Since this is freely available on-line, I do not feel as though I am jeopardizing anyone’s safety by providing this info; indeed, it may be of value to someone someday. I found it to be quite interesting. If you think I should remove this, please indicate so.
Got my current copy…if people really knew how much of this stuff we safely move every day, and how drasticly different and less rewarding their lives would be without this stuff…
Ah well, Chicken Little had it right…if you can’t win a seat in Congress, try for the Presidency…or a job in Homeland Security…(isnt that a new oxymoron?)
Good link, thanks.
I do not see any issue with having this posted. It gives us train watchers an idea of what may be in that car we are looking at. It is also widely available to the general public both here in and in the .
A similar Canadian link is this: http://www.tc.gc.ca/tdg/menu.htm
It is a publication that many are required to have. It is no biggie posting it.
There’s a hard copy stuck in the pocket in the door of my truck, one in every one of my fire trucks, and a pair of binoculars under the back seat of the truck. One of the hazards of being a fire chief - guess who they call when it hits the fan?
Of course, there’s also a book on WMD in the truck…
As railfans, thus people who spend a lot of time trackside, it would do us well to be familiar with the Emergency Response Guide (or ERG, or Orange Book) especially the sections that tell how to handle various spills of the various chemicals identified therein. If it’s placarded, it’s probably hazardous, but some are moreso than others.
Two words - Uphill, Upwind.
You can also learn a lot about the types of cars used to haul the various materials.
When the kids were still living at home, we’d occasionally see a placarded vehicle on the highway and I’d hand one of them the book and have them look it up. If it was methyl ethyl awful, we’d give it a wide berth. If it was methyl ethyl death, even more space…
Most railroaders I know still call the ERG another name here. The “Boom Book”…[;)]
At the Fire Department where I work. we classify Hazardous Materials in much the same way tree68
Methy Ethyl Bad Stuff
Methyl Ethyl Awful
Methyl Ethyl Death…
Easier system to learn really. Plus, it’s easier on the rooks too… less to remember. Seriously, though. When my dad was fire chief, he had the ERG in his car also. I also had a copy of my own for a few years, used to use it when train watching… I did see a train, I beleive it was a CN a couple of days ago, with about 10 or more tank cars labled “Methyl Diphenyl Isocyanate” or something like that… Just the name of the stuff makes you hope and pray it never spills. We have a couple of copies in the radio room as well, makes for interesting reading.