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Module 3

Recognition and Identification

 

Learning Outcomes

After completing this Module, you will be able to:

First responders who encounter potential hazardous materials incidents should be aware of resources they can call on to assist them in the recognition and identification of the hazardous materials.

Further, first responders trained to the awareness level should recognize the many tools, clues and identifiers that will assist them in determining the presence of hazardous materials. They must be aware of the classifications of hazardous materials, and that the complexity of incidents can be increased by multiple hazards.

  1. Resources

    1.1 2004Emergency Response Guidebook (2004 ERG)

    The 2004 Emergency Response Guidebook (2004 ERG) is intended to be used in conjunction with placards and labels found on transport vehicles and containers (which are discussed in this module). This guidebook provides valuable initial information concerning hazardous materials and assists awareness level first responders in the recognition of hazardous materials.

    Three methods for determining the correct guide page for a hazardous material are;

    The guidebook is:

    The emergency response guide provides general information for first responders and provides response information for the following:

    The primary hazard is noted at the top of every guide page in the orange section of the 2004 ERG. On each page both the potential for Fire or Explosion and the Health Hazard is listed and described.

    The 2004 ERG also provides a recommended table of Initial Isolation and Protective Action distances for small (under 200 L) and large (over 200 L) spills for certain chemicals (highlighted in the ID Number and alphabetical sections).  

    The Table of Initial Isolation and Protective Action Distances in the green bordered section, describes the distances for a given dangerous goods, spill size and whether day or night. It gives the downwind distance for which protective actions should be considered. The Protective Action Zone (the area in which people are at risk of harmful exposure) is a square, whose length and width is the same as the downwind distance shown in the table.
    The Isolation Distance table in the green-bordered section refers to non-fire incidents that have an inhalation danger and an elapsed time within 30 minutes.

1.2 CANUTEC

CANUTEC is the Canadian Transport Emergency Centre. This 24 hour emergency information service located in Ottawa, Ontario, is operated by Transport Canada to assist emergency response personnel in handling dangerous goods emergencies. This service utilizes a 10 digit collect-call number, allowing responders to access information about specific chemicals and linking them to shippers and manufacturers. When calling CANUTEC, information required on page 7 of the 2004 ERG, should be readily available. This will allow CANUTEC to provide the most accurate information possible in a timely manner.

CANUTEC 24 hour hot line
(613) 996-6666 (may be called collect)
*666 (cell)

In non-emergency situations, information can be obtained by calling 613-992-4624 (24 hours).

For more information about the ERG 2004, go to: http://www.tc.gc.ca/canutec/en/guide/guide.htm.

Note:

1.2.1 The appropriate federal agency must be notified in the case of rail, air or marine incidents. CANUTEC 24 hour hot line (613) 996-6666 (may be called collect) *666 (cell)

1.2.2 The nearest police department must be notified in the case of lost, stolen or misplaced explosives, radioactive materials or infectious substances.

1.2.3 CANUTEC must be notified in the case of:

  1. lost, stolen or misplaced infectious substances
  2. an incident involving infectious substances
  3. an accidental release from a cylinder that has suffered a catastrophic failure
  4. an incident where the shipping documents display CANUTEC’s telephone number as the emergency telephone number, or
  5. a dangerous goods incident in which a railway vehicle, a ship, an aircraft, an aerodrome or an air cargo facility is involved (2004 ERG, p. 9).

1.3 Other Resources

Numerous other resources are available for first responders’ use. Computer programs as well as technical manuals are readily obtainable from organizations and suppliers. During emergency operations it is considered good practice to try to confirm information by using at least three different sources of data (e.g. shipping documents, chemical reference manuals, MSDS).

2. Clues for Detecting the Presence of Hazardous Materials

This section outlines some of the many clues available to first responders to aid in determining the presence of hazardous materials.

2.1. Occupancy and/or Location

Information on occupancy types and possible locations of hazardous materials are generally obtained in two ways. First responders should have a basic understanding of their response district or community. Second, departments and agencies involved in hazardous materials response need to make pre-emergency visits or surveys of businesses that have a potential for accidental release of hazardous materials. Preemergency surveys should take place in an environment without stress or time constraints and during daylight hours.

Pre-emergency surveys are the preferred method for obtaining information used to locate and identify hazardous materials in the community.

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)

An MSDS is a form provided by manufacturers or compounders of chemicals, containing information about the chemical compound, physical and chemical properties, health and safety hazards, emergency response, spill or leak procedures, fire and explosion risk, reactivity data and safe waste disposal of the material. They also must provide the manufacturer’s name and telephone contact number.

These must be made available to certain local governmental agencies (fire departments, local emergency planning committees).

Note: Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) regulation under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) made the use of MSDS a requirement of the Act.

2.2 Senses

Your own senses - smell, sound, touch or sight - can also help you detect the presence of hazardous materials. Odours may indicate the presence of a hazardous material.

Remember, if you can smell a hazardous material, it is time to get out. Odours such as rotten fruit, eggs or freshly cut grass are characteristic of certain hazardous materials. If you are close enough to smell the product you are usually already contaminated. There is some limitation in the effectiveness of this method due to the fact that many hazardous agents are odourless.

Many times, clandestine drug labs produce distinct odours dependent upon the materials and methods involved in manufacturing the illegal drugs. For purposes of masking odours, operators of these labs frequently locate the facility in areas such as farms that already provide natural odours. Some chemicals can rapidly desensitize your sense of smell. You may not be able to smell the chemical on your second or third sniff, but it is still there.

The unusual colour of smoke and flame can also help identify the possible presence of a hazardous material. Further irritation to the eyes or skin may also be a signal that you are being exposed and that you should leave the danger area immediately.

2.3 Transport Container Shapes

One of the most important clues used to detect hazardous materials is the shape of transport containers (refer to 2004 ERG for further details). The general classifications of containers for hazardous materials are:

Some hazardous materials require specialized containment that is specific in shape, which can give a clue to the identity of the contents. Regarding highway transportation, the size and shape of tank trucks can offer clues about the type of material being transported. These differences in shape are easy to spot.

The shape of the end of the tank offers the best clue. Generally, non-pressurized tank trucks have flat or nearly flat ends, while pressurized tank trucks have rounded ends. Some samples of characteristic shapes are:

2.4 Markings and Colours

There are unique markings and colours used to indicate the presence of hazardous materials. Some hazardous materials must be identified by proper shipping name on the side of the container, as required by law. Company names, logos, and addresses of shippers and consignees may provide clues to the presence and identification of hazardous materials.

2.4.1 Hazard Identification Codes

Hazard Identification Codes referred to as “hazard identification numbers” under European regulations are designed to identify hazardous materials in transportation. These numbers must be displayed on cargo tanks, portable tanks, rail tank cars, and certain small packages carrying hazardous materials. They may be displayed on other conveyances as well.

Rail tank cars have a unique marking system consisting of a combination of letters and numbers. The railroads call these letters and numbers reporting marks. The letters identify the owner of the car and the numbers identify the individual car. A single rail car number can identify the entire train and contents through the rail company.

Methods used to display identification numbers on packages and containers include rectangular orange panels, diamond shaped placards and labels that utilize a specific colour scheme.

  1. Orange panel adjacent to the placards. The panel is 12 cm x 30 cm (4.72” x 11.8”) with 10 cm (4”) numerals.
    Orange panel with numbers 1075 on it
  2. Placard/label
    Black and white triangle and red and white triangle
  3. NFPA Standard 704 M

    The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has developed a marking system for identifying hazardous materials at terminals and industrial sites. This method is not used in transportation, although these markings may be found on small packages or containers.

    NFPA Standard 704 describes a system for the Identification of Hazards for Emergency Response that can indicate up to four hazards on one placard.

    A diamond shaped placard can have a blue health hazard rating at the left point, a red flammability rating at the top point, a yellow instability rating at the right point and a water reactivity or oxidizing symbol at the bottom point, on a white placard background.

2.5 Placards and Labels

Placards are diamond shaped, a minimum of 25 cm x 25 cm in size (10-3/4” x 10-3/4”), and are required to be displayed on all four sides of a transport vehicle that is carrying hazardous materials, dependent upon the type and quantity of the material. The placard provides recognition information in a number of ways:

Labels are similar to placards in appearance and must be securely affixed to packages containing hazardous materials, depending upon type and quantity. The label should be located near the proper shipping name and must not be obscured by other markings.

Colours, symbols and numbers on both placards and labels provide the responder with a means of identifying the materials and their hazards.  

2.5.1 Placard Colours

The following colours are used to indicate the classification of the hazards.

Placard Colour Classification
Orange explosive
Red flammable or combustible
Green non-flammable gas
Yellow oxidizing material
White toxic/poison material  
white with vertical stripes flammable solid
yellow over white  radioactive material
Blue water reactive substances

  Note: Combustible placards, which display the identification number, may have a white area under the identification number displayed to differentiate them from flammable liquids.

The following are hazard classes with examples of placards from the 2004 ERG. Refer to pages 16 and 17 for more details about placards or http://www.tc.gc.ca/tdg/who.htm.

Class 1 - Explosives (dynamite, black powder)

Four yellow triangles

Class 2 - Gases (propane, natural gas)

Red, green and white triangles

Class 3 - Flammable liquids (gasoline, fuel oil)

Red triangle with flame

Class 4 - Flammable solids; spontaneously combustible and substances that, on contact with water, emit flammable gases (phosphorus)

White triangle with red stripes, red triangle with white top half, blue triangle

Class 5 - Oxidizing substances and organic peroxides (hydrogen peroxide, ammonium nitrate)

Two yellow triangles

Class 6 – Poisonous (toxic) and infectious substances (anthrax, medical waste  44

Two clear triangles with skull and cross bones

Class 7 - Radioactive materials (plutonium, cobalt)

Triangle white bottom, yellow top half

Class 8 - Corrosives (sulfuric acid, caustic soda)

Black and whit triangle showing chemicals being spilt on human hands

Class 9 - Miscellaneous products, substances, organisms


Danger - (Mixed Load)

2.5.2 Symbols (as located in 2004 ERG):  

Yellow triangle with Explosives wording, white triangle with skull and corss bones and wording Poison gas, red triangle with wording Flammable Gas, green triangle with wording Non-Flammable Gas

Yellow triangle with wording Oxidizer, white triangle with wording Poison, white triangle with wording Harmful, white triangle with wording Infectious Substance

White triangle with wording Corrosive, white triangle with red stripes with wording Flammable Solid

Note:" Empty” and “residue” placards are no longer authorized for use. Containers must remain placarded until cleaned.

2.6 Shipping Documents

The shipping documents provide vital information when responding to a dangerous goods incident. Shipping documents contain information needed to identify the materials involved. The shipping documents must contain the proper shipping name, hazard class or division, ID (formerly UN) numbers and packing group. In addition, information must be available that describes the hazards and steps which can be used in the mitigation of an incident. Shipping papers are required for most dangerous goods in transportation. First responders may find these documents in the following locations:

When inspecting shipping documents, first responders note the:

Further, first responders should be aware of the limitations of shipping documents. These documents could be:

Note: The Standard Transportation Commodities Code (STCC) is a unique seven digit number assigned to most materials transported by rail and found on shipping papers. If a material is hazardous, the STCC number will begin with 49. The STCC is not a regulatory requirement under the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act.

2.6.1 Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)

Material Safety Data Sheets are not specifically shipping documents, and are found in any location in which a hazardous material is used, however they are often found attached to other shipping papers. Information that may be found on the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) includes:

3. Limitations of the Hazard Class System

3.1 Multiple Hazards

Many hazardous materials have multiple hazards and are required to be placarded with a primary placard and subsidiary placard. The subsidiary placard will not display a hazard class number. When a material has more than one hazard, the primary placard to be used is determined by what Transport Canada mandates as the most dangerous property. The most dangerous property is determined using the following ranking system:

Hazardous Material Primary Hazard Classification
Radioactive Class 7
Poison Gas Class 2 Division 3
Flammable gas Class 2 Division 1
Nonflammable gas Class 2 Division 2
Pyrophoric material Class 6 Division 1 (inhalation only)
Self reactive material Class 4 Division 2
Flammable liquid Class 3
Corrosive Class 8
Flammable solid Class 4 Division 1
Spontaneously combustible material Class 4 Division 2
Dangerous when wet material Class 4 Division 3
Oxidizers Class 5 Division 1
Poison liquids / solids Class 6 Division 1 (non-inhalation)
Combustible liquids Class 3
Miscellaneous hazardous materials Class 9
Self reactive material Class 4 Division 2
Self reactive material Class 4 Division 2

3.1.1 Example of a material with multiple hazards:

Nitric Acid, Red Fuming - UN 2032: This material is an oxidizer, corrosive, and a poison. It is placarded as a corrosive and a poison.

Note: It is common for a material to have more than one Transport Canada shipping label on the container.

NFPA Standard 704 describes a system for the  48 Identification of Hazards for Emergency Response that can indicate up to four hazards on one placard. A diamond shaped placard can have a blue health hazard rating at the left point, a red flammability rating at the top point, a yellow instability rating at the right point and a water reactivity or oxidizing symbol at the bottom point, on a white placard background.

3.2 Unstable Hazards

Organic Peroxides are good examples of unstable materials that have their hazards greatly understated. Organic peroxides are grouped into Class 5 with oxidizers. These chemicals do release oxygen to support combustion, but the primary hazard is explosion. These materials are both fuel and oxidizer all in one, creating the threat of an explosion. Organic peroxides are unstable chemicals that should be treated like explosives in a fire or spill situation.

3.3 Degree of Hazard

The degree to which a material is hazardous can vary greatly. Doubling of a digit indicates an intensification of that particular hazard (i.e. 33, 66, 88).

Note: Placarding is always required for the following types of hazardous materials regardless of the quantity of material:

4. Limitations of the Placarding System

4.1 Dangerous Placards

A freight container, unit load device, transport vehicle or rail car which contains non-bulk packaging with two or more categories of certain hazardous materials. These require different placards that should be labeled as “DANGEROUS” instead of the separate placarding specified for each of the materials. Therefore there is no way for the responder to know what hazards may be associated with the materials being transported.

4.2 Weight Exception

A transport vehicle, which contains less than 500 kg (1100 pounds) aggregate gross weight of hazardous materials is not required to display placards. Excepted from this rule are the materials that must always be placarded regardless of amounts.

To first responders, there is little difference between 500 kg (1,100 pounds) of a hazardous substance and 495 kg (1089 pounds), with respect to threats to personnel and the environment. Therefore, first responders must always be alert and aware of the possibilities that hazardous materials could be present.

4.3 Unclassified Materials and Exemptions

Some materials do not require placarding due to regulations. However, some hazards may actually exist, such as the extreme cold associated with cryogenic materials. Additionally, many times substances once thought to be safe are later determined to be hazardous.

4.4 Multiple Hazards

Numerous materials exhibit more than one hazard, however only the primary hazard is used to classify the substance for placarding.

4.5 Human Error

The shipper may at times neglect to change placards for each shipment or may incorrectly placard a load.

4.6 Incorrectly Labeled or Missing Placards

Enforcement of the regulations surrounding the transport of hazardous materials is a continual problem. It is virtually impossible for enforcement agencies to ensure compliance 100% of the time. Emergency response personnel must be cautious that improperly marked, unmarked, and illegal shipments occur daily. Federal laws now govern inter-provincial transports. Additionally, a carrier may intentionally obscure the presence of a hazardous material either to avoid regulation/enforcement for economic purposes, or to conceal illegal operations.

4.7 Canadian Military Marking System

The military uses a hazard marking system comprised of 4 hazard classes.

1) mass detonation hazard
2) explosive with fragmentation hazard
3) mass fire hazard
4) moderate fire hazard.

In addition they have 4 special warnings.

1) chemical- highly toxic and harassing agents
2) apply no water
3) wear protective breathing apparatus
4) special hazard communications marking

The military uses both special hazard symbols and detonation hazard symbols.

4.8 Pipeline Markings

A pipeline carrying a hazardous material will be marked with a metal sign placed adjacent and above the pipeline. When referencing pipelines, remember P.O.E on markers for Product, Ownership and Emergency Contact Information.

5. Recognizing Terrorist Activities

When responding to hazardous materials incidents you must be aware of the possible causes of the incident. Many times information from dispatchers, facility personnel and nearby  51 residents can help you identify the cause of the incident. While trying to determine if an incident is terrorist related, you must remember that terrorism can take many forms.

Intentional releases of hazardous materials can be caused by international organizations, domestic groups, local individuals or just disgruntled employees. An employee upset with management can cause as much harm as a sophisticated international organization. However, there are some clues that can be used to help confirm a terrorist related incident.

Identifying these potential targets is part of Risk Assessment.

Although it is easy to become focused on the immediate needs of a response to a hazardous material incident, the first responder must avoid tunnel vision and be aware of any clues that may indicate possible terrorist activities. We must be aware of our surroundings and be able to identify new types of hazards related to intentional releases.

Summary

First responders trained to the awareness level should be able to recognize the presence of hazardous materials using the many resources, labels and classifications available. They must proceed with caution however, due to the potential complexity of these incidents, and because of the limitations of hazard class and placarding systems and the unpredictable nature of criminal incidents that involve hazardous materials.  

Learning Check Module 3

True or False. Circle T or F

1. T F Containers with rounded ends signify that it contains a liquid at atmospheric pressure.
       
2. T F Orange placard colour indicates explosives.
       
3. T F When a material has more than one hazard, the primary placard to be used is determined by the most dangerous property.
       
4. T F The threat of contamination from transport vehicles, which contain less that 500 kg (1100 pounds) aggregate weight of hazardous materials is minimal.
       
5. T F Subsidiary placards do not have to display a hazard class number.
       

Multiple Choice. Circle your answer.

6. Which of the following is not correct -

  1. Radioactive – Class 7
  2. Poison gas – Class 6
  3. Flammable liquid – Class 3
  4. Corrosive – Class 8

7. MSDS stands for:

  1. Material Safety Data Sheets
  2. Material Standard Data Sheets
  3. Material Safety Data System
  4. Material Standard Data System

8. In Canada, emergency response personnel can receive 24 hour assistance regarding the specific handling of dangerous goods from:

  1. CANUTEC
  2. TAFRO
  3. 2004 ERG
  4. your local fire department

9. First responders can use their sense of smell to detect the presence of hazardous materials. However, the use of sense of smell has limitations because:

  1. it can be masked by additional odours
  2. it can rapidly be desensitized
  3. many hazardous material are odourless
  4. all of the above

10. During emergency operations, it is a good practice to confirm information about hazardous materials by consulting ___________ sources of data to confirm accuracy.

  1. one source
  2. two different sources
  3. three different sources
  4. four different sources

11. Fill in the blanks on the following chart using the 2004 Emergency Response Guidebook (2004 ERG).

Substance ID# Guide Emergency Response Spill or Leak Information
Chlorine      
Propane      
  1203