The Department of Transportation’s Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG) was created to help firefighters, law enforcement officers, medical personnel, and other first responders quickly identify the hazards present at transportation emergencies involving hazardous materials in order to protect themselves and the public. The ERG contains indexed lists of hazardous materials, the general hazards each material presents, and recommended safety precautions for emergency incidents. It is used in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and several South American countries.
• Explain the purpose of the U.S. DOT’s Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG)
• Define the terms “hazardous material” and “initial response period”
• Describe the purpose and contents of the six color-coded sections of the ERG
