- You are the manager of the health, safety, and environmental (HSE) department in your company, and one of your tasks is to give training to new or transfer employees to your department. A topic that is being covered in training is the use of the Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG) (hard copy or mobile app version). The incident that you gave the class to evaluate their understanding of how to use the ERG involves a spill of 55 gallons of material in a dry ditch along a dirt road at 5 am. The material has an identification number of 1828. The employees in the class are to address the following prompts based on information from the ERG.
a. List the specific name of the material and the guide number to be used.
b. Select the appropriate initial isolation and protective action distances.
c. Identify potential interactions of the material with water and metals.
d. Summarize potential health hazards and precautionary measures for the first responders to this incident.
Full Answer Section
Identify potential interactions of the material with water and metals.
Sulfur chlorides are water-reactive materials, and they can react with water to produce toxic and corrosive gases. Sulfur chlorides can also react with metals to produce flammable and explosive compounds.
d. Summarize potential health hazards and precautionary measures for the first responders to this incident.
The potential health hazards associated with sulfur chlorides include respiratory irritation, skin burns, and eye damage. First responders should wear protective clothing, including gloves, goggles, and a respirator, when responding to a spill of sulfur chlorides. They should also avoid contact with the material and keep it away from water and metals.
Here are some additional precautionary measures that first responders should take when responding to a spill of sulfur chlorides:
- Stay upwind of the spill.
- Use a water spray to keep the material cool.
- Ventilate the area if possible.
- Call the fire department if the spill is large or if there is a risk of fire or explosion.
By following these precautions, first responders can help to protect themselves and the public from the hazards associated with sulfur chlorides.
Sample Answer
here are the answers to the prompts based on information from the ERG:
a. List the specific name of the material and the guide number to be used.
The specific name of the material is Sulfur chlorides, and the guide number to be used is 1828.
b. Select the appropriate initial isolation and protective action distances.
The initial isolation distance for sulfur chlorides is 100 feet in all directions. The protective action distance for sulfur chlorides is 0.2 miles downwind and 0.1 miles upwind.