ERG 2020 3.1.6

The 2020 Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG) from the U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is a vital resource for first responders in managing hazmat accidents within the crucial initial 30-minute period. This comprehensive guidebook offers a well-organized index of dangerous goods, with associated ID numbers, along with details on their potential hazards and recommended safety measures.

During an emergency situation involving an overturned tractor trailer, for instance, emergency responders can refer to the ERG to identify the specific hazardous material linked to the DOT hazmat placard and obtain guidelines on how best to respond.

The 2020 edition of the ERG boasts several noteworthy enhancements, including general revisions, improved organization of general information pages, updates to protective distance mapping, and the innovative feature of data link sharing through URLs. Furthermore, it is worth mentioning that the ERG is regularly updated every four years.

State coordinators' offices provide free access to the ERG for public safety agencies across all states and territories. Moreover, PHMSA has collaborated with the National Library of Medicine to offer this invaluable resource as part of the Wireless Information System for Emergency Responders (WISER) application.