PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

EXPLOSIVES: (Chemical explosives)

1. DEFINITION:
   

   Chemical explosives are chemical compounds, mixtures or devices which when subjected to an initiating stimulation, such as heat, impact, contamination or friction, may undergo a rapid chemical changed producing large amounts of heat and gases.

2. PRINCIPLE HAZARDS:
   • Blast over pressure
   • Shock waves
   • Scattering fragments
   • Fires
   • Toxic atmospheres

3. DETECTION:

   Class 1, Division 1.1 Class 1, Division 1.2 Class 1, Division 1.3 Class 1, Division 1.4 Class 1, Division 1.5 Class 1, Division 1.6

   (Old Class "A" placard) (Old Class "A" placard) (Old Class "B" placard) (Old Dangerous placard) (Old Blasting Agent placard) (Old Dangerous placard)

4. CONSIDERATIONS:

   Evacuation, the recommended evacuation distance for LARGE quantities of explosives are:

   Division 1.1 Division 1.2 Division 1.3

   1 mile 1 mile 1500 feet

   mass explosion hazard projection hazard mainly a fire hazard

COMPRESSED GASES: Class 2

1. DEFINITION:

   A gas or a mixture of gases in a container, having an absolute pressure exceeding 40 psi at 70 degrees F or a liquid in a container having a vapor pressure which exceeds 40 psi at 100 degrees F.

2. PRINCIPLE HAZARDS:
   Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion (BLEVE)
   • Explosion
   • Asphyxiation
   • Toxicity
   • Corrosiveness
   • Frost bite
   • Reactivity
   • Oxidizers

3. DETECTION:
   • Containers
   • Locations
   • Vapor clouds
   • Sounds of gas escaping

4. CONSIDERATIONS:

   Evacuation: Consult reference materials such as the Emergency Response Guidebook for distances. http://hazmat.dot.gov/gydebook.htm

LIQUEFIED AND CRYOGENIC GASES: Class 2

1. DEFINITION:

   A substance which is normally a gas at room temperature that has been converted to a liquid by pressure and/or cooling. If the boiling point of the gas is below -150 degrees F, then it is called a refrigerated or Cryogenic gas or liquid.

2. PRINCIPLE HAZARDS:
   • Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion (BLEVE)
   • Explosion
   • Asphyxiation
   • Corrosiveness
   • Frost bite
   • Reactivity
   • Oxidizers
   • Large expansion

3. DETECTION:
   • Containers
   • Location
   • Vapor clouds
   • Sounds

4. CONSIDERATIONS:

   Evacuation, consult reference materials for distances.

FLAMMABLE AND COMBUSTIBLE LIQUIDS: Class 3

1. DEFINITION:
   • Liquid which gives off flammable vapors that ignite on contact with an ignition source.
   • FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS: Have a flash point below 150 degrees Farenheight.
   • COMBUSTIBLE LIQUIDS: Have a flash point between 150-200 degrees F.

2. PRINCIPLE HAZARDS:
   • Fire
   • BLEVE
   • Combustion explosion
   • Toxicity
   • Corrosiveness
   • Reactivity
   • Contamination of water

3. DETECTION:
   • Containers
   • Location
   • Odors

4. CONSIDERATIONS:
   Containment - The following are the main methods for containing flammable liquids:
   • Dams
   • Dikes
   • Absorption
   • Isolation
   • Diverting
   • Covering
   • Containerizing
   • Plugging and patching

BE AWARE - that small spills in confined spaces, such as inside buildings carry a threat of explosive ignition that may not be present in outdoor spills.

FLAMMABLE SOLIDS: (Class 4, Division 4.1)

1. DEFINITION:
   Any solid material, other than an explosive, that is liable to cause fire through friction or retained heat or that can be ignited readily, and when ignited burns at high temperatures and is difficult to extinguish.

2. PRINCIPLE HAZARDS:
   • Ignite easily and burn explosively
   • Air/Water reactive
   • Spontaneously combustible
   • Toxicity and corrosiveness

3. DETECTION:
   • Labels
   • Material Names (phosphorus, sodium, calcium carbide)

4. CONSIDERATIONS:
   • Keep dry
   • Cover
   • Do not handle without proper clothing

OXIDIZERS: Class 5

1. DEFINITION:
   A substance that yields oxygen readily to stimulate combustion. Or a substance that accelerates the burning of other materials.

2. PRINCIPLE HAZARDS:
   • Supplies oxygen
   • Sensitive to heat, shock and friction
   • Reacts with organic materials spontaneously
   • Forms ignitable mixtures

3. DETECTION:
   • Labels
   • Names (Oxygen, Chlorites, Nitrates)

4. CONSIDERATIONS:
   Containment: The method depends on the physical form of the material (gas, liquid, solid)

ORGANIC PEROXIDES: Class 5

1. DEFINITION:
   A compound that contains the bivalent -O-O- oxygen structure and which may be considered to be a structural derivative of hydrogen peroxides where one or more of the hydrogen atoms have been replaced by an organic radical.

2. PRINCIPLE HAZARDS:
   • Explosive
   • Toxic
   • Corrosive
   • Flammable
   • Oxidizer
   • Reactive
   • Unstable

3. DETECTION:
   • Labels
   • Containers
   • Locations

4. CONSIDERATIONS:
   • Evacuate the area, treat as an explosive
   • Keep COLD if possible.

POISONS AND PESTICIDES: Class 6

1. DEFINITION:
   Liquids, solids or gases which are toxic to humans, plants or animals.

   Division 2.3 Division 6.1 Division 6.2

   - Poison gases - Poison - Harmful, store away from foodstuff

2. PRINCIPLE HAZARDS:
   • Toxic
   • Contamination
   • Fire

3. DETECTION:
   • Location
   • Odor
   • Label

   DANGER WARNING CAUTION PELEGRO

   Highly toxic Moderately toxic Slightly toxic Spanish for danger

4. CONSIDERATIONS:
   • Control access
   • Decontamination
   • Evacuate
   • Control run-off
   • Do not fight fires without protective clothing
   • Make certain that local emergency rooms are notified that victims will be coming
   • Call a POISON CENTER for more information.

RADIATION: (IONIZING RADIATION) Class 7

1. DEFINITION:
   Any substance capable of affecting living tissue by the emission of ionizing radiation in the form of subatomic particles or energy waves (rays).
   • Alpha (particles)
   • Beta (particles)
   • Gamma (rays)
   • Xray (rays)

2. PRINCIPLE HAZARDS:
   • Radiation sickness
   • Cancer
   • Death

3. DETECTION:
   • Label
   • Detection devices (Geiger Counter)

4. CONSIDERATIONS: EVACUATION
   Additionally, when dealing with ionizing radiation, the three factors to consider are:
   • TIME
   • DISTANCE
   • SHIELDING

CORROSIVES: Class 8

1. DEFINITION:
   Any liquid or solid that can destroy human skin or tissue, or any liquid that has a severe corrosion rate on metals. (Acids and Bases)

2. PRINCIPLE HAZARDS:
   • Destroys living tissue
   • Violent ruptures can occur
   • Can splatter in contact with water
   • Vapors may be toxic and irritating
   • May produce violent chemical reaction

3. DETECTION:
   • Containers
   • Labels
   • May be fuming

4. CONSIDERATIONS:
   The following are the main methods for containing corrosive liquids:
   • Dams
   • Dikes
   • Isolation
   • Absorption
   • Neutralization

   WARNING! If corrosives come in contact with the body, immediately apply/wash with large amounts of water.

   MISCELLANEOUS HAZARDOUS MATERIALS: Class 9

   Materials which present a potential hazard during transportation but which do not meet the definition of any other hazards class. This class includes:

   Any material which has an anesthetic, noxious, or other similar property which causes extreme annoyance or discomfort to a flight crew member so as to prevent the correct performance of assigned duties; or

   Materials that meet the definition for an elevated temperature material, hazardous substance, a hazardous waste, or marine pollutant.

   ORM's (OTHER REGULATED MATERIALS)

   ORM D- Materials which are consumer commodities that present a limited hazard during transportation.