---
title: "US DOT Emergency Response Guidebook"
description: "CBRNe World provides those tasked with defending against CBRN and IED threats with the essential practical, scientific and political information. Access the current and previous issues of the magazine by registering as a member."
url: "https://cbrneworld.com/news/subscribers/us-dot-emergency-response-guidebook"
date: "2026-07-30T21:44:47+00:00"
language: "en-GB"
---

#  US DOT Emergency Response Guidebook

 Written by CBRNe World & The US Department of Transport on 01 June 2012.

**DOT Releases New Emergency Response Guidebook**
 *Will Distribute More Than Two Million Free Copies to First Responders
Nationwide*

WASHINGTON – [The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)](https://cbrneworld.com/%5C%22http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/%5C%22) released the 2012 version of its Emergency Response [guide](https://cbrneworld.com/%5C%22http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/staticfiles//PHMSA/DownloadableFiles/Files/Hazmat/ERG2012.pdf%5C%22)(ERG) today, providing first responders with a newly revised go-to [guide](https://cbrneworld.com/%5C%22http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/staticfiles//PHMSA/DownloadableFiles/Files/Hazmat/ERG2012.pdf%5C%22)to help deal with hazmat accidents during the critical first 30 minutes.
[PHMSA](https://cbrneworld.com/%5C%22http://www.phmsa.dot.gov%5C%22)will distribute more than two million copies of the [guide](https://cbrneworld.com/%5C%22http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/staticfiles//PHMSA/DownloadableFiles/Files/Hazmat/ERG2012.pdf%5C%22)to firefighters, emergency medical technicians and law enforcement officers across the nation who will use it to identify specific risks associated with compromised hazmat items, measures they should take to protect themselves and procedures for containing the incident as quickly and safely as possible.
“We take the safety of this nation and its emergency responders very seriously,” said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “Our goal is to make sure that these critical responders have the most current information possible.”
The [ERG](https://cbrneworld.com/%5C%22http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/staticfiles//PHMSA/DownloadableFiles/Files/Hazmat/ERG2012.pdf%5C%22)contains an indexed list of dangerous goods and the associated ID number, the general hazards they pose and recommended safety precautions. For example, if emergency responders arrive at the scene of an overturned tractor trailer displaying a DOT hazmat placard, they would use the guide to identify the material associated with the placard and how to respond accordingly.
The 2012 version of the [ERG](https://cbrneworld.com/%5C%22http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/staticfiles//PHMSA/DownloadableFiles/Files/Hazmat/ERG2012.pdf%5C%22)includes general revisions, reorganized general information pages and new tables such as Initial Isolation and Protective Action Distances for large spills involving six common toxic inhalation hazard gases. Updated every four years, the [ERG](https://cbrneworld.com/%5C%22http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/staticfiles//PHMSA/DownloadableFiles/Files/Hazmat/ERG2012.pdf%5C%22)is available free to public safety agencies in all states and territories through designated state coordinators’ offices. [PHMSA](https://cbrneworld.com/%5C%22http://www.phmsa.dot.gov%5C%22)has also partnered with the [National Library of Medicine](https://cbrneworld.com/%5C%22http://www.nlm.nih.gov/%5C%22) to provide a free Smartphone version of the [ERG](https://cbrneworld.com/%5C%22http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/staticfiles//PHMSA/DownloadableFiles/Files/Hazmat/ERG2012.pdf%5C%22)in its [Wireless Information System for Emergency Responders](https://cbrneworld.com/%5C%22http://wiser.nlm.nih.gov/%5C%22). The mobile version will be available this summer.
“The [ERG](https://cbrneworld.com/%5C%22http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/staticfiles//PHMSA/DownloadableFiles/Files/Hazmat/ERG2012.pdf%5C%22)is an invaluable tool that provides emergency responders with critical information and guidance during the initial stages of a hazmat emergency. Taking the proper action during those critical first minutes has a huge impact on the safety of both first responders and the people they serve,” said [PHMSA](https://cbrneworld.com/%5C%22http://www.phmsa.dot.gov%5C%22)Administrator Cynthia Quarterman. “[PHMSA](https://cbrneworld.com/%5C%22http://www.phmsa.dot.gov%5C%22)is always committed to the safety of those involved in and potentially affected by the transportation of hazardous materials.”
Print copies of ERG2012 are available for sale to the general public through the U.S. Government Printing Office Bookstore at http://bookstore.gpo.gov.
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration ([PHMSA](https://cbrneworld.com/%5C%22http://www.phmsa.dot.gov%5C%22)) develops and enforces regulations for the safe, reliable, and environmentally sound operation of the nation's 2.5 million mile pipeline transportation system and the nearly 1 million daily shipments of hazardous materials by land, sea, and air. [PHMSA](https://cbrneworld.com/%5C%22http://www.phmsa.dot.gov%5C%22)is one of ten agencies within the U.S. Department of Transportation. Visit [PHMSA](https://cbrneworld.com/%5C%22http://www.phmsa.dot.gov%5C%22)online at http://phmsa.dot.gov.

The [ERG](https://cbrneworld.com/%5C%22http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/staticfiles//PHMSA/DownloadableFiles/Files/Hazmat/ERG2012.pdf%5C%22)contains an indexed list of dangerous goods and the associated ID number, the general hazards they pose and recommended safety precautions. For example, if emergency responders arrive at the scene of an overturned tractor trailer displaying a DOT hazmat placard, they would use the [guide](https://cbrneworld.com/%5C%22http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/staticfiles//PHMSA/DownloadableFiles/Files/Hazmat/ERG2012.pdf%5C%22) to identify the material associated with the placard and how to respond accordingly.

This [guide](https://cbrneworld.com/%5C%22http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/staticfiles//PHMSA/DownloadableFiles/Files/Hazmat/ERG2012.pdf%5C%22)will help keep first responders and the community safe.

[2012 Emergency Responders Guide
Intro Video (5 minutes)](https://cbrneworld.com/%5C%22http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/staticfiles/PHMSA/DownloadableFiles/Files/Press)

 [Emergency](https://cbrneworld.com/component/tags/tag/emergency)

## Schema

```json
{ "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "News", "item": "https://cbrneworld.com/news" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Subscribers", "item": "https://cbrneworld.com/news/subscribers" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "US DOT Emergency Response Guidebook", "item": "https://cbrneworld.com/news/subscribers/us-dot-emergency-response-guidebook" } ] }
```

```json
{ "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "NewsArticle", "mainEntityOfPage": { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://cbrneworld.com/news/subscribers/us-dot-emergency-response-guidebook" }, "headline": "US DOT Emergency Response Guidebook", "description": "Hazmat Safety Tool Now Available 2012 Emergency Responders Guide", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://cbrneworld.com/" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "CBRNe World Magazine", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://cbrneworld.com/images/default/Asset%201.png" } }, "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ben Bray", "url": "https://cbrneworld.com/news/subscribers/us-dot-emergency-response-guidebook" }, "datePublished": "2012-06-01T17:03:31+01:00", "dateCreated": "2012-06-01T17:03:31+01:00", "dateModified": "2018-12-14T15:55:28+00:00" }
```