{"operation":"document","citation":"ERG 2024 Guide 137","title":"Guide 137: Substances - Water-Reactive - Corrosive","source_type":"guidance","agency":"U.S. DOT / Transport Canada / SICT","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2024-04-04","effective_on":null,"summary":"ERG2024 response Guide 137: Substances - Water-Reactive - Corrosive.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-erg-2024-guide-137.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-erg-2024-guide-137.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-erg-2024-guide-137","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/erg/guide?number=137","body":"GUIDE\n137\nSubstances - Water-Reactive - Corrosive\nPOTENTIAL HAZARDS\nHEALTH\n•\nCORROSIVE and/or TOXIC; inhalation, ingestion or contact (skin, eyes) with vapors, dusts or substance\nmay cause severe injury, burns or death.\n•\nFire will produce irritating, corrosive and/or toxic gases.\n•\nReaction with water may generate much heat that will increase the concentration of fumes in the air.\n•\nContact with molten substance may cause severe burns to skin and eyes.\n•\nRunoff from fire control or dilution water may cause environmental contamination.\n•\n•\n•\n•\n•\n•\n•\nFIRE OR EXPLOSION\nEXCEPT FOR ACETIC ANHYDRIDE (UN1715), THAT IS FLAMMABLE, some of these materials may\nburn, but none ignite readily.\nMay ignite combustibles (wood, paper, oil, clothing, etc.).\nSubstance will react with water (some violently), releasing corrosive and/or toxic gases and runoff.\nFlammable/toxic gases may accumulate in confined areas (basement, tanks, hopper/tank cars, etc.).\nContact with metals may evolve flammable hydrogen gas.\nContainers may explode when heated or if contaminated with water.\nSubstance may be transported in a molten form.\nPUBLIC SAFETY\nCALL 911. Then call emergency response telephone number on shipping paper. If shipping paper\nnot available or no answer, refer to appropriate telephone number listed on the inside back cover.\nKeep unauthorized personnel away.\nStay upwind, uphill and/or upstream.\nVentilate closed spaces before entering, but only if properly trained and equipped.\n•\n•\n•\n•\nPROTECTIVE CLOTHING\n•\nWear positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA).\n•\nWear chemical protective clothing that is specifically recommended by the manufacturer when there is\nNO RISK OF FIRE.\n•\nStructural firefighters' protective clothing provides thermal protection but only limited chemical protection.\nEVACUATION\nImmediate precautionary measure\n•\nIsolate spill or leak area in all directions for at least 50 meters (150 feet) for liquids and at least 25 meters\n(75 feet) for solids.\nSpill\n•\n•\nFor highlighted materials: see Table 1 - Initial Isolation and Protective Action Distances.\nFor non-highlighted materials: increase the immediate precautionary measure distance, in the downwind\ndirection, as necessary.\nFire\n•\nIf tank, rail tank car or highway tank is involved in a fire, ISOLATE for 800 meters (1/2 mile) in all\ndirections; also, consider initial evacuation for 800 meters (1/2 mile) in all directions.\nPage 204\nERG 2024\n\nSubstances - Water-Reactive - Corrosive\nGUIDE\n137\nEMERGENCY RESPONSE\nFIRE\n•\nWhen material is not involved in fire, do not use water on material itself.\nSmall Fire\n•\nDry chemical or CO2.\n•\nIf it can be done safely, move undamaged containers away from the area around the fire.\nLarge Fire\n•\nFlood fire area with large quantities of water, while knocking down vapors with water fog. If insufficient\nwater supply, responders should withdraw.\nFire Involving Tanks, Rail Tank Cars or Highway Tanks\n•\nCool containers with flooding quantities of water until well after fire is out.\n•\nDo not get water inside containers.\n•\nWithdraw immediately in case of rising sound from venting safety devices or discoloration of tank.\n•\nALWAYS stay away from tanks in direct contact with flames.\nSPILL OR LEAK\n•\nDo not touch damaged containers or spilled material unless wearing appropriate protective clothing.\n•\nStop leak if you can do it without risk.\n•\nUse water spray to reduce vapors; do not put water directly on leak, spill area or inside container.\n•\nKeep combustibles (wood, paper, oil, etc.) away from spilled material.\nSmall Spill\n•\nCover with DRY earth, DRY sand or other non-combustible material followed with plastic sheet to\nminimize spreading or contact with rain.\n•\nUse clean, non-sparking tools to collect material and place it into loosely covered plastic containers for\nlater disposal.\n•\nPrevent entry into waterways, sewers, basements or confined areas.\nFIRST AID\nRefer to the “General First Aid” section.\nSpecific First Aid:\n•\nFor corrosives, in case of contact, immediately flush skin or eyes with running water for at least 30\nminutes. Additional flushing may be required.\n•\nRemoval of solidified molten material from skin requires medical assistance.\nIn Canada, an Emergency Response Assistance Plan (ERAP) may be required for this product.\nPlease consult the shipping paper and/or the \"ERAP\" section.\nERG 2024\nPage 205","truncated":false,"body_characters":4360}