{"operation":"document","citation":"ERG 2024 Guide 172","title":"Guide 172: Gallium and Mercury","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 172: Gallium and Mercury.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-erg-2024-guide-172.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-erg-2024-guide-172.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-erg-2024-guide-172","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/erg/guide?number=172","body":"GUIDE\n172\nGallium and Mercury\nPOTENTIAL HAZARDS\nHEALTH\n•\nInhalation of vapors or contact with substance will result in contamination and potential harmful effects.\n•\nFire will produce irritating, corrosive and/or toxic gases.\nFIRE OR EXPLOSION\n•\nNon-combustible, substance itself does not burn but may react upon heating to produce corrosive\nand/or toxic fumes.\n•\nRunoff may pollute waterways.\n•\n•\n•\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.\nStay upwind, uphill and/or upstream.\nKeep unauthorized personnel away.\nPROTECTIVE CLOTHING\n•\nWear positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA).\n•\nStructural firefighters' protective clothing provides thermal protection but only limited chemical protection.\nEVACUATION\nImmediate precautionary measure\n•\n•\n•\nIsolate spill or leak area for at least 50 meters (150 feet) in all directions.\nLarge Spill\nConsider initial downwind evacuation for at least 100 meters (330 feet).\nFire\nWhen any large container is involved in a fire, consider initial evacuation for 500 meters (1/3 mile) in all\ndirections.\nPage 274\nERG 2024\n\nGallium and Mercury\nGUIDE\n172\nEMERGENCY RESPONSE\nFIRE\n•\n•\nUse extinguishing agent suitable for type of surrounding fire.\nDo not direct water at the heated metal.\nSPILL OR LEAK\n•\nDo not touch or walk through spilled material.\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•\nPrevent entry into waterways, sewers, basements or confined areas.\n•\nDo not use steel or aluminum tools or equipment.\n•\nCover with earth, sand or other non-combustible material followed with plastic sheet to minimize\nspreading or contact with rain.\n•\nFor mercury, use a mercury spill kit.\n•\nMercury spill areas may be subsequently treated with calcium sulphide/calcium sulfide or with sodium\nthiosulphate/sodium thiosulfate wash to neutralize any residual mercury.\nFIRST AID\nRefer to the “General First Aid” section.\nERG 2024\nPage 275","truncated":false,"body_characters":2143}