Hazchem
Hazchem is a warning plate system used in Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom for vehicles transporting hazardous substances, and on storage facilities housing such substances. Part of the Hazchem plate describes how an emergency service should deal with an incident pertaining to the vehicle or facility.
Hazchem is not the ADR Hazard Identification Number (HIN), also known as the Kemler Code, as this is a different warning plate carried by vehicles in the rest of the EU. The main difference is the HIN details the nature of the hazard presented by the goods as opposed to the actions to be taken when dealing with them.
The top-left section of the plate gives the Emergency Action Code (EAC) telling the fire brigade what actions to take if there's an accident. The middle-left section gives the UN Substance Identification Number describing the chemical. The lower-left section gives the telephone number that should be called if special advice is needed. The warning symbol at top-right indicates what danger the chemical presents. The bottom-right of the plate carries a company logo (the flower is a sample logo).
There is also a standard null Hazchem plate to indicate the transport of non-hazardous substances. The null plate does not include an EAC or substance identification.
The National Chemical Emergency Centre provides a Free Online Hazchem Guide
Emergency Action Code
The Emergency Action Code (EAC) is a three character code displayed on all dangerous goods classed carriers, and provides a quick assessment to first responders and emergency responders (i.e fire fighters and police) of what actions to take should the carrier carrying such goods become involved in an incident (traffic collision, for example). EAC's are characterised by a single number (1 to 4) and either one or two letters (depending on the hazard).
NCEC was commissioned by the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) to edit the EAC List 2007 publication, outlining the application of Hazchem Emergency Actions Codes (EACs) in Britain for 2009. The Dangerous Goods Emergency Action Code (EAC) List is reviewed every two years and is an essential compliance document for all emergency services, local government and for those who may control the planning for, and prevention of, emergencies involving dangerous goods. The current EAC List is 2009 which must be in full use by 1 July 2009. NCEC has been at the heart of the UK EAC system since its inception in the early 1970s, publishing the list on behalf of the UK Government until 1996 and resuming its management in 2008.
The printed version of the book can be purchased from TSO directly (ISBN: 9780113413263) or downloaded as a free PDF file from NCEC’s website. Download EAC List 2009
HazChem fire suppression
| Number | Action |
| 1 | Jets |
| 2 | Fog1 |
| 3 | Foam |
| 4 | Dry Agent2 |
1 In the absence of fog equipment, a fine spray may be used. [1]
2 Water must not be allowed to come into contact with the substance at risk. [1]
This number is indicative of what type of fire suppressant should be used to suppress a fire from igniting or extinguish a fire caused by the chemical. The system is designed to rank fire suppression methods in order of usability. [citation needed] For example a chemical marked with the number 2 or Fog can be attacked with methods 3 (Foam) or 4 (Dry Agent) but not with 1 (Jets). The "Dry Agent" method must be used for chemicals that have an undesirable reaction with water and must not be allowed to come in contact with water, therefore 4 is the highest ranking suppression method as all of the other methods use water.
HazChem safety parameters
Each EAC contains at least one letter, which determines which category the chemical falls under, and which also highlights the violence of the chemical (i.e. likelihood to spontaneously combust, explode etc), what personal protective equipment to use while working around the chemical and what action to take when disposing of the chemical.
| Category | Violence | Protection | Substance control |
|---|---|---|---|
| P | V | Full | Dilute |
| R | |||
| S | V | BA | |
| S | BA for fire only | ||
| T | BA | ||
| T | BA for fire only | ||
| W | V | Full | Contain |
| X | |||
| Y | V | BA | |
| Y | BA for fire only | ||
| Z | BA | ||
| Z | BA for fire only | ||
| E | Consider evacuation | ||
Each category is assigned a letter to determine what actions are required when handling, containing and disposing of the chemical in question. Eight 'major categories' exist which are commonly denoted by a black letter on a white background. Four subcategories exist which specifically deal with what type of personal protective equipment responders must wear when handling the emergency, denoted by a white letter on a black background.
If a category is classed as violent, this means that the chemical can be violently or explosively reactive[1], either with the atmosphere or water, or both (which could be marked by the Dangerous when Wet symbol).
Protection is divided up into three categories of personal protective equipment, Full, BA and BA for fire only. Full denotes that full personal protective equipment provisions must be used around and in contact with the chemical, which will usually include a portable breathing apparatus and water tight and chemical proof suit. BA (acronym for breathing apparatus) specifies that a portable breathing apparatus must be used at all times in and around the chemical, and BA for fire only specifies that a breathing apparatus is not necessary for short exposure periods to the chemical but is required if the chemical is on alight. BA for fire only is denoted within the emergency action code as a white letter on a black background, while a black letter on a white background denotes breathing apparatus at all times.
Substance control specifies what to do with the chemical in the event of a spill, either dilute or contain. Dilute means that the chemical may be washed down the drain with large quantities of water. Contain requires that the spillage must not come in contact with drains or water courses.
In the event of a chemical incident, the EAC may specify that an evacuation may be necessary as the chemical poses a public hazard which may extend beyond the immediate vicinity. If evacuation is not possible, advice to stay in doors and secure all points of ventilation may be necessary. This condition is denoted by an E at the end of any emergency action code. It is an optional letter, depending on the nature of the chemical.
Examples
| 3 | Y | E | Use foam or dry agent, substance reacts violently/is explosive, Use BA if fire present, evacuate vicinity, contain spill. |
| 3 | Y | E | Use foam or dry agent, substance reacts violently/is explosive, BA use is essential, evacuate vicinity, contain spill. |
| 2 | X | Use fog, foam or dry agent, substance is not violent, use full PPE, contain spill. | |
| 4 | R | Use dry agent only, substance is not violent, full PPE essential, dilute spill. | |
| 1 | S | E | Use jets, fog, foam or dry agent; BA for fire only; evacuate vicinity; dilute spill. |
A very commonly displayed example is 3YE on petrol tankers. This means that a fire must be fought using foam or dry agent (if a small fire), that it can react violently and is explosive, that fire fighters must wear a portable breathing apparatus at all times, of if a white on black Y, only if there is a fire, and that the run-off needs to be contained. It also indicates to the incident controller that evacuation of the surrounding area may be necessary.
See also
References
External links
- Hazchem Guide from The National Chemical Emergency Centre (NCEC)
- Download EAC List 2009
- Example of UK Hazchem Panel with Hazchem Emergency Action Code (EAC)
- General 'Hazchem Information for UK Emergency Services' Site
- Dangerous Goods Emergency Action Code List
- Dangerous Goods-Hazmat Group, a Yahoo-hosted global network for discussion of dangerous goods and hazardous materials storage and handling issues.