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You are allowed to leave your vehicle unattended in
a safe haven. A safe haven is an approved place for
parking unattended vehicles loaded with explosives.
Designation of authorized safe havens is usually
made by local authorities.
9.6.2 – Parking a Placarded Vehicle Not
Transporting Division 1.1, 1.2, or 1.3)
Explosives
You may park a placarded vehicle (not laden with
explosives) within five feet of the traveled part of the
road only if your work requires it. Do so only briefly.
Someone must always watch the vehicle when
parked on a public roadway or shoulder. Do not
uncouple a trailer and leave it with hazardous
materials on a public street. Do not park within 300
feet of an open fire.
9.6.3 – Attending Parked Vehicles
The person attending a placarded vehicle must:
Be in the vehicle, awake, and not in the sleeper
berth, or within 100 feet of the vehicle and have it
within clear view.
Be aware of the hazards of the materials being
transported.
Know what to do in emergencies.
Be able to move the vehicle, if needed.
9.6.4 – No Flares!
You might break down and have to use stopped
vehicle signals. Use reflective triangles or red
electric lights. Never use burning signals, such as
flares or fuses, around a:
Tank used for Class 3 (Flammable Liquids) or
Division 2.1 (Flammable Gas) whether loaded or
empty.
Vehicle loaded with Division 1.1, 1.2, or 1.3
Explosives.
9.6.5 – Route Restrictions
Some states and counties require permits to
transport hazardous materials or wastes. They may
limit the routes you can use. Local rules about
routes and permits change often. It is your job as
driver to find out if you need permits or must use
special routes. Make sure you have all needed
papers before starting.
If you work for a carrier, ask your dispatcher about
route restrictions or permits. If you are an
independent trucker and are planning a new route,
check with state agencies where you plan to travel.
Some localities prohibit transportation of hazardous
materials through tunnels, over bridges, or other
roadways. Always check before you start.
Whenever placarded, avoid heavily populated
areas, crowds, tunnels, narrow streets, and alleys.
Take other routes, even if inconvenient, unless
there is no other way. Never drive a placarded
vehicle near open fires unless you can safely pass
without stopping.
If transporting Division 1.1, 1.2, or 1.3 explosives,
you must have a written route plan and follow that
plan. Carriers prepare the route plan in advance and
give the driver a copy. You may plan the route
yourself if you pick up the explosives at a location
other than your employer's terminal. Write out the
plan in advance. Keep a copy of it with you while
transporting the explosives. Deliver shipments of
explosives only to authorized persons or leave them
in locked rooms designed for explosives storage.
A carrier must choose the safest route to transport
placarded radioactive materials. After choosing the
route, the carrier must tell the driver about the
radioactive materials, and show the route plan.
9.6.6 – No Smoking
Do not smoke within 25 feet of a placarded cargo
tank used for Class 3 (flammable liquids) or Division
2.1 (gases). Also, do not smoke or carry a lighted
cigarette, cigar, or pipe within 25 feet of any vehicle,
which contains:
Class 1 (Explosives)
Class 3 (Flammable Liquids)
Class 4.1 (Flammable Solids)
Class 4.2 (Spontaneously Combustible)
Class 5 (Oxidizers)
9.6.7 – Refuel with Engine Off
Turn off your engine before fueling a motor vehicle
containing hazardous materials. Someone must
always be at the nozzle, controlling fuel flow.
9.6.8 – 10 B C Fire Extinguisher
The power unit of placarded vehicles must have a
fire extinguisher with a UL rating of 10 B:C or more.
9.6.9 – Check Tires
Make sure your tires are properly inflated.
You must examine each tire on a motor vehicle at
the beginning of each trip and each time the
vehicle is parked.
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The only acceptable way to check tire pressure is to
use a tire pressure gauge.
Do not drive with a tire that is leaking or flat except
to the nearest safe place to fix it. Remove any
overheated tire. Place it a safe distance from your
vehicle. Don't drive until you correct the cause of the
overheating. Remember to follow the rules about
parking and attending placarded vehicles. They
apply even when checking, repairing, or replacing
tires.
9.6.10 – Where to Keep Shipping Papers and
Emergency Response Information
Do not accept a hazardous materials shipment
without a properly prepared shipping paper. A
shipping paper for hazardous materials must always
be easily recognized. Other people must be able to
find it quickly after a crash.
Clearly distinguish hazardous materials shipping
papers from others by tabbing them or keeping
them on top of the stack of papers.
When you are behind the wheel, keep shipping
papers within your reach (with your seat belt on),
or in a pouch on the driver's door. They must be
easily seen by someone entering the cab.
When not behind the wheel, leave shipping papers
in the driver's door pouch or on the driver's seat.
Emergency response information must be kept in
the same location as the shipping paper.
Papers for Division 1.1, 1.2 or, 1.3 Explosives.
A carrier must give each driver transporting Division
1.1, 1.2, or 1.3 explosives a copy of Federal Motor
Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR), Part 397. The
carrier must also give written instructions on what to
do if delayed or in an accident. The written
instructions must include:
The names and telephone numbers of people to
contact (including carrier agents or shippers).
The nature of the explosives transported.
The precautions to take in emergencies such as
fires, accidents, or leaks.
Drivers must sign a receipt for these documents.
You must be familiar with, and have in your
possession while driving, the:
Shipping papers.
Written emergency instructions.
Written route plan.
A copy of FMCSR, Part 397.
9.6.11 – Equipment for Chlorine
A driver transporting chlorine in cargo tanks must
have an approved gas mask in the vehicle. The
driver must also have an emergency kit for
controlling leaks in dome cover plate fittings on the
cargo tank.
9.6.12 – Stop before Railroad Crossings
Stop before a railroad crossing if your vehicle:
Is placarded.
Carries any amount of chlorine.
Has cargo tanks, whether loaded or empty used for
hazardous materials.
You must stop 15 to 50 feet before the nearest rail.
Proceed only when you are sure no train is coming
and you can clear the tracks without stopping. Don't
shift gears while crossing the tracks.
9.7 – Hazardous Materials -
Emergencies
9.7.1 – Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG)
The Department of Transportation has a guidebook
for firefighters, police, and industry workers on how
to protect themselves and the public from
hazardous materials. The guide is indexed by
proper shipping name and hazardous materials
identification number. Emergency personnel look
for these things on the shipping paper. That is why
it is vital that the proper shipping name, identification
number, label, and placards are correct.
9.7.2 – Crashes/Incidents
As a professional driver, your job at the scene of a
crash or an incident is to:
Keep people away from the scene.
Limit the spread of material, only if you can safely
do so.
Communicate the danger of the hazardous
materials to emergency response personnel.
Provide emergency responders with the shipping
papers and emergency response information.
Follow this checklist:
Check to see that your driving partner is OK.
Keep shipping papers with you.
Keep people far away and upwind.
Warn others of the danger.
Call for help.
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Follow your employer's instructions.
9.7.3 – Fires
You might have to control minor truck fires on the
road. However, unless you have the training and
equipment to do so safely, don't fight hazardous
materials fires. Dealing with hazardous materials
fires requires special training and protective gear.
When you discover a fire, call for help. You may use
the fire extinguisher to keep minor truck fires from
spreading to cargo before firefighters arrive. Feel
trailer doors to see if they are hot before opening
them. If hot, you may have a cargo fire and should
not open the doors. Opening doors lets air in and
may make the fire flare up. Without air, many fires
only smolder until firemen arrive, doing less
damage. If your cargo is already on fire, it is not safe
to fight the fire. Keep the shipping papers with you
to give to emergency personnel as soon as they
arrive. Warn other people of the danger and keep
them away.
If you discover a cargo leak, identify the hazardous
materials leaking by using shipping papers, labels,
or package location. Do not touch any leaking
material--many people injure themselves by
touching hazardous materials. Do not try to identify
the material or find the source of a leak by smell.
Toxic gases can destroy your sense of smell and
can injure or kill you even if they don't smell. Never
eat, drink, or smoke around a leak or spill.
If hazardous materials are spilling from your vehicle,
do not move it any more than safety requires. You
may move off the road and away from places where
people gather, if doing so serves safety. Only move
your vehicle if you can do so without danger to
yourself or others.
Never continue driving with hazardous materials
leaking from your vehicle in order to find a phone ,
truck stop, help, or similar reason. Remember, the
carrier pays for the cleanup of contaminated parking
lots, roadways, and drainage ditches. The costs are
enormous, so don't leave a lengthy trail of
contamination. If hazardous materials are spilling
from your vehicle:
Park it.
Secure the area.
Stay there.
Call for help or send someone else for help.
When sending someone for help, give that person:
A description of the emergency.
Your exact location and direction of travel.
Your name, the carrier's name, and the name of
the community or city where your terminal is
located.
The proper shipping name, hazard class, and
identification number of the hazardous materials, if
you know them.
This is a lot for someone to remember. It is a good
idea to write it all down for the person you send for
help. The emergency response team must know
these things to find you and to handle the
emergency. They may have to travel miles to get to
you. This information will help them to bring the right
equipment the first time, without having to go back
for it.
Never move your vehicle, if doing so will cause
contamination or damage the vehicle. Keep upwind
and away from roadside rests, truck stops, cafes,
and businesses. Never try to repack leaking
containers. Unless you have the training and
equipment to repair leaks safely, don't try it. Call
your dispatcher or supervisor for instructions and, if
needed, emergency personnel.
9.7.4 – Responses to Specific Hazards
Class 1 (Explosives). If your vehicle has a
breakdown or accident while carrying explosives,
warn others of the danger. Keep bystanders away.
Do not allow smoking or open fire near the vehicle.
If there is a fire, warn every one of the danger of
explosion.
Remove all explosives before separating vehicles
involved in a collision. Place the explosives at least
200 feet from the vehicles and occupied buildings.
Stay a safe distance away.
Class 2 (Compressed Gases). If compressed gas
is leaking from your vehicle, warn others of the
danger. Only permit those involved in removing the
hazard or wreckage to get close. You must notify
the shipper if compressed gas is involved in any
accident.
Unless you are fueling machinery used in road
construction or maintenance, do not transfer a
flammable compressed gas from one tank to
another on any public roadway.
Class 3 (Flammable Liquids). If you are
transporting a flammable liquid and have an
accident or your vehicle breaks down, prevent
bystanders from gathering. Warn people of the
danger. Keep them from smoking.
Never transport a leaking cargo tank farther than
needed to reach a safe place. Get off the roadway
if you can do so safely. Don't transfer flammable
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liquid from one vehicle to another on a public
roadway except in an emergency.
Class 4 (Flammable Solids) and Class 5
(Oxidizing Materials). If a flammable solid or
oxidizing material spills, warn others of the fire
hazard. Do not open smoldering packages of
flammable solids. Remove them from the vehicle if
you can safely do so. Also, remove unbroken
packages if it will decrease the fire hazard.
Class 6 (Poisonous Materials and Infectious
Substances). It is your job to protect yourself, other
people, and property from harm. Remember that
many products classed as poison are also
flammable. If you think a Division 2.3 (Poison
Gases) or Division 6.1 (Poison Materials) might be
flammable, take the added precautions needed for
flammable liquids or gases. Do not allow smoking,
open flame, or welding. Warn others of the hazards
of fire, of inhaling vapors, or coming in contact with
the poison.
A vehicle involved in a leak of Division 2.3 (Poison
Gases) or Division 6.1 (Poisons) must be checked
for stray poison before being used again.
If a Division 6.2 (Infectious Substances) package is
damaged in handling or transportation, you should
immediately contact your supervisor. Packages that
appear to be damaged or show signs of leakage
should not be accepted.
Class 7 (Radioactive Materials). If radioactive
material is involved in a leak or broken package, tell
your dispatcher or supervisor as soon as possible.
If there is a spill, or if an internal container might be
damaged, do not touch or inhale the material. Do
not use the vehicle until it is cleaned and checked
with a survey meter.
Class 8 (Corrosive Materials). If corrosives spill or
leak during transportation, be careful to avoid
further damage or injury when handling the
containers. Parts of the vehicle exposed to a
corrosive liquid must be thoroughly washed with
water. After unloading, wash out the interior as soon
as possible before reloading.
If continuing to transport a leaking tank would be
unsafe, get off the road. If safe to do so, contain any
liquid leaking from the vehicle. Keep bystanders
away from the liquid and its fumes. Do everything
possible to prevent injury to yourself and to others.
9.7.5 – Required Notification
The National Response Center helps coordinate
emergency response to chemical hazards. It is a
resource to the police and firefighters. It maintains a
24-hour toll-free line listed below. You or your
employer must phone when any of the following
occur as a direct result of a hazardous materials
incident:
A person is killed.
An injured person requires hospitalization.
Estimated property damage exceeds $50,000.
The general public is evacuated for more than one
hour.
One or more major transportation arteries or
facilities are closed for one hour or more.
Fire, breakage, spillage, or suspected radioactive
contamination occurs.
Fire, breakage, spillage or suspected
contamination occur involving shipment of
infectious substance(s) (bacteria or toxins).
The release of a marine pollutant in a quantity
greater than 119 gallons for a liquid or 882 pounds
for a solid; or a situation exists of such a nature
(e.g., continuing danger to life exists at the scene
of an incident) that, in the judgment of the carrier,
should be reported.
National Response Center
(800) 424-8802
Persons telephoning the National Response Center
should be ready to give:
Their name.
Name and address of the carrier they work for.
Phone number where they can be reached.
Date, time, and location of incident.
The extent of injuries, if any.
Classification, name, and quantity of hazardous
materials involved, if such information is available.
Type of incident and nature of hazardous materials
involvement and whether a continuing danger to
life exists at the scene.
If a reportable quantity of hazardous substance was
involved, the caller should give the name of the
shipper and the quantity of the hazardous
substance discharged.
Be prepared to give your employer the required
information as well. Carriers must make detailed
written reports within 30 days of an incident.
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