The 2012 Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG2012) Developed jointly by:

Transport Canada (TC) The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) The Secretariat of Transport and Communications

of Mexico (SCT) Used by fire fighters, police, and other emergency

services personnel who may be the first to arrive at the scene of a transportation incident involving dangerous goods.

Application of the ERG

Primarily a guide to aid first responders in quickly identifying the specific or generic hazards of the material(s) involved in the incident, and protecting themselves and the general public during the initial response phase of the incident.

Assists first responders in making initial decisions upon arriving at the scene of a dangerous goods incident.

Limitations of the ERG

It should not be considered as a substitute for emergency response training, knowledge or sound judgment.

Does not address all possible circumstances that may be associated with a dangerous goods incident.

Designed for use at a dangerous goods incident occurring on a highway or railroad.

Limited value in its application at fixed facility locations.

Listed Materials

Incorporates dangerous goods lists from the most recent United Nations Recommendations as well as from other international and national regulations.

Explosives

Explosives are not listed individually by either proper shipping name or ID Number.

They do, however, appear under the general heading "Explosives" on the first page of the ID Number index (yellow-bordered pages) and alphabetically in the Name of Material index (blue-bordered pages).

The letter "P" following the guide number in the yellow-bordered and blue-bordered pages identifies those materials which present a polymerization hazard under certain conditions,

Transportation of Hazardous Materials Response First responders at the scene of a dangerous goods

incident, should seek additional specific information about any material in question as soon as possible.

The information received by: Contacting the appropriate emergency response agency Contacting the emergency response number on the

shipping document Consulting the information on or accompanying the

shipping document

Table of Placards

Pages 6 and 7 of the ERG depict the different placards used in the transport of dangerous goods.

Each group of placards is associated to a 3-digit guide number (ORANGE ORANGE Section).

Rail Car and Road Trailer ID Charts Pages 8 and 9 depict the general shapes of

railcars and road trailers used in the transportation of dangerous goods.

Each shape is associated to a 3-digit guide number (ORANGE ORANGE Section).

ERG Format

The book is divided into sections by the page border colors Yellow Blue Orange Green

Yellow-bordered pages

Index list of dangerous goods in numerical order of ID number.

This section quickly identifies the guide to be consulted from the ID Number of the material involved.

Some substances are highlighted in YELLOW YELLOW and should be treated specifically

Blue-bordered pages

Index list of dangerous goods in alphabetical order of material name.

This section quickly identifies the guide to be consulted from the name of the material involved.

Some substances are highlighted in BLUEBLUE and thus will have to be treated specifically.

Letter “P”

Note regarding the YELLOW and BLUE bordered Sections

If the guide number is supplemented with the letter “P”, it indicates that the material may undergo explosive polymerization if subjected to heat or contamination.

Polymerization generates heat and pressure build-up inside containers, which may explode.

Distances for Yellow and Blue Pages That are Not Highlighted In the YELLOW or BLUE Sections, if the

substance is not highlighted: Use the suggested distances provided in the

ORANGE Section, i.e.: Isolate the area in all directions, as an immediate

precautionary measure, to the minimum distance suggested under Public Safety, and increase the zone if needed;

Consider the evacuation distances suggested under Evacuation – Spill / Fire.

Distances for Yellow and Blue Pages That Are Highlighted For small and large spills use the Initial

Isolation and Protective Action Distances suggested in the GREEN Section.

In case of fire, use the distances provided in the ORANGE Guide, under Evacuation – Fire.

Orange-bordered pages

Provides all safety recommendations Comprised a total of 62 individual guides, presented

in a two-page format Each guide provides safety recommendations and

emergency response information to protect yourself and the public

The left hand page provides safety related information whereas the right hand page provides emergency response guidance and activities for fire situations, spill or leak incidents and first aid. 

Orange Section Guides

Health

Fireor

Explosion

PotentialHazards

Prim aryInform ation

ProtectiveClothing

Evacuation- Spill- Fire

PublicSafety

Fire

Spillor Leak

FirstAid

Em ergencyResponse

G UIDE128

Orange Section Guides

Under Public Safety: A suggested isolation area, as an immediate

precautionary measure, irrespectively of the quantity involved.

Under Evacuation: A suggested evacuation perimeter for spill and fire

situations AND/OR The reference to the Table of Initial Isolation and

Protective Action Distances (GREEN Section).

ERG 2012

Notes regarding the ORANGE Guides and the highlighted / non-highlighted substances Each Guide covers a range of products, which

present similar hazards; Some specific substances (highlighted in the

YELLOW and BLUE-bordered pages) must be dealt using simultaneously the ORANGE and GREEN Sections;

The GREEN Section indicates the specific distances to be used for each product;

Green-bordered pages

Contains a table which lists, by ID number, TIH materials, including certain chemical warfare agents, and water-reactive materials which produce toxic gases upon contact with water.

The table provides two different types of recommended safe distances which are "Initial isolation distances" and "Protective action distances".

Green Table Information

The table provides distances for both small (approximately 200 liters or less) and large spills (more than 200 liters) for all highlighted materials.

The list is further subdivided into daytime and nighttime situations. Due to varying atmospheric conditions which

greatly affect the size of the hazardous area.

Green Table Information

Toxic by inhalation (TIH) Chemical Warfare Agents and Substances which produce toxic gases upon

contact with water

Initial Isolation Zones

The distances show the areas likely to be affected during the first 30 minutes after the materials are spilled, and this distance could increase with time.

Defines an area SURROUNDING the incident in which persons may be exposed to dangerous (upwind) and life threatening (downwind) concentrations of material.

Daytime Versus Nighttime

The distances change from daytime to nighttime due to different mixing and dispersion conditions in the air.

During the night, the air is generally calmer and this causes the chemical to disperse less and therefore create a toxicity zone which is greater than would usually occur during the day.

During the day, the chemical is generally dispersed by a more active atmosphere. The chemical will be present in a larger area; however, the actual area where toxic levels are reached will be smaller (due to increased dispersion). It is the quantity or concentration of the chemical

vapor that poses problems.

Protective Action Zone

Defines an area DOWNWIND from the incident in which persons may become incapacitated and unable to take protective action and / or incur serious or irreversible health effects;

For practical purposes, the Protective Action Zone is a square, whose length and width are the same as the downwind distance shown in the Table (see drawing next page);

The Protective Actions are: evacuation, shelter in place or a combination of both.

Protective Action Zone

NAERG Examples

Find the ORANGEORANGE-bordered Guide-pages using the information provided;

Identify the suggested distances / zones in the ORANGEORANGE and/or GREENGREEN Sections;

Describe the main characteristics and hazards of the substance.

Example 1Example 1

A 1000-litre tote container is leaking.

1824

ID No. is 1824; The YELLOWYELLOW-bordered pages indicate that

the name of the product is Sodium hydroxide, solution or Caustic soda, solution and refers to Guide 154Guide 154;

The substance is not highlighted; there is no need to use the GREENGREEN Section;

The Guide 154 Guide 154 corresponds to Substances - Toxic and/or Corrosive (Non-Combustible);

As an immediate precautionary measure, the Guide suggests to isolate the spill or leak area in all directions for at least 50 metres for liquids;

1824

Example 1

Example 1

In Guide 154Guide 154, under the Potential Hazards Section, the Health hazards precede the Fire or Explosion hazards;

This type of substance is toxic by inhalation / ingestion / skin contact;

The contact with molten substance may cause severe burns to skin and eyes;

Fire may produce irritating, corrosive and/or toxic gases;

This type of substance is not combustible.

A drum containing this substance is punctured and is leaking on the ground.

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Example 2

The ID No. is 2692; The YELLOWYELLOW-bordered pages indicate that this

substance is called Boron tribromide; It refers to Guide 157 Guide 157 and is highlighted; The Guide 157Guide 157 correspond to Substances –

Toxic and/or Corrosive (Non-Combustible / Water-Sensitive);

Since the substance is highlighted and there is a spill situation, the GREENGREEN Section must be used to determine the Initial Isolation and Protective Action Distances;

For this product, the GREENGREEN Section presents 2 separate entries for ID No. 2692: the 1st one applies when the product is spilled on the ground and the 2nd one, when it is spilled in water;

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Example 2

In this case, the product is spilled on the ground and the Initial Isolation Distance suggested in the GREENGREEN Section is 30 metres in all directions for a small spill and 60 metres in all directions for a large spill;

Additionally, the Protective Action Distances for day and night will have to be taken from the GREENGREEN Section;

The Guide 157Guide 157 indicates that this type of substance (Boron tribromide) is toxic and non-combustible, but a fire will produce irritating, corrosive and/or toxic gases.

2692

Example 2