Nine DOT Hazard Classes

Acronym To Help Memorize

Albert V. Condello III CHMM

University of Houston Downtown

Introduction

There are nine (9) hazard classes that DOT requires when placarding a vehicle as well as labeling the container.

We will discuss an easy way to memorize those nine hazard classes in the correct order.

Remember, there might be a need to placard with more than one if the HMT requires the secondary hazard to also be noted.

DOT Chart 15

Refer to Hand Out

2012 Emergency Response Guidebook (Page 4) Hazard Classification System

http://youtu.be/wlZTc7z7yjI

Nine DOT Hazard Classes

Explosives Class 1Flammable/Combustible

Gases Class 2Flammable/Combustible

Liquids Class 3Flammable

Solids/Dangerous When Wet Class 4

Oxidizers/Organic Peroxides Class 5

Toxic/Infection Substances Class 6

Radioactive Materials Class 7

Corrosives Class 8 Other Regulated

Materials (ORM) Class 9

Acronym

Every Good Fire Fighter Ought To Receive Cash Money

Remember these nine (9) phases, they will help you to know what is the DOT Hazard Classes in the correct order.

Every

Class 1 - Explosives

Division 1.1 Explosives with a mass explosion hazardDivision 1.2 Explosives with a projection hazardDivision 1.3 Explosives with predominantly a fire hazardDivision 1.4 Explosives with no significant blast hazardDivision 1.5 Very insensitive explosives with a mass

explosion hazardDivision 1.6 Extremely insensitive articles

Good

Class 2 - Gases

Division 2.1 Flammable gases

Division 2.2 Non-flammable, non-toxic* gases

Division 2.3 Toxic* gases

§172.528 ,§172.530, §172.532, §172.540

Fire

Class 3 - Flammable liquids (and Combustible liquids [U.S.])

§172.542, §172.544

Fighter

Class 4 - Flammable solids; Spontaneously combustible materials; and Dangerous when wet materials/Water-reactive substances

Division 4.1 Flammable solidsDivision 4.2 Spontaneously combustible materialsDivision 4.3 Water-reactive substances/Dangerous

when wet materials

§172.546, §172.547, §172.548

Ought

Class 5 - Oxidizing substances and Organic peroxides

Division 5.1 Oxidizing substances

Division 5.2 Organic peroxides

§172.550, §172.552

To

Class 6 – Poison (Toxic) substances and Infectious substances & Poisonous Inhalation Hazards

Division 6.1 Toxic substancesDivision 6.2 Infectious substances

§172.504(f)(10), §172.554, §172.555

Receive

Class 7 - Radioactive materials

§172.556

Cash

Class 8 - Corrosive substances

§172.558

Money

Class 9 - Miscellaneous hazardous materials/Products, Substances or Organisms

A/k/a (ORM) Otherwise Regulated Materials

§172.560

Question

HOW MANY DIVISIONS PER GROUPS OF PLACARDS ?

Answer: 6,3,2,3,2,2 (Class 1 thru 6)

Proof: 6 (Class 1) 3(Class 2) 2(Class 3) 3(Class 4) 2 (Class 5) 2(Class 6)

Dangerous Placard

§172.521

A freight container, unit load device, transportvehicle, or rail car which contains non-bulkpackages with two or more categories ofhazardous materials that require different placardsspecified in table 2 §172.504(e) may beplacarded with Dangerous placards insteadof the specific placards required for each of thematerials in table 2. However, when 1,000 kg(2,205 lbs) or more of one category of materialis loaded at one loading facility, the placardspecified in table 2 must be applied.

Limited Qty

§172.315(a)(2)

(Vessel transport only)

When shipping by air

Environmental Pollutant

These Environmentally Hazardous Substance Markings are designed to help shippers and transporters easily identify any liquid or solid material, including its mixtures and solutions that are classified as marine pollutants.

For Further Info

Please feel free to contact

Albert V. Condello III CHMM

Professor – Safety & Fire Protection Engineering

University of Houston Downtown

Email: Condelloa@uhd.edu

Cell 979-412-2219