresh air can make the fire explode into flames; kept closed, many fires just smolder until help comes.

Never try to fight a fire that is already burning in the cargo. Keep the shipping papers with you for responders. Warn others and keep them away.

Leaks and spills

Figure out what is leaking from the shipping papers, the labels, or where the package sits in the load. Do not touch leaking material; many people are hurt this way. Never sniff to find out what it is; poison gas can knock out your sense of smell, and some deadly gases have no smell at all. No eating, drinking or smoking anywhere near a leak or spill.

With hazmat spilling, move the truck only as far as safety demands. Pulling off the road and away from crowds is fine when it makes things safer and you can do it without risk. Never keep driving with a leak to find a phone, truck stop or help. The carrier pays for cleaning contaminated lots, roads and ditches, and the costs are huge.

If hazmat is spilling from your vehicle, park it and follow this checklist:

  • secure the area,
  • check that your driving partner is OK,
  • stay there,
  • keep the shipping papers with you,
  • call for help or send someone,
  • keep people far away and upwind,
  • warn others of the danger.

When you send someone for help, hand them (ideally written down): what happened; exactly where you are and which way you were heading; your name, your company's name and your terminal's city; and the proper shipping name, hazard class and ID number if you know them. This lets responders bring the right equipment the first time.

Do not move the truck if moving it would spread contamination or harm the truck. Keep upwind, and keep the truck away from rest areas, truck stops, restaurants and stores. Do not try to repackage a leaking container. Do not repair leaks unless trained and equipped. Call your dispatcher or supervisor, and emergency personnel if needed.

Responses to specific hazards

Class 1 (explosives): after a breakdown or accident, warn others and keep bystanders away; no smoking or open fire; if there is a fire, warn everyone of the danger of explosion. After a crash, take out all the explosives before pulling the vehicles apart, and set them 200 feet or more away from vehicles and from buildings with people in them. Stay a safe distance away.

Class 2 (compressed gases): if gas is leaking, warn others and let only people removing the hazard or wreckage get close. Any accident with compressed gas means you must tell the shipper. Pumping flammable compressed gas between tanks on a public road is banned, except when fueling road construction or maintenance machinery.

Class 3 (flammable liquids): keep bystanders from gathering, warn them and keep them from smoking. Drive a leaking cargo tank only as far as the nearest safe spot, and leave the road if you can safely. Do not transfer flammable liquid between vehicles on a public road except in an emergency.

Class 4 and 5: if a flammable solid or oxidizer spills, warn of the fire hazard. Leave smoldering flammable-solid packages closed; take them off the truck if that can be done safely. Also remove unbroken packages if that lowers the fire hazard.

Class 6 (poisons and infectious substances): protect yourself, others and property. Many poisons are also flammable; if 2.3 or 6.1 might be flammable, take the extra precautions for flammable liquids or gases: no smoking, open flame or welding. Warn of fire, breathing vapors and contact. A vehicle involved in a leak of 2.3 or 6.1 must be inspected for leftover poison before it goes back into service. If a 6.2 infectious substance package is damaged, contact your supervisor immediately; do not accept packages that look damaged or leak.

Class 7 (radioactive): report any leak or broken package to your dispatcher or supervisor right away. Do not touch or inhale the material. The truck stays out of service until it is cleaned and a survey meter shows it is clear.

Class 8 (corrosives): handle leaking containers carefully. Wash with water any vehicle parts exposed to corrosive liquid. Once unloaded, rinse the cargo area quickly, before any new load goes in. If driving a leaking tank further would be unsafe, get off the road; contain the liquid if safe; keep onlookers clear of the liquid and its vapors.

Required notification: NRC and CHEMTREC

The National Response Center (NRC) helps coordinate response to chemical hazards and supports police and firefighters. Its 24-hour toll-free line is (800) 424-8802. You or your employer must call when, as a direct result of a hazmat incident:

  • a person is killed,
  • an injured person needs hospitalization,
  • estimated property damage is more than $50,000,
  • people are evacuated and the evacuation lasts over an hour,
  • a major road, rail line or other transport facility is shut for an hour or longer,
  • fire, breakage, spillage or suspected radioactive contamination occurs,
  • fire, breakage, spillage or suspected contamination involves an infectious substance,
  • a marine pollutant is released in a quantity over 119 gallons (liquid) or 882 pounds (solid),
  • or any situation (such as continuing danger to life) that the carrier judges should be reported.

The caller should be ready to give: their name; the name and address of the carrier; a call-back number; when and where it happened; the extent of injuries; the classification, name and quantity of hazmat; the type of incident and whether a continuing danger to life exists; and, for a reportable quantity, the shipper's name and the quantity released.

CHEMTREC (the Chemical Transportation Emergency Center in Washington) has a 24-hour toll-free line, (800) 424-9300. It gives responders technical information about the physical properties of hazmat. The NRC and CHEMTREC work closely; if you call one, it will tell the other when needed.

Be ready to give your employer the same information. The carrier must send a detailed written report within 30 days.

Radioactive: packages with Yellow II or Yellow III labels may stay near people, animals or film only for the times the separation table allows.

References and scope

The topic reference is listed below. Sources support verification; the lesson itself is here. The current content needs technical and language review before public launch.

Manual reference: 9.7

Official CDL handbook · Utah ↗StatesOur editorial approach

Put it into practice

Educational questions with explanations. The answer review also works without the interactive quiz.

Preparing your questions…

Review questions with answers

  1. The Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG) is:
    1. A trucker's map book
    2. The carrier's employee handbook
    3. A list of truck stops
    4. A DOT guide for responders on protecting themselves and the public from hazmat
    Show answer
    A DOT guide for responders on protecting themselves and the public from hazmat

    The ERG is a DOT guide for firefighters, police and industry workers.

  2. The ERG is indexed by:
    1. Driver name and carrier
    2. Proper shipping name and identification number
    3. Truck model
    4. Route number
    Show answer
    Proper shipping name and identification number

    The ERG is indexed by proper shipping name and ID number.

  3. At a hazmat crash scene, which is part of the driver's job?
    1. Clean up the spill alone
    2. Repack damaged containers
    3. Keep people away and give responders the shipping papers
    4. Leave to find a phone
    Show answer
    Keep people away and give responders the shipping papers

    Keep people away, limit spread if safe, communicate danger, and give papers and ERI.

  4. You should try to limit the spread of spilled hazmat:
    1. Only if you can do so safely
    2. Always, even without equipment
    3. Never
    4. Only if the police order it
    Show answer
    Only if you can do so safely

    Limit the spread only if you can safely do so.

  5. The trailer doors feel hot. What should you do?
    1. Open them quickly to check the cargo
    2. Do not open them; you may have a cargo fire
    3. Spray water inside
    4. Drive to a truck stop
    Show answer
    Do not open them; you may have a cargo fire

    Hot doors may mean a cargo fire; opening lets in air and can make it flare up.

  6. When may a driver use the fire extinguisher at a hazmat incident?
    1. To fight any cargo fire
    2. To put out a fire inside a burning tank
    3. Never
    4. To keep a minor truck fire from spreading to the cargo before firefighters arrive
    Show answer
    To keep a minor truck fire from spreading to the cargo before firefighters arrive

    Use the extinguisher on minor truck fires to keep them from reaching the cargo; do not fight hazmat fires without training.

  7. How should you identify a leaking hazardous material?
    1. By smelling it
    2. By touching it
    3. By using the shipping papers, labels or package location
    4. By tasting a small amount
    Show answer
    By using the shipping papers, labels or package location

    Use papers, labels or package location; never touch or smell it.

  8. At a rest area you find your hazmat slowly leaking and there is no phone nearby. What should you do?
    1. Stay, secure the area, keep people away and upwind, and send someone for help with written information
    2. Drive to the next town to find a phone
    3. Continue to your delivery
    4. Hose the spill into the drain
    Show answer
    Stay, secure the area, keep people away and upwind, and send someone for help with written information

    Never keep driving with a leak; park, secure the area and send someone for help.

  9. Who pays for the cleanup of roads and ditches contaminated by a leaking hazmat vehicle?
    1. The state
    2. The consignee
    3. The driver's insurance only
    4. The carrier
    Show answer
    The carrier

    The carrier pays for cleanup, and the costs are enormous.

  10. Which should you give a person you send for help?
    1. Your favorite route
    2. Your exact location and direction of travel, and the shipping name, class and ID number if known
    3. Only your first name
    4. The shipper's tax number
    Show answer
    Your exact location and direction of travel, and the shipping name, class and ID number if known

    Give a description of the emergency, exact location and direction, your/carrier/terminal names, and the material's name, class and ID.

  11. Where should you keep people during a hazmat leak?
    1. Downwind and close
    2. Inside the truck
    3. Far away and upwind
    4. At the truck stop cafe
    Show answer
    Far away and upwind

    Keep people far away and upwind.

  12. After a collision involving explosives, before separating the vehicles you must:
    1. Remove all explosives and place them at least 200 feet from vehicles and occupied buildings
    2. Pull the vehicles apart quickly
    3. Light flares around the scene
    4. Leave the explosives in place
    Show answer
    Remove all explosives and place them at least 200 feet from vehicles and occupied buildings

    Remove explosives first and place them at least 200 feet away.

  13. If compressed gas is involved in any accident, you must notify:
    1. Only your family
    2. The truck dealer
    3. The weigh station
    4. The shipper
    Show answer
    The shipper

    Any accident with compressed gas means you must tell the shipper.

  14. On a public road, tank-to-tank transfer of flammable compressed gas is allowed only when:
    1. The tank is leaking
    2. Fueling machinery used in road construction or maintenance
    3. It is nighttime
    4. The consignee asks
    Show answer
    Fueling machinery used in road construction or maintenance

    The only exception is fueling road construction or maintenance machinery.

  15. What should you do with smoldering packages of flammable solids?
    1. Open them to find the source
    2. Pour water on them inside the trailer
    3. Keep them closed and take them off the truck if it is safe
    4. Leave them and drive on
    Show answer
    Keep them closed and take them off the truck if it is safe

    Do not open smoldering packages; remove them if safe.

  16. After a 2.3 or 6.1 poison leak, the vehicle must be:
    1. Checked for stray poison before it is used again
    2. Painted
    3. Sold
    4. Used right away
    Show answer
    Checked for stray poison before it is used again

    It must be checked for stray poison before reuse.

  17. After a Class 7 radioactive spill, the vehicle may not be used until:
    1. It is washed with soap
    2. It sits for 24 hours
    3. The driver signs a form
    4. It has been cleaned and cleared with a survey meter
    Show answer
    It has been cleaned and cleared with a survey meter

    The truck stays out of service until cleaned and cleared with a survey meter.

  18. Parts of a vehicle exposed to a corrosive liquid must be:
    1. Painted over
    2. Thoroughly washed with water
    3. Wiped with a dry rag only
    4. Left alone
    Show answer
    Thoroughly washed with water

    Wash exposed parts thoroughly with water.

  19. If a package of Division 6.2 infectious substance is damaged in transit, you should:
    1. Repack it yourself
    2. Deliver it anyway
    3. Contact your supervisor immediately
    4. Throw it away
    Show answer
    Contact your supervisor immediately

    Contact your supervisor immediately; do not accept damaged or leaking packages.

  20. What is the 24-hour phone number of the National Response Center?
    1. (800) 424-8802
    2. (800) 424-9300
    3. 911 only
    4. (800) 555-5555
    Show answer
    (800) 424-8802

    The NRC line is (800) 424-8802; CHEMTREC is (800) 424-9300.

  21. Which of these hazmat incidents must be reported to the National Response Center?
    1. A flat tire
    2. A 30-minute traffic delay
    3. Property damage of $10,000
    4. An injured person needs hospitalization
    Show answer
    An injured person needs hospitalization

    Reportable: death, hospitalization, damage over $50,000, evacuation over 1 hour, major artery closed 1 hour or more, and others.

  22. The NRC must be called when estimated property damage from a hazmat incident exceeds:
    1. $10,000
    2. $50,000
    3. $100,000
    4. $5,000
    Show answer
    $50,000

    Property damage over $50,000 must be reported.

  23. A hazmat incident causes the public to be evacuated. It must be reported to the NRC if the evacuation lasts:
    1. Any length of time
    2. More than 15 minutes
    3. More than one hour
    4. More than one day
    Show answer
    More than one hour

    Evacuation of the general public for more than one hour must be reported.

  24. CHEMTREC provides emergency personnel with:
    1. Technical facts about how hazardous materials behave physically
    2. Tow trucks
    3. Legal advice
    4. Replacement drivers
    Show answer
    Technical facts about how hazardous materials behave physically

    CHEMTREC gives technical information about hazmat physical properties; its 24-hour line is (800) 424-9300.

  25. Carriers must make detailed written reports of a hazmat incident within:
    1. 24 hours
    2. 7 days
    3. 90 days
    4. 30 days
    Show answer
    30 days

    Detailed written reports are due within 30 days.

  26. If you call CHEMTREC about an incident, will the National Response Center also be informed when appropriate?
    1. No, you must always call both yourself
    2. Yes, they are in close communication and will tell each other
    3. Only if it is a Class 7 incident
    4. Only on weekends
    Show answer
    Yes, they are in close communication and will tell each other

    The NRC and CHEMTREC communicate closely and will inform each other when appropriate.

  27. A release of a marine pollutant must be reported to the NRC when the amount is more than:
    1. 10 gallons of liquid
    2. 55 gallons or 500 lb
    3. 119 gallons of liquid or 882 pounds of solid
    4. 1,000 gallons
    Show answer
    119 gallons of liquid or 882 pounds of solid

    Marine pollutant releases over 119 gallons (liquid) or 882 lb (solid) are reportable.

  28. You should try to repack a leaking hazmat container to stop the leak.
    1. True
    2. False
    Show answer
    False

    False. Never try to repack leaking containers; call your dispatcher or supervisor and emergency personnel.

  29. If you think a Division 6.1 poison might also be flammable, you should:
    1. Ignore the fire risk
    2. Use flares to warn traffic
    3. Weld the leak shut
    4. Take the extra precautions for flammable liquids, with no smoking, open flame or welding
    Show answer
    Take the extra precautions for flammable liquids, with no smoking, open flame or welding

    Many poisons are also flammable; take flammable precautions.