# Guide 111: Mixed Load/Unidentified Cargo

**Citation:** ERG 2024 Guide 111  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** U.S. DOT / Transport Canada / SICT  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 2024-04-04

ERG2024 response Guide 111: Mixed Load/Unidentified Cargo.

## Document text

Guides (orange section)
GUIDE
111
Mixed Load/Unidentified Cargo
POTENTIAL HAZARDS
FIRE OR EXPLOSION
•
May explode from heat, shock, friction or contamination.
•
May react violently or explosively on contact with air, water or foam.
•
May be ignited by heat, sparks or flames.
•
Vapors may travel to source of ignition and flash back.
•
Containers may explode when heated.
•
Ruptured cylinders may rocket.
•
•
•
•
•
HEALTH
Inhalation, ingestion or contact with substance may cause severe injury, infection, disease or death.
High concentration of gas may cause asphyxiation without warning.
Contact may cause burns to skin and eyes.
Fire or contact with water may produce irritating, toxic and/or corrosive gases.
Runoff from fire control or dilution water may cause environmental contamination.
PUBLIC SAFETY
CALL 911. Then call emergency response telephone number on shipping paper. If shipping paper
not available or no answer, refer to appropriate telephone number listed on the inside back cover.
Keep unauthorized personnel away.
Stay upwind, uphill and/or upstream.
•
•
•
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
•
Wear positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA).
•
Structural firefighters' protective clothing provides thermal protection but only limited chemical protection.
EVACUATION
Immediate precautionary measure
•
Isolate spill or leak area for at least 100 meters (330 feet) in all directions.
Fire
•
If tank, rail tank car or highway tank is involved in a fire, ISOLATE for 800 meters (1/2 mile) in all
directions; also, consider initial evacuation for 800 meters (1/2 mile) in all directions.
Page 152
ERG 2024

Mixed Load/Unidentified Cargo
GUIDE
111
EMERGENCY RESPONSE
FIRE
CAUTION: Material may react with extinguishing agent.
Small Fire
•
Dry chemical, CO2, water spray or regular foam.
Large Fire
•
Water spray, fog or regular foam.
•
•
If it can be done safely, move undamaged containers away from the area around the fire.
Fire Involving Tanks
Cool containers with flooding quantities of water until well after fire is out.
•
Do not get water inside containers.
•
Withdraw immediately in case of rising sound from venting safety devices or discoloration of tank.
•
ALWAYS stay away from tanks in direct contact with flames.
SPILL OR LEAK
•
Do not touch or walk through spilled material.
•
ELIMINATE all ignition sources (no smoking, flares, sparks or flames) from immediate area.
•
All equipment used when handling the product must be grounded.
•
Keep combustibles (wood, paper, oil, etc.) away from spilled material.
•
Use water spray to reduce vapors or divert vapor cloud drift. Avoid allowing water runoff to contact spilled
material.
•
Prevent entry into waterways, sewers, basements or confined areas.
Small Spill
•
Pick up with sand or other non-combustible absorbent material and place into containers for later
disposal.
Large Spill
•
Dike far ahead of liquid spill for later disposal.
FIRST AID
Refer to the “General First Aid” section.
ERG 2024
Page 153

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/erg/guide?number=111>
- Source ID: `phmsa-erg-2024`
- SHA-256: `ce43e6dd7cdad91853b46806e85244e743fe2a311937985de9624d691c337635`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-13T11:31:32.574Z
- Exported: 2026-08-22T22:17:30.239Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-erg-2024-guide-111`

### Source metadata

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  "language": "English",
  "jurisdiction": "US",
  "caveat": "Emergency-response guidance for the initial phase of a transportation incident. It is not controlling regulation, a compliance determination, a chemical-specific worker safety document, or a substitute for required shipping-paper emergency-response information.",
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  "recordKind": "response_guide",
  "collectionId": "phmsa-erg-2024-overview",
  "parentDocumentId": "phmsa-erg-2024-overview",
  "sourceDateLabel": "Effective Date",
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  "guideNumber": 111,
  "startPage": 154,
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  "pdfUrl": "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/2024-04/ERG2024-Eng-Web-a.pdf#page=154",
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