"This Guide presents comprehensive, step-by-step guidance on assessing hazardous materials emergency response needs at state, regional, and local levels; matching state, regional, and local capabilities with potential emergencies involving different types of hazardous materials; and assessing how quickly resources can be brought to bear in an emergency. The methodology described in the Guide is designed to be scalable, allowing the implementation results to be aggregated at the local level up through regional, state, and national levels. Also, the Guide is designed to connect as many components as possible to already-established standards, guidelines, regulations, and laws, so that the Guide will remain current as these underlying components are updated. In addition, the Guide discusses appropriate means for maintaining currency of the information over time. The Guide and accompanying spreadsheet tool (on the attached CD-ROM), which leads planners through the assessment process, will be most useful for local jurisdictions that have limited resources and expertise in hazardous materials emergency response planning."--Publisher's description.

Does the identification number 60 indicate a toxic substance or a flammable solid, in the molten state at an elevated temperature? Does the identification number 1035 indicate ethane or butane? What is the difference between natural gas transmission pipelines and natural gas distribution pipelines? If you came upon an overturned truck on the highway that was leaking, would you be able to identify if it was hazardous and know what steps to take? Questions like these and more are answered in the Emergency Response Guidebook. Learn how to identify symbols for and vehicles carrying toxic, flammable, explosive, radioactive, or otherwise harmful substances and how to respond once an incident involving those substances has been identified. Always be prepared in situations that are unfamiliar and dangerous and know how to rectify them. Keeping this guide around at all times will ensure that, if you were to come upon a transportation situation involving hazardous substances or dangerous goods, you will be able to help keep others and yourself out of danger. With color-coded pages for quick and easy reference, this is the official manual used by first responders in the United States and Canada for transportation incidents involving dangerous goods or hazardous materials.

This guide will help local communities prepare for potential accidents involving hazardous materials. Describes how to form a local planning team, find a team leader, identify and analyze hazards, identify existing response equipment and personnel, write a plan, and keep the plan up to date. Will help communities, small and large alike, to make the impact of accidents less severe. Appendices: implementing Title III; list of acronyms and recognized abbreviations; glossary; criteria for assessing state and local preparedness; bibliography. Also includes a 32-page report, "What's Happening with Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Teams," excerpts from "Energy and Transportation Network News" (April 1994).

Have the contents of an entire hazardous materials and WMD first responder course at your fingertips when you need it most ... at an incident. This handy field guide covers most of the operational level first responder competencies identified in NFPA 472 and 473, with guidelines to help you recognize and safely manage any hazmat incident or WMD event. It's the perfect companion to the Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG).The information is organized into fourteen chapters:1. The "e;Quick Reference Guide"e; contains a concise overview of your responsibilities as a first responder.2. "e;Recognizing and Responding to a Hazmat/WMD Incident"e; has detailed explanations and guidelines on each of the tasks listed in Chapter 1.3. "e;Labels, Placards, and Other Marking Systems"e; provides key points on each of the hazard classes and information on various other marking systems.4. "e;Container Recognition"e; provides clues about the types of products found in various containers and how these containers behave in an emergency. Look at both the general information about the type of container (nonbulk package, cargo tank, rail car, etc.) and specific information about the particular container(s) in question.5. "e;Assessing the Hazards"e; contains information on how hazardous materials cause harm, toxicological terms and exposure limits, properties of flammable liquids, chemical and physical properties, and guidelines for dealing with special hazmat situations.6. "e;Medical Management of Hazmat Exposures"e; has information on the risk of secondary contamination, patient decon, triage, health effects of hazardous materials commonly encountered, EMS treatment protocols, and medical support of hazmat response personnel.7. "e;Introduction to Terrorism"e; provides information on distinguishing a terrorist event from an accident and distinguishing between chemical and biological warfare agents.8. "e;Explosives Incidents"e; has information on how to recognize common explosives and initiation devices and guidelines on what to do upon discovery of a device or after detonation of an explosive.9. "e;Chemical Warfare Agents"e; has general information on how to deal with incidents involving chemical warfare agents, as well as more detailed information on nerve agents, blister agents, blood agents, choking agents, and riot control agents.10. "e;Biological Warfare Agents"e; provides general information on dealing with incidents involving biological warfare agents, as well as more detailed information on specific biological agents.11. "e;Nuclear Events"e; has information on dealing with incidents (intentional or accidental) involving radioactive materials.12. "e;Tactical Considerations"e; provides more information on defensive options and the use of foam.13. "e;Additional Considerations"e; includes guidelines on dealing with the media, minimizing liability, developing protective action messages, preserving evidence, and dealing with children.14. "e;Resources for Information and Assistance"e; provides information on various agencies that can help you manage a hazmat incident or terrorist event.Five previous editions were released in print form. The book was updated for this 2014 eBook edition.