# How to Use the Orange Guides - **operation:** document - **citation:** ERG 2024, How to Use the Orange Guides - **title:** How to Use the Orange Guides - **source type:** guidance - **agency:** U.S. DOT / Transport Canada / SICT - **status:** guidance - **official:** true - **published on:** 2024-04-04 - **effective on:** Not available - **summary:** Official ERG2024 how to use the orange guides guidance, pages 150-151. - **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-erg-2024-orange-guide-operations.json - **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-erg-2024-orange-guide-operations.md - **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-erg-2024-orange-guide-operations - **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/2024-04/ERG2024-Eng-Web-a.pdf#page=150 **body:** SUGGESTED OPERATIONS SHOULD ONLY BE PERFORMED BY ADEQUATELY TRAINED AND EQUIPPED PERSONNEL HOW TO USE THE ORANGE GUIDES GUIDE GUIDE 117 117 Gases - Toxic - Flammable Gases - Toxic - Flammable (Extreme Hazard) (Extreme Hazard) Gases - Toxic - Flammable Gases - Toxic - Flammable (Extreme Hazard) (Extreme Hazard) GUIDE GUIDE 117 117 POTENTIAL HAZARDS POTENTIAL HAZARDS EMERGENCY RESPONSE EMERGENCY RESPONSE HEALTH HEALTH • TOXIC; Extremely Hazardous. • TOXIC; Extremely Hazardous. • May be fatal if inhaled or absorbed through skin. • May be fatal if inhaled or absorbed through skin. • Initial odor may be irritating or foul and may deaden your sense of smell. • Initial odor may be irritating or foul and may deaden your sense of smell. • Contact with gas or liquefied gas may cause burns, severe injury and/or frostbite. • Contact with gas or liquefied gas may cause burns, severe injury and/or frostbite. • Fire will produce irritating, corrosive and/or toxic gases. • Fire will produce irritating, corrosive and/or toxic gases. • Runoff from fire control or dilution water may cause environmental contamination. • Runoff from fire control or dilution water may cause environmental contamination. FIRE FIRE • DO NOT EXTINGUISH A LEAKING GAS FIRE UNLESS LEAK CAN BE STOPPED. • DO NOT EXTINGUISH A LEAKING GAS FIRE UNLESS LEAK CAN BE STOPPED. Small Fire Small Fire • Dry chemical, CO2, water spray or regular foam. • Dry chemical, CO2, water spray or regular foam. Large Fire Large Fire • Water spray, fog or regular foam. • Water spray, fog or regular foam. • If it can be done safely, move undamaged containers away from the area around the fire. • If it can be done safely, move undamaged containers away from the area around the fire. • Damaged cylinders should be handled only by specialists. • Damaged cylinders should be handled only by specialists. Fire Involving Tanks Fire Involving Tanks • Fight fire from maximum distance or use unmanned master stream devices or monitor nozzles. • Fight fire from maximum distance or use unmanned master stream devices or monitor nozzles. • Cool containers with flooding quantities of water until well after fire is out. • Cool containers with flooding quantities of water until well after fire is out. • Do not direct water at source of leak or safety devices; icing may occur. • Do not direct water at source of leak or safety devices; icing may occur. • Withdraw immediately in case of rising sound from venting safety devices or discoloration of tank. • Withdraw immediately in case of rising sound from venting safety devices or discoloration of tank. • ALWAYS stay away from tanks in direct contact with flames. • ALWAYS stay away from tanks in direct contact with flames. FIRE OR EXPLOSION FIRE OR EXPLOSION • These materials are extremely flammable. • These materials are extremely flammable. • May form explosive mixtures with air. • May form explosive mixtures with air. • May be ignited by heat, sparks or flames. • May be ignited by heat, sparks or flames. • Vapors from liquefied gas are initially heavier than air and spread along ground. • Vapors from liquefied gas are initially heavier than air and spread along ground. • Vapors may travel to source of ignition and flash back. • Vapors may travel to source of ignition and flash back. • Those substances designated with a (P) may polymerize explosively when heated or involved in a fire. • Those substances designated with a (P) may polymerize explosively when heated or involved in a fire. • Runoff may create fire or explosion hazard. • Runoff may create fire or explosion hazard. • Cylinders exposed to fire may vent and release toxic and flammable gas through pressure relief devices. • Cylinders exposed to fire may vent and release toxic and flammable gas through pressure relief devices. • Containers may explode when heated. • Containers may explode when heated. • Ruptured cylinders may rocket. • Ruptured cylinders may rocket. PUBLIC SAFETY PUBLIC SAFETY • CALL 911. Then call emergency response telephone number on shipping paper. If shipping paper • 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. not available or no answer, refer to appropriate telephone number listed on the inside back cover. • Keep unauthorized personnel away. • Keep unauthorized personnel away. • Stay upwind, uphill and/or upstream. • Stay upwind, uphill and/or upstream. • Many gases are heavier than air and will spread along the ground and collect in low or confined areas • Many gases are heavier than air and will spread along the ground and collect in low or confined areas (sewers, basements, tanks, etc.). (sewers, basements, tanks, etc.). • Ventilate closed spaces before entering, but only if properly trained and equipped. • Ventilate closed spaces before entering, but only if properly trained and equipped. SPILL OR LEAK SPILL OR LEAK • ELIMINATE all ignition sources (no smoking, flares, sparks or flames) from immediate area. • ELIMINATE all ignition sources (no smoking, flares, sparks or flames) from immediate area. • All equipment used when handling the product must be grounded. • All equipment used when handling the product must be grounded. • Do not touch or walk through spilled material. • Do not touch or walk through spilled material. • Stop leak if you can do it without risk. • Stop leak if you can do it without risk. • Use water spray to reduce vapors or divert vapor cloud drift. Avoid allowing water runoff to contact spilled • Use water spray to reduce vapors or divert vapor cloud drift. Avoid allowing water runoff to contact spilled material. material. • Do not direct water at spill or source of leak. • Do not direct water at spill or source of leak. • If possible, turn leaking containers so that gas escapes rather than liquid. • If possible, turn leaking containers so that gas escapes rather than liquid. • Prevent entry into waterways, sewers, basements or confined areas. • Prevent entry into waterways, sewers, basements or confined areas. • Isolate area until gas has dispersed. • Isolate area until gas has dispersed. • Consider igniting spill or leak to eliminate toxic gas concerns. • Consider igniting spill or leak to eliminate toxic gas concerns. PROTECTIVE CLOTHING PROTECTIVE CLOTHING • Wear positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). • Wear positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). • Wear chemical protective clothing that is specifically recommended by the manufacturer when there is • Wear chemical protective clothing that is specifically recommended by the manufacturer when there is NO RISK OF FIRE. NO RISK OF FIRE. • Structural firefighters' protective clothing provides thermal protection but only limited chemical protection. • Structural firefighters' protective clothing provides thermal protection but only limited chemical protection. FIRST AID FIRST AID Refer to the “General First Aid” section. Refer to the “General First Aid” section. Specific First Aid: Specific First Aid: • In case of contact with liquefied gas, only medical personnel should attempt thawing frosted parts. • In case of contact with liquefied gas, only medical personnel should attempt thawing frosted parts. • In case of burns, immediately cool affected skin for as long as possible with cold water. Do not remove • In case of burns, immediately cool affected skin for as long as possible with cold water. Do not remove clothing if adhering to skin. clothing if adhering to skin. EVACUATION EVACUATION Immediate precautionary measure Immediate precautionary measure • Isolate spill or leak area for at least 100 meters (330 feet) in all directions. • Isolate spill or leak area for at least 100 meters (330 feet) in all directions. Spill Spill • See Table 1 - Initial Isolation and Protective Action Distances. • See Table 1 - Initial Isolation and Protective Action Distances. Fire Fire • If tank, rail tank car or highway tank is involved in a fire, ISOLATE for 1600 meters (1 mile) in all • If tank, rail tank car or highway tank is involved in a fire, ISOLATE for 1600 meters (1 mile) in all directions; also, consider initial evacuation for 1600 meters (1 mile) in all directions. directions; also, consider initial evacuation for 1600 meters (1 mile) in all directions. In Canada, an Emergency Response Assistance Plan (ERAP) may be required for this product. In Canada, an Emergency Response Assistance Plan (ERAP) may be required for this product. Please consult the shipping paper and/or the "ERAP" Section. Please consult the shipping paper and/or the "ERAP" Section. Page 164 ERG 2024 Page 164 ERG 2024 ERG 2024 Page 165 ERG 2024 Page 165 GUIDE NUMBER AND TITLE • The guide title identifies the general hazards associated with the materials in this Guide. POTENTIAL HAZARDS • Emergency responders should consult this section first! • Describes the material hazard in terms of FIRE OR EXPLOSION and HEALTH effects upon exposure. • The primary potential hazard is listed first. • Allows the responders to make decisions to protect the emergency response team, and the surrounding population. Page 148 ERG 2024 SUGGESTED OPERATIONS SHOULD ONLY BE PERFORMED BY ADEQUATELY TRAINED AND EQUIPPED PERSONNEL • PUBLIC SAFETY This section is divided into three subsections: › General Information: describes initial precautionary measures to be taken › by those first on the scene. › PROTECTIVE CLOTHING: provides general guidance on personal › protective equipment requirements including respiratory protection. The protective clothing information is general and correct selection is situation dependent, after considering the physical and chemical properties of the material, weather conditions, spill versus fire, topography, etc. › EVACUATION: suggests protective distances for immediate precautionary › measures defined for small and large spills, including suggested guidance for conditions where fire is present or likely (potential fragmentation hazard). − The term “isolate” indicates a zone of no entry that applies to the public − and first responders who are not equipped, trained, and prepared to mitigate the incident. − The term “evacuate” aims to protect as many people as possible by − removing persons from inside a zone safely. If removal is too risky, sheltering-in-place can also be considered in this zone. Materials highlighted in green in the yellow and blue sections direct the reader to consult Table 1, detailing specific response distances for toxic inhalation hazard materials and water-reactive materials (green section). EMERGENCY RESPONSE • This section is divided into three subsections: › FIRE: provides extinguishing procedures for Small Fire, Large Fire, and/ › or Fire Involving Tanks or Car/Trailer Loads › SPILL OR LEAK: includes general recommendations, and may describe › the response procedure for Small Spill and Large Spill › FIRST AID: provides specific first aid guidance to use for a product or a › guide in addition to the general first aid guidance for hazardous materials/ dangerous goods incidents. General first aid guidance is found in the “General First Aid” section situated immediately after the “How to use the Orange Guides” section. If a Canadian flag appears in this section, and the incident is located in Canada, an Emergency Response Assistance Plan (ERAP) may be required for this product. • ERG 2024 Page 149 - **truncated:** false - **body characters:** 11501