The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) Emergency Response Guidebook is posted on the PHMSA Web site at hazmat.dot.gov.
The guidebook was developed jointly by the US Department of Transportation, Transport Canada, and the Secretariat of Communications and Transportation of Mexico (SCT) for use by firefighters, police, and other emergency services personnel who may be the first to arrive at the scene of a transportation incident involving a hazardous material.
The book is primarily a guide to aid first responders in quickly identifying the specific or generic classification of the materials involved in the incident and protecting themselves and the general public during this initial response phase of the incident. The ERG is updated every three to four years to accommodate new products and technology. The next version is scheduled for 2012.