The Emergency Response Guidebook

• Published every four years
• 13 million copies distributed
• More than 17 languages
• More than 2.2 million copies ERG2012
• Android/iPhone Applications – Late 2012

General Information Pages (WHITE Pages)
Various sections have been expanded and/or revised, including:

• Shipping Documents (Papers)
• How to Use this Guidebook During an Incident
• User's Guide
• Isolation and Evacuation Distances
• Who to Call for Assistance
• Table of Placards and Initial Response Guide to Use On-Scene
• Rail Car Identification Chart
• Road Trailer Identification Chart
• Fire and Spill control
• Pipeline Safety Information
• Criminal/Terrorist Use of Chemical/Biological/Radiological Agents
• Glossary
• Publication Data (and related information)
• Emergency Response Telephone Numbers
• Added Information in the Users Guide to describe the new Table 3 - six common TIH gases
• Added notes to several WHITE Pages to reflect addition of Table 3

List in Order of ID Number (YELLOW-Bordered Pages) And List in Alphabetical Order (BLUE-Bordered Pages)

• Added all new dangerous goods listed in UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods to 17th revised edition

Safety Recommendations/Emergency Response Guides (ORANGE-Bordered Pages)
Tune-up of several guides:

• Public Safety Section Under EVACUATION –
  • Changed “Large Spill” heading to “Spill” – GUIDES 132, 138, 139, 159 and 166
  • Under “Fire” heading – Added “in all directions” to GUIDES 145, 146, 148, 149 and 150
• EMERGENCY RESPONSE section Under EVACUATION –
  • FIRE – Large Fire: Moved “Do not use straight streams” as its own bullet.
• GUIDE 135 - UN3342 added to two phrases related to Small and Large Fire.
• Also added phrase to “FIRE” and “SPILL OR LEAK” sections: “CAUTION: UN3342 when flooded with water will continue to evolve flammable Carbon disulfide/Carbon disulphide vapors.”
• GUIDE 128 – Added “For UN3166, if Lithium ion batteries are involved, also consult GUIDE 147”
• GUIDE 154 – Added “For UN3171, if Lithium ion batteries are involved, also consult GUIDE 147”
• GUIDE 114 – Moved “Explosives 1.6” from GUIDE 112 title to GUIDE 114 title
• GUIDES 148 and 150 – Under “PUBLIC SAFETY”:
  • Modified following phrase to include cryogenic hazard: “DO NOT allow substance to warm up. Obtain liquid nitrogen (wear thermal protective clothing, see GUIDE 120), dry ice or ice for cooling. If this is not possible or none can be obtained, evacuate the area immediately.”
• GUIDE 112 – Under “EVACUATION, Fire”, changed bullet to :
  • “If rail car or trailer is involved in a fire, ISOLATE for 1600 meters (1 mile) in all directions; also, initiate evacuation including emergency responders for 1600 meters (1 mile) in all directions.”
• GUIDE 157 – Added phrase under “POTENTIAL HAZARDS – FIRE OR EXPLOSION”
  • Modified three phrases under “POTENTIAL HAZARDS – HEALTH” and “FIRE OR EXPLOSION”
  • Table of Initial Isolation and Protective Action Distances, and the Table of Water-Reactive Materials That Produce Toxic Gases (GREEN-Bordered Pages)
• Added Table 3 Isolation and Evacuation Distances for six common TIH materials
  • Ammonia, anhydrous (UN1005)
  • Chlorine (UN1017)
  • Ethylene oxide (UN1040)
  • Hydrogen chloride (UN1050) and Hydrogen chloride, refrigerated liquid (UN2186)
  • Hydrogen fluoride (UN1052)
  • Sulfur Dioxide (UN1079)
• Added “How to Use Table 3” page
• Tune-up of Initial Isolation and Protective Action Distances
• WHITE pages – added notes to several sections reflecting addition of Table 3
• Added Table 3 information within User’s Guide WHITE pages section.
• Table 1 - Added asterisks to seven UN numbers referring to Table 3:
  • UN1005
  • UN1017
  • UN1040
  • UN1050
  • UN1052
  • UN1079
  • UN2186
• Glossary Section
• Revised Definitions:
  • Compatibility Group
  • Acute Exposure Guideline Level (AEGL)
• Miscellaneous Additions
  • Table of Placards and Initial Response Guide to Use On-Scene:

New Limited Quantity placard

• • Added 59 material names to reflect the 17th edition of the UN Recommendations for the Transport of Dangerous Goods
• FIRE AND SPILL CONTROL White page section:
  • Added BLEVE-(Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion) related information and a Safety Distances Chart
  • “FIRE AND SPILL CONTROL” White pages section:
  • Added BLEVE (Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion) related information and a Safety Distances Chart 
• “CRIMINAL/TERRORIST USE OF CHEMICAL/BIOLOGICAL/RADIOLOGICAL” WHITE pages section:
  • Added an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) Safe Standoff Distance Chart

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