Chemistry of hazardous materials - Essay Example

Emergency responders that handle emergency responses are HAZMAT teams. If a transportation incident involves explosives certain precautions must be taken. Care must be taken. The HAZMAT team must approach cautiously. The Department of Transportation (DOT 2012) instructs the first responders to avoid ‘suspicious sources.’ An explosion would cause smoke and maybe fire. This should be avoided. A perimeter must be set up to protect emergency responders and the public. The transport load should be recognized with shipping documents, placards, or any identifiable markings.

The sooner the explosive is named, the quicker a response team can put together a plan of action. Explosives are classified by DOT (2012):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 articlesIt is important to understand which explosive is being dealt with.

For example, explosives with predominately a fire hazard will be treated differently than one with extremely insensitive articles. Explosives must have a driver that is physically and mentally fit to understand all local, state, and federal laws regulating explosive transport. The Department of Labor (2012) explains that no smoking or weapons can be carried on their transport. Metal should be covered so no spark occurs. These transports should not be left alone. Like other hazardous materials, explosive transports shall be clearly marked as such.

Finally, the Department of Labor (2012) requires a working fire extinguisher that drivers are trained to use in the transports. Explosives are different from other hazardous materials due to the mass destruction caused. For example, an explosion can destroy a road, railway, or ship and everything in the vicinity. A toxic gas leak can lead to evacuations, but can be cleaned up with little or no life loss. The property damage is less as well. Once something explodes it cannot be taken back. It damages, kills, and can potentially lead to other explosions.

These are a few reasons explosions are different from other hazardous materials.BibliographyDepartment of Energy. (2005). Transportation Emergency Preparedness Program. Retrieved from http://www.em.doe.gov/PDFs/transPDFs/HazMat_Team.pdf Department of Labor. (2012). Surface transportation of explosives. Retrieved from http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_id=10808&p_table=STANDARDS DOT. (2012). Emergency Response Guidebook. Retrieved from http://phmsa.dot.gov/staticfiles/PHMSA/DownloadableFiles/Files/Hazmat/ERG2012.pdf