# Guide 158: Infectious Substances

**Citation:** ERG 2024 Guide 158  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** U.S. DOT / Transport Canada / SICT  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 2024-04-04

ERG2024 response Guide 158: Infectious Substances.

## Document text

GUIDE
158
Infectious Substances
POTENTIAL HAZARDS
HEALTH
•
Inhalation or contact with substance may cause infection, disease or death.
•
Category A Infectious Substances (UN2814, UN2900 or UN3549) are more hazardous, or are in a more
hazardous form, than infectious substances shipped as Category B Biological Substances (UN3373) or
clinical waste/medical waste (UN3291).
•
Runoff from fire control or dilution water may cause environmental contamination.
•
Damaged packages containing solid CO2 as a refrigerant may produce water or frost from condensation
of air. Do not touch this liquid as it could be contaminated by the contents of the parcel.
•
Contact with solid CO2 may cause burns, severe injury and/or frostbite.
•
•
FIRE OR EXPLOSION
Some of these materials may burn, but none ignite readily.
Some may be transported in flammable liquids.
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.
Consult the shipping paper to identify the substance involved.
•
•
•
•
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
•
Use judgement based on the amount of material present and the possible routes of exposure to select
protective clothing.
•
Wear appropriate respiratory protection, such as fit-tested N95 respirator (at minimum), powered air
purifying respirator (PAPR), or positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA).
•
Wear full coverage body protection (e.g., Tyvek suit), faceshield, and disposable fluid-resistant gloves
(e.g., latex or nitrile).
•
Wear appropriate footwear; disposable shoe covers can be worn to protect against contamination.
•
Puncture- and cut-resistant gloves should be worn over fluid-resistant gloves if sharp objects (e.g.,
broken glass, needles) are present.
•
Wear insulated gloves (e.g. cryo gloves) over fluid-resistant gloves when handling dry ice (UN1845).
•
Decontaminate protective clothing and personal protective equipment after use and before cleaning or
disposal with a compatible chemical disinfectant (e.g., 10% solution of bleach, equivalent to 0.5% sodium
hypochlorite) or through a validated decontamination technology (e.g., autoclave) or process.
•
Structural firefighters' protective clothing provides thermal protection but only limited chemical protection.
EVACUATION
Immediate precautionary measure
•
Isolate spill or leak area for at least 25 meters (75 feet) in all directions.
Page 246
ERG 2024

Infectious Substances
GUIDE
158
EMERGENCY RESPONSE
FIRE
Small Fire
•
Dry chemical, soda ash, lime or sand.
Large Fire
•
Use extinguishing agent suitable for type of surrounding fire.
•
Do not scatter spilled material with high-pressure water streams.
•
If it can be done safely, move undamaged containers away from the area around the fire.
SPILL OR LEAK
•
Do not touch or walk through spilled material.
•
Do not touch damaged containers or spilled material unless wearing appropriate protective clothing.
•
Absorb with earth, sand or other non-combustible material.
•
Cover damaged package or spilled material with absorbent material such as paper towel, towel or rag to
absorb any liquids, and, beginning from outside edge, pour liquid bleach or other chemical disinfectant to
saturate. Keep wet with liquid bleach or other disinfectant.
•
DO NOT CLEAN-UP OR DISPOSE OF, EXCEPT UNDER SUPERVISION OF A SPECIALIST.
FIRST AID
Refer to the “General First Aid” section.
Specific First Aid:
•
Move victim to an isolated area if it can be done safely.
CAUTION: Victim may be a source of contamination.
•
In case of contact with substance, immediately flush eyes with running water and wash skin thoroughly
with soap and water. Take caution not to break the skin.
•
Additional decontamination may also be necessary.
•
Effects of exposure (inhalation, ingestion, injection/inoculation or skin contact) to substance may be
delayed. Victim should consult medical professional for information regarding symptoms and treatment.
In Canada, an Emergency Response Assistance Plan (ERAP) may be required for this product.
Please consult the shipping paper and/or the "ERAP" section.
ERG 2024
Page 247

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/erg/guide?number=158>
- Source ID: `phmsa-erg-2024`
- SHA-256: `e2a1b67413a5b62cf12d76a4a64ba3dd1d41fb79983676fb54f4fad0a0f61591`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-13T11:31:32.574Z
- Exported: 2026-08-23T11:00:09.494Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-erg-2024-guide-158`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "edition": 2024,
  "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.",
  "materialSubtype": "phmsa_erg_response_guide",
  "recordKind": "response_guide",
  "collectionId": "phmsa-erg-2024-overview",
  "parentDocumentId": "phmsa-erg-2024-overview",
  "sourceDateLabel": "Effective Date",
  "sourceDate": "2024-04-04",
  "guideNumber": 158,
  "startPage": 248,
  "endPage": 249,
  "pdfUrl": "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/2024-04/ERG2024-Eng-Web-a.pdf#page=248",
  "intentionallyBlank": false
}
```