{"operation":"document","citation":"ERG 2024 Guide 163","title":"Guide 163: Radioactive Materials (Low to High 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 163: Radioactive Materials (Low to High Level Radiation).","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-erg-2024-guide-163.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-erg-2024-guide-163.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-erg-2024-guide-163","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/erg/guide?number=163","body":"GUIDE\n163\nRadioactive Materials\n(Low to High 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•\nType A packages (cartons, boxes, drums, articles, etc.) identified as Type A by marking on packages or\nby shipping papers contain non-life-endangering amounts. Partial releases might be expected if Type A\npackages are damaged in moderately severe accidents.\n•\nType B packages, and the rarely occurring Type C packages (large and small, usually metal), contain\nthe most hazardous amounts. They can be identified by package markings or by shipping papers.\nLife-threatening conditions may exist only if contents are released or package shielding fails. Because\nof design, evaluation and testing of packages, these conditions would be expected only for accidents of\nutmost severity.\n•\nThe rarely occurring \"Special Arrangement\" shipments may be of Type A, Type B or Type C packages.\nPackage type will be marked on packages, and shipment details will be on shipping papers.\n•\nRadioactive White-I labels indicate radiation levels outside single, isolated, undamaged packages are\nvery low (less than 0.005 mSv/h (0.5 mrem/h)).\n•\nRadioactive Yellow-II and Yellow-III labeled packages have higher radiation levels. The transport index\n(TI) on the label identifies the maximum radiation level in mrem/h one meter from a single, isolated,\nundamaged package.\n•\n•\nSome radioactive materials cannot be detected by commonly available instruments.\nWater from cargo fire control may cause pollution.\n•\n•\n•\nFIRE OR EXPLOSION\nSome of these materials may burn, but most do not ignite readily.\nRadioactivity does not change flammability or other properties of materials.\nType B packages are designed and evaluated to withstand total engulfment in flames at temperatures of\n800°C (1475°F) for a period of 30 minutes.\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.\nPriorities for rescue, life-saving, first aid, fire control and other hazards are higher than the\npriority for 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. • Keep unauthorized personnel away.\nDetain or isolate uninjured persons or equipment suspected to be contaminated; delay decontamination\nand cleanup 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 against internal radiation exposure, but not external radiation exposure.\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 256\nERG 2024\n\nRadioactive Materials\n(Low to High Level Radiation)\nGUIDE\n163\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•\nDamp surfaces on undamaged or slightly damaged packages are seldom an indication of packaging\nfailure. Most packaging for liquid content have inner containers and/or inner absorbent materials.\n•\nCover liquid spill with sand, earth or other non-combustible absorbent material.\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•\nInjured persons contaminated by contact with released material are not a serious hazard to health care\npersonnel, equipment or facilities.\nERG 2024\nPage 257","truncated":false,"body_characters":4898}