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COUNTERMEASURE
Objective:
To reduce the frequency of hazardous materials loading and unloading
incidents by providing appropriate, sufficient, and well-maintained
loading/unloading equipment.
Description:
Hazardous materials loading and unloading incidents may occur when
improper or inadequate equipment is used. Loading/unloading equipment
must be suitable for both the hazardous material and the container in
order to ensure the safety of Hazmat employees and the package.
Questions
for Management:
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What is the
company policy regarding who is responsible for loading and
unloading hazardous materials?
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Are pipes
marked to indicate their function?
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Are
bulkheads, shear fittings, and emergency shutoff valves used in
order to minimize?
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the impact of
a pullaway hazardous materials incident?
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Are manually
operated filling valves of the spring-loaded, self-closing type?
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Are loading
pumps fined with emergency shutoff switches?
Tips for
Management:
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Enforce
correct connecting procedures.
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Color code
pipes for easy identification.
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Provide tools
and equipment which do not damage packaging.
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Consider use
of Denver boot or lockable chock during certain loading/unloading
procedures.
Tips for
Hazmat Employees:
Use dust caps on
hoses when they are not in use.
References:
49 CFR Parts: 177 Subpart B. A11, C11, C12, G1, G2, G4, G7.
VEHICLE
EQUIPMENT E2
COUNTERMEASURE
Objective:
To reduce the frequency of hazardous materials incidents by using
suitable vehicle equipment.
Description:
Vehicles that are improperly equipped to handle and transport
hazardous materials may contribute to the frequency or magnitude of
Hazmat incidents. By ensuring that fleet vehicles are fitted with
appropriate equipment, the number of these incidents may be reduced.
Questions
for Management:
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Do fleet
vehicles carry spare light bulbs, flares, triangle reflectors,
personal protection equipment and wheel chocks?
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Are fleet
vehicles provided with functional spare tires and wheels where
appropriate?
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Would
anti-lock brake systems benefit your operation?
Tips for
Management:
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Consider
adopting new vehicle-equipment technologies.
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Provide
non-sparking tools and other specialized equipment where
appropriate.
Tips for
Drivers:
In the event of
brake dysfunction or other equipment failure, do not use vehicle.
References:
49 CFR Parts: 178; 397.
B12, C10, G1,
G2, B1, B5, T3.
VEHICLE
SAFETY EQUIPMENT E3
COUNTERMEASURE
Objective:
To provide vehicle safety equipment for responding to minor hazardous
materials incidents and to improve transportation safety in general.
Description:
In the event of a hazardous materials incident, vehicles equipped with
the proper safety equipment offer better protection to the driver,
other Hazmat employees, the public and the environment. In many cases,
having the proper equipment can even prevent these incidents.
Questions
for Management:
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Is vehicle
safety equipment adequate and suitable for the hazardous material
being carried?
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Are vehicles
equipped with suitable and easily accessible fire extinguishers
(interior and exterior)?
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Are all
vehicles equipped with seat belts and are drivers instructed to
use them?
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Are three
reflective markers (with stands) provided for each vehicle?
Tips for
Management:
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Require an
inventory check of required safety equipment at regular intervals.
Tips for
Hazmat Employees:
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Have
emergency phone numbers of contact people readily available at all
times.
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Pre-trip
inspections should include roadside emergency equipment.
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Inspect 4-way
flasher operations.
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Do not bypass
interlocks.
References:
49 CFR Parts: 393.95; 397.
B12, C1, C2, G1,
G2, B1, B5.
PACKAGING
EQUIPMENT E4
COUNTERMEASURE
Objective:
To promote the safe transportation of hazardous materials by
inspecting packaging for integrity and compliance with regulations.
Description:
Packaging which is defective or inappropriate may result in a
hazardous materials incident that can be both costly and dangerous
both to people and to the environment. Shippers must ensure that
correct packaging and containers are utilized and maintained.
Questions
for Management:
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Is there a
quality assurance program in operation that monitors packaging
procedures for compliance with company policy and federal
regulations?
Tips for
Management:
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Be sure that
repaired packages and containers are properly tested before reuse.
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Avoid use of
improperly repaired packages.
Tips for
Hazmat Employees:
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Verify the
use of authorized packaging and procedures through spot checks.
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Do not accept
a leaking or otherwise defective package.
References:
49 CFR Parts: 173.1; 178. G3, G5, G9.
PERSONAL
PROTECTION EQUIPMENT E5
COUNTERMEASURE
Objective:
To ensure that personnel have adequate protective equipment available
in order to safeguard themselves against hazardous materials
incidents.
Description:
Protecting people is the highest priority in the event of a hazardous
materials incident. Without proper protective equipment, Hazmat
employees at the scene cannot be expected to effectively respond to a
hazardous materials incident. Therefore, it is the responsibility of
the employer to provide the necessary personal protection equipment
for its Hazmat employees.
Questions
for Management
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Is proper
protective gear and clothing provided to Hazmat employees?
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Is protective
gear and clothing suitable for the hazardous materials being
transported?
Tips for
Management:
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Regularly
review how to use personal protective equipment with Hazmat
employees.
Tips for
Hazmat Employees:
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If the
properties of the cargo are known, use the proper protection
immediately; otherwise, assume the worst case & use the
protective gear and clothing appropriate for that case.
References:
49 CFR Parts: 172.704 B12, C2, B5, T1.
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