The 2008 Emergency Response Guidebook is the first release of the ERG since 2004, containing new information for first responders in the event of an incident involving hazardous materials. The Guidebook provides a consistent and standardized approach for handling hazardous materials emergencies. Labelmaster, a manufacturer of regulatory compliance products, will print the updated 2008 Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG).

New in 2008:

• Over fifty amendments to proper shipping names and ID numbers (United Nations numbers)
• Lists of hazardous materials will be updated
• Lithium Ion batteries entry will be added
• Ethanol entries and identification numbers will be added
• The “Initial Isolation and Protective Action Distance Table” will be split into two tables to better facilitate initial incident response actions for emergencies involving TIH (Toxic Inhalation Hazards)

The Emergency Response Guidebook is the foundation of many emergency response plans and incident management systems. It provides a consistent and standardized approach for first responders in the event of an incident involving hazardous materials. It is intended to assist responders in managing the first fifteen to thirty minutes of an emergency response, often the most critical moments. It provides crucial information concerning scene management and response procedures that can save lives and enhance public and environmental safety.

Since its introduction in 1976, the ERG has been and will continue to be the “go-to” reference for first responders faced with the possibility of a hazardous materials incident. This guidebook is published in a user-friendly format and is divided into five sections which are color coded to maximize efficiency and ease of use. The goal of the US Department of Transportation is for all public emergency responders to carry a copy of the ERG.

The ERG is developed jointly by the US Department of Transportation, Transport Canada, the Secretariat of Communications and Transportation of Mexico (SCT), and with the collaboration of CIQUIME (Centro de Informacion Quimica para Emergencias) of Argentina. The 2008 ERG represents the first publication since the Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials programs were merged, so there will be new information introduced regarding pipeline markers.

Are you aware of the The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act of 2005 or SAFETEA-LU?  If you ship or receive hazardous materials as defined in 49 CFR parts 172.101

This act raised the DOT’s ability to impose a civil fine from $50,000/incident to $100,000/day/incident.  So, what does this mean to you?  If your shipment is NOT in compliance with 49 CFR parts 100-185 it could cost you significant fines. 

Today the US DOT is taking incorrect shipments very seriously.  Shipping hazardous materials incorrectly, in commerce, can cost your organization big bucks.   Consider that you send 1001 pounds of AMMONIUM NITRATE by ground transportation and have incorrect shipping papers, the wrong placard on your truck, and your employees have not been trained properly.  This represents a possible fine of $300,000/day. 

There are 5 parts to Hazmat training:

• General Awareness/Familiarization Training- How to use the 49CFR and identify hazardous materials
• Function-specific Training-What specific hazardous materials you ship or receive and how to do it correctly
• Safety Training-Emergency Response, safety measures used to protect employee’s, handling of hazardous materials
• Security Awareness Training-awareness of security risks and how to recognize possible security threats
• In-depth Security Training-If you ship certain classifications and quantities of hazardous materials you need more in-depth planning and training

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. 

The Compliance Resource Center offers customized on-site HAZMAT training.  Each class is customized to your organizations specific hazardous materials shipped or received.  Contact us for more information.

New information in first update since 2004.
A U.S.-based manufacturer of regulatory compliance products, will print an update of the Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG) – the first available in four years. This important publication is the cornerstone of many emergency response plans and incident management systems, providing a consistent and standardized approach for first responders in the event of an incident involving hazardous materials.

The ERG is developed jointly by the US Department of Transportation, Transport Canada, the Secretariat of Communications and Transportation of Mexico (SCT), and with the collaboration of CIQUIME (Centro de Informacion Quimica para Emergencias) of Argentina.

In its thirty odd years of existence, the ERG has been and will continue to be the “go-to” reference for first responders faced with the possibility of a hazardous materials incident. This guidebook is published in a user-friendly format and is divided into five sections which are color coded to maximize efficiency and ease of use.

The following items are new for 2008:

.   Over fifty amendments to proper shipping names and ID numbers (United Nations numbers)
.   Lists of hazardous materials found in the yellow and blue bordered pages will be updated to reflect those changes
.   New entry for Lithium Ion batteries will be included
.   Ethanol will have new entries and identification numbers added
.   The ”Initial Isolation and Protective Action Distance Table” will be split into two tables to better facilitate initial incident response actions for emergencies involving TIH (Toxic Inhalation Hazards)

The 2008 ERG represents the first publication since the DOT’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials programs were merged, so there will be new information introduced regarding pipeline markers.
 
 

If you are involved in the shipment of hazardous materials, you should attend one of the DOT’s PHMSA Transportation worshops. Below is a schedule of the workshops and locations.

2007 Hazmat Transportation Workshop Brochure (fillable pdf 644KB)

Hazmat Transportation Workshop Schedule (See brochure for pre-registration)