The Emergency Response Guidebook is used by first responders, firefighters, police officers, and ambulance personnel when responding to a transportation emergency involving hazardous materials. It was first issued by the US Department of Transportation in 1973 and was most recently reissued in 2008 as a joint publication of the US, Canada, and Mexico. It is issued every 4 years, so the next edition will be published about 2012. It is divided into four color-coded sections and is intended only to be used for the first thirty minutes of an emergency.

Yellow Section

The first section references the material in order of its assigned UN (United Nations) number which is (often) placarded with the other hazardous materials placards. This gives a guide number which refers the user to the Orange Section.

Blue Section

The second section references the material in alphabetical order of its name. It then, like the yellow section, gives the guide number (and the UN number) to reference to the Orange Section. In both the Yellow and Blue Sections, a highlighted entry means an evacuation area needs to be established and the user should first refer to the Green Section.

Orange Section

The third section gives directions on how to proceed during the first thirty minutes. It gives health and fire/explosion hazard information, listing the most dangerous of the two first. For example, "the material gives off irritating vapors, easily ignited by heat, reactive with water," etc.

After this, information for responders on appropriate protective clothing and possible evacuation information for either spill or fire is given. It also gives information on fighting fires (example, do not apply water to sodium), warnings for spills or leaks, and special directions for first aid (example, not to give mouth-to-mouth respirtions if the materials are toxic).

Green Section

The fourth section suggests initial evacuation or shelter-in-place distances (protective action distances) for spills of materials that are Toxic by Inhalation (TIH). These distances vary based on the size of the spill and whether the incident has occurred during the day or the night. Only chemicals that are highlighted in the Yellow and Blue sections are included in the Green section.

Weapons of Mass Destruction

Beginning with the 2004 edition, a small section (uncolored) at the back of the book gives information specifically for hazardous materials being used for terrorism.

Unplacarded vehicles

In the event of an unknown material, a special guide (#111) is assigned. If the material is unknown and the UN number is not posted, but a placard is displayed (such as radioactive, or corrosive), special guides are also referenced, as are special guides for certain types of containers.

See also

• Emergency management

External links

• Downloadable version of book: 2008 Emergency Response Guidebook 2.6 MB PDF file
• Online version of 2004 Emergency Response Guidebook Information