{"operation":"document","citation":"ERG 2024 Guide 162","title":"Guide 162: Radioactive Materials (Low to Moderate Level Radiation)","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 162: Radioactive Materials (Low to Moderate Level Radiation).","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-erg-2024-guide-162.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-erg-2024-guide-162.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-erg-2024-guide-162","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/erg/guide?number=162","body":"GUIDE\n162\nRadioactive Materials\n(Low to Moderate Level Radiation)\nPOTENTIAL HAZARDS\nHEALTH\n•\nRadiation presents minimal risk to transport workers, emergency response personnel and the public\nduring transportation accidents. Packaging durability increases as potential hazard of radioactive content\nincreases.\n•\nUndamaged packages are safe. Contents of damaged packages may cause higher external radiation\nexposure, or both external and internal radiation exposure if contents are released.\n•\nLow radiation hazard when material is inside container. If material is released from package or bulk\ncontainer, hazard will vary from low to moderate. Level of hazard will depend on the type and amount of\nradioactivity, the kind of material it is in, and/or the surfaces it is on.\n•\nSome material may be released from packages during accidents of moderate severity but risks to people\nare not great.\n•\nReleased radioactive materials or contaminated objects usually will be visible if packaging fails.\n•\nSome exclusive use shipments of bulk and packaged materials will not have RADIOACTIVE labels.\nPlacards, markings and shipping papers provide identification.\n•\nSome packages may have a RADIOACTIVE label and a second hazard label. The second hazard is usually\ngreater than the radiation hazard; so follow this GUIDE as well as the response GUIDE for the second\nhazard class label.\n•\nSome radioactive materials cannot be detected by commonly available instruments.\n•\nRunoff from control of cargo fire may cause low-level pollution.\n•\n•\n•\n•\nFIRE OR EXPLOSION\nSome of these materials may burn, but most do not ignite readily.\nUranium and Thorium metal cuttings may ignite spontaneously if exposed to air (see GUIDE 136).\nNitrates are oxidizers and may ignite other combustibles (see GUIDE 141).\nPUBLIC SAFETY\nCALL 911. Then call emergency response telephone number on shipping paper. If shipping paper not\navailable or no answer, refer to appropriate telephone number listed on the inside back cover.\nPriorities for rescue, life-saving, first aid, fire control and other hazards are higher than the priority\nfor measuring radiation levels.\nRadiation Authority must be notified of accident conditions. Radiation Authority is usually responsible for\ndecisions about radiological consequences and closure of emergencies.\nStay upwind, uphill and/or upstream.\nKeep unauthorized personnel away.\nDetain or isolate uninjured persons or equipment suspected to be contaminated; delay decontamination and\ncleanup until instructions are received from Radiation Authority.\n•\n•\n•\n•\n•\nPROTECTIVE CLOTHING\n•\nPositive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and structural firefighters’ protective clothing\nwill provide adequate protection.\nEVACUATION\nImmediate precautionary measure\n•\n•\n•\nIsolate spill or leak area for at least 25 meters (75 feet) in all directions.\nLarge Spill\nConsider initial downwind evacuation for at least 100 meters (330 feet).\nFire\nWhen a large quantity of this material is involved in a major fire, consider an initial evacuation distance of\n300 meters (1000 feet) in all directions.\nPage 254\nERG 2024\n\nRadioactive Materials\n(Low to Moderate Level Radiation)\nGUIDE\n162\nEMERGENCY RESPONSE\nFIRE\n•\nPresence of radioactive material will not influence the fire control processes and should not influence\nselection of techniques.\n•\nIf it can be done safely, move undamaged containers away from the area around the fire.\n•\nDo not move damaged packages; move undamaged packages out of fire zone.\nSmall Fire\n•\nDry chemical, CO2, water spray or regular foam.\nLarge Fire\n•\nWater spray, fog (flooding amounts).\n•\nDike runoff from fire control for later disposal.\nSPILL OR LEAK\n•\nDo not touch damaged packages or spilled material.\n•\nCover liquid spill with sand, earth or other non-combustible absorbent material.\n•\nDike to collect large liquid spills.\n•\nCover powder spill with plastic sheet or tarp to minimize spreading.\nFIRST AID\nRefer to the “General First Aid” section.\nSpecific First Aid:\n•\nMedical problems take priority over radiological concerns.\n•\nUse first aid treatment according to the nature of the injury.\n•\nDo not delay care and transport of a seriously injured person.\n•\nIn case of contact with substance, wipe from skin immediately; flush skin or eyes with running water for\nat least 20 minutes.\n•\nInjured persons contaminated by contact with released material are not a serious hazard to health care\npersonnel, equipment or facilities.\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 255","truncated":false,"body_characters":4623}