PHMSA Taking Input on 2024 ERG Development

PHMSA will hold a virtual meeting on May 16, 2023 from 1 to 4 PM EDT to accept input about developing the next Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG), the 2024 Edition. PHMSA asks that those who want to attend the meeting pre-register here.

By stakeholder request, PHMSA will also accept and consider comments about poisonous vapor response methodologies during this meeting.  

What is the Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG)?

The ERG is a resource for detailed information about hazardous materials that emergency responders may need during an emergency incident release involving hazmat. Together with transportation authorities in Canada, Mexico, and South America, PHMSA updates the ERG every four years to help establish consistent emergency response procedures and improve safety.

The ERG is available for free online in PDF format (in multiple languages) and can be downloaded as a free mobile application (2020 Edition). US DOT has distributed more than 16 million physical copies of the yellow, pocket-sized ERG manual to emergency response organizations to date. 

_{Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG), 2020 Edition}  

In Fall of 2022, PHMSA asked hazmat emergency responders for their feedback about the ERG. The agency plans to review comments received this year. 

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Online Course: How to Use the ERG

The Using the Emergency Response Guidebook Online Course provides a basic understanding of the purpose of the ERG and how to use it to identify hazardous materials and find information about specific chemicals when needed. The course includes notes on important changes made to the latest publication of the ERG (2020).