Haz Mat Ch.3

Question 1

What is the purpose of identifying hazardous materials at a hazmat incident?

Answer 1

To determine safe distances for isolation and protection

Safe distances are critical for ensuring the safety of personnel and the public during hazmat incidents.

Question 2

What resources can Awareness Level Personnel use to identify hazardous materials?

Answer 2

Current edition of the Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG) or other equivalent resource

The ERG provides crucial information on fire, explosion, and health hazards associated with materials.

Question 3

What information is typically found in shipping documents for hazardous materials?

Answer 3

4-digit UN number, proper chemical shipping name, hazard classes, divisions, and packing group

Shipping documents are essential for initiating protective actions during a hazmat incident.

Question 4

What does the packing group indicate regarding hazardous materials?

Answer 4

The degree of danger they present

Packing groups help responders assess risk quickly.

Question 5

What are the three packing groups for hazardous materials?

Answer 5

• Packing Group I: high danger
• Packing Group II: medium danger
• Packing Group III: low danger

Each packing group reflects the potential risk associated with the hazardous material.

Question 6

True or False: The inside cover of the ERG provides a key to understanding shipping documents.

Answer 6

True

This key helps responders interpret the critical information found in shipping documents.

Question 7

Fill in the blank: The proper chemical shipping name is listed ______ in the shipping documents.

Answer 7

[second]

The order of information is crucial for understanding the risks associated with the hazardous material.

Question 8

What type of hazard information can Awareness Level Personnel identify using the ERG?

Answer 8

• Fire hazards
• Explosion hazards
• Health hazards

Understanding these hazards is vital for effective response and safety.

Question 9

What is the significance of the 4-digit UN number in shipping documents?

Answer 9

It identifies the specific hazardous material being transported

The UN number is a crucial reference for emergency responders.

Question 10

What is the purpose of the ERG?

Answer 10

The ERG is a guide to aid emergency responders in quickly identifying the initial hazmat hazards involved in a transportation emergency incident.

Question 11

How does the ERG help during an incident?

Answer 11

It helps protect responders and others by avoiding and minimizing hazards during the incident’s initial response phase.

Question 12

Where is the ERG primarily designed to be used?

Answer 12

The ERG is primarily designed for hazardous materials incidents occurring at highways, railroads, and pipelines.

Question 13

Are the isolation and protective distances in the ERG suitable for all locations?

Answer 13

No, they are based on conditions commonly associated with transportation incidents in open areas and may not be appropriate for fixed-facility locations or urban settings.

Question 14

Does the ERG address all possible circumstances of hazardous materials incidents?

Answer 14

No, the ERG does NOT address all possible circumstances that may be associated with a dangerous goods/hazardous materials incident.

Question 15

How can you locate the appropriate initial action guide page in the ERG?

Answer 15

You can locate it by identifying the four-digit UN identification number on a placard, orange panel, or shipping papers, and then looking up the appropriate guide in the yellow-bordered pages.

Question 16

What is another method to find the initial action guide in the ERG?

Answer 16

Reference the name of the material involved (if known) in the blue-bordered pages. Exact spelling is important when using this method.

Question 17

What should you do if you identify the material’s transportation placard?

Answer 17

Reference the three-digit guide code associated with the placard in the Table of Markings, Labels, and Placards and Initial Response Guide to Use On-Scene located in the front of the ERG.

Question 18

How can first responders use the container profiles in the ERG?

Answer 18

First responders can identify container shapes and then cross-reference the guide number to the orange-bordered page provided in the nearest circle.

Question 19

What can responders use to locate the most specific initial action guide?

Answer 19

Responders can use the four-digit ID number or the chemical name.

Question 20

What do the yellow-bordered pages in the ERG provide?

Answer 20

A four-digit UN/NA ID number index list in numerical order.

Question 21

What follows the four-digit ID number in the ERG?

Answer 21

Its assigned three-digit emergency response Initial Action Guide number (the ‘Guide’).

Question 22

What is indicated by green highlighting in the yellow-bordered index?

Answer 22

The substances are gases or may release gases that are toxic inhalation hazards (TIH).

Question 23

What do materials classified as TIH require?

Answer 23

Enhanced emergency response distances.

Question 24

What is the purpose of the yellow-bordered section in the ERG?

Answer 24

To enable first responders to identify the Guide number to consult for the substance involved.

Question 25

What does a ‘P’ following the Guide number indicate?

Answer 25

A ‘P’ indicates that a material polymerizes.

Polymerization is a violent reaction that releases great amounts of heat and energy.

Question 26

What are other terms denoting possible polymerization?

Answer 26

Other terms include: monomer, stabilizer, and inhibitor.

Question 27

What is an Inhibitor?

Answer 27

Material that is added to products that easily polymerize in order to control or prevent an undesired reaction. Also known as Stabilizer.

Question 28

What is a monomer?

Answer 28

A molecule that may bind chemically to other molecules to form a polymer.

Question 29

What do the blue-bordered pages of the ERG provide?

Answer 29

An index of dangerous goods in alphabetical order by material name.

Question 30

What follows a material’s name in the ERG?

Answer 30

Its assigned three-digit emergency response guide and four-digit UN/NA ID number.

Question 31

Why is it important to be careful when looking up a product’s name?

Answer 31

A subtle mistake in spelling can lead to a substantial misunderstanding of a product’s behavior.

Question 32

What does green highlighting indicate in the blue-bordered pages?

Answer 32

The release of TIH gases.

Question 33

What does a ‘P’ following the Guide number indicate?

Answer 33

That the material polymerizes.

Question 34

What is the purpose of the book’s orange-bordered section?

Answer 34

The orange-bordered section provides safety recommendations and general hazards information.

Question 35

How are the Guides organized in the orange-bordered section?

Answer 35

The Guides are presented in a two-page format, featuring three sections.

Question 36

What information is found on the left-hand page of each Guide?

Answer 36

The left-hand page lists potential hazards and public safety information.

Question 37

What information is found on the right-hand page of each Guide?

Answer 37

The right-hand page provides emergency response information.

Question 38

What does the Guide title indicate?

Answer 38

The Guide title identifies the general hazards of the materials or dangerous goods addressed.

Question 39

What types of hazards are addressed in the Potential Hazards section?

Answer 39

The Potential Hazards section addresses health hazards and fire or explosion hazards.

Question 40

Why should the Potential Hazards section be consulted first?

Answer 40

It assists in making decisions regarding the protection of individuals at the incident.

Question 41

What types of warnings might be found in the Potential Hazards section?

Answer 41

Warnings include TOXIC, HIGHLY FLAMMABLE, and CORROSIVE.

Question 42

What does the Public Safety section provide?

Answer 42

The Public Safety section provides initial precautionary actions for first-arriving or on-scene personnel.

Question 43

What additional information is included in the Public Safety section?

Answer 43

It includes recommendations for protective clothing, respiratory protection, and evacuation distances.

Question 44

What is Initial Isolation Distance?

Answer 44

Distance within which all persons are considered for evacuation in all directions from a hazardous materials incident.

Question 45

What is the Initial Isolation Zone?

Answer 45

A circular zone with a radius equivalent to the initial isolation distance, within which persons may be exposed to dangerous concentrations upwind of the source and may be exposed to life-threatening concentrations downwind of the source.