Emergency Response Guidebook

This guidebook--also know as the "DOT Book" or ERG--is a familiar resource for first responders. It contains initial response guides for commonly transported chemicals. You look up a chemical by its name or ID number (UN/NA number United Nations-North America number. (Also UN Number or DOT Number.) Four-digit number identifying an individual chemical or group of chemicals with similar characteristics. Required on shipping papers; often shown on placards or labels. Often preceded by "UN": e.g., "UN1219.") to see the response guide for that chemical.

Using the Guidebook

Instructions for using the guidebook: On page 1.

Table of placards: Shows the diamond-shaped placards that must be displayed on vehicles carrying hazardous materials, along with the number of the response guide for the class of substances represented by each placard. See an example:

A picnicking family reports an abandoned drum on a beach on your AOR. You go onscene, and see the following placard on the drum:

You open the Table of Placards in the Guidebook, and find this placard in the table. Just above this placard is the guide number 136. This is the number of the response guide for this chemical and similar substances. See this example:

You open the orange-bordered pages in the Guidebook, and find response guide 136, which contains response-related information for the chemical in the drum and similar chemicals. See this example:

Chemicals listed by ID number (UN/NA number United Nations-North America number. (Also UN Number or DOT Number.) Four-digit number identifying an individual chemical or group of chemicals with similar characteristics. Required on shipping papers; often shown on placards or labels. Often preceded by "UN": e.g., "UN1219."): Look up the ID number in the yellow-bordered pages, then find the guide number next to it. Look in the orange-bordered pages for the response guide with that number. See an example:

A tank container has been damaged during a storm, and a colorless liquid is leaking from it. The following placard is displayed on the container:

You open the yellow-bordered pages in the Guidebook, and find 1219 in the list of ID numbers. Next to "1219" is the guide number 129. This is the number of the response guide for this chemical. Next to the guide number is the chemical's shipping name: isopropanol. See this example:

You open the orange-bordered pages in the Guidebook, and find response guide 129, which contains response-related information for isopropanal and similar chemicals. See this example:

Chemicals listed alphabetically by shipping name: Look up the chemical name in the blue-bordered pages, then find the guide number next to it. Look in the orange-bordered pages for the response guide with that number. See an example:

A rail tankcar has been involved in a collision, and there is concern that it may leak. The name of its contents is stenciled on the side of the tankcar:

You open the blue-bordered pages in the Guidebook, and find "Chlorine" in the alphabetical list of chemical shipping names. Next to "Chlorine" is the guide number 124. This is the number of the response guide for this chemical. Next to the guide number is chlorine's ID number (UN/NA number): 1017. See this example:

Chlorine's list entry is highlighted in green to alert you that this chemical is dangerously toxic by inhalation. The Guidebook instructions tell you that if the chemical is highlighted in green, you should refer to the green-bordered pages to find its Initial Isolation and Protective Action Distances. You look through the green-bordered pages and find the distances for chlorine. See this example:

The table shows recommended distances for small spills (about the size of a 55-gallon drum) and large spills (much larger than a drum) of chlorine.

Initial isolation distance. For a small chlorine spill, you would direct people to move in a crosswind direction away from the spill to at least 200 feet. For a large spill, you would direct people to move at least 2000 feet.

Protective action distance. This distance encloses the area where people could be exposed to harmful levels of chlorine, so that you would need to take protective action. For example, for a large spill of chlorine during the day, you would take protective actions for as far as 2.2 miles downwind (and half as far in either crosswind direction). This distance is shorter during the day than at night because, on average, chlorine gas dissipates more slowly at night.

Next, you look in the orange-bordered pages in the Guidebook for the chemical's response guide. In those pages, you can find response guide 124, which contains response-related information for chlorine and similar chemicals. See this example:

Response guides: In the orange-bordered pages. Describe hazards and provide recommendations for initial response and first aid.

Table 1 - Initial Isolation and Protective Action Distances. Guidance for initially isolating the scene and protecting people. Pages 298 - 341 in the 2008 edition.

Table 2: Water-Reactive Materials Which Produce Toxic Gases. Lists chemicals that produce toxic gases when spilled into water. Pages 342 - 347 in the 2008 edition.

Caution: For spill volumes much larger than a railroad tank car, the Guidebook's distance estimates may be too short. Your SSC can help you estimate the potentially affected area when the spill volume is very large.