# Guide 170: Metals (Powders, Dusts, Shavings, Borings, Turnings, or Cuttings, etc.)

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** ERG 2024 Guide 170
- **title:** Guide 170: Metals (Powders, Dusts, Shavings, Borings, Turnings, or Cuttings, etc.)
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** U.S. DOT / Transport Canada / SICT
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2024-04-04
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** ERG2024 response Guide 170: Metals (Powders, Dusts, Shavings, Borings, Turnings, or Cuttings, etc.).
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- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-erg-2024-guide-170
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/erg/guide?number=170
**body:**

GUIDE
170
Metals (Powders, Dusts, Shavings, Borings,
Turnings, or Cuttings, etc.)
POTENTIAL HAZARDS
FIRE OR EXPLOSION
•
May react violently or explosively on contact with water.
•
Some are transported in flammable liquids.
•
May be ignited by friction, heat, sparks or flames.
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Some of these materials will burn with intense heat.
•
Dusts or fumes may form explosive mixtures in air.
•
Containers may explode when heated.
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May re-ignite after fire is extinguished.
•
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HEALTH
Oxides from metallic fires are a severe health hazard.
Inhalation or contact with substance or decomposition products may cause severe injury or death.
Fire may produce irritating, corrosive and/or toxic 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.
Stay upwind, uphill and/or upstream.
Keep unauthorized personnel away.
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•
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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
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Isolate spill or leak area in all directions for at least 50 meters (150 feet) for liquids and at least 25 meters
(75 feet) for solids.
Large Spill
•
•
Consider initial downwind evacuation for at least 50 meters (160 feet).
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.
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ERG 2024

Metals (Powders, Dusts, Shavings, Borings,
Turnings, or Cuttings, etc.)
GUIDE
170
EMERGENCY RESPONSE
FIRE
•
DO NOT USE WATER, FOAM OR CO2.
•
Dousing metallic fires with water will generate hydrogen gas, an extremely dangerous explosion hazard,
particularly if fire is in a confined environment (i.e., building, cargo hold, etc.).
•
Use DRY sand, graphite powder, dry sodium chloride-based extinguishers, or class D extinguishers.
•
Confining and smothering metal fires is preferable rather than applying water.
•
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If it can be done safely, move undamaged containers away from the area around the fire.
Fire Involving Tanks, Rail Tank Cars or Highway Tanks
If impossible to extinguish, protect surroundings and allow fire to burn itself out.
SPILL OR LEAK
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ELIMINATE all ignition sources (no smoking, flares, sparks or flames) from immediate area.
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Do not touch or walk through spilled material.
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Stop leak if you can do it without risk.
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Prevent entry into waterways, sewers, basements or confined areas.
FIRST AID
Refer to the “General First Aid” section.
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
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