POTENTIAL HAZARDS |
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- Radiation presents minimal risk to transport workers, emergency response personnel and the public during transportation accidents. Packaging durability increases as potential radiation and criticality hazards of the content increase. |
- Chemical hazard greatly exceeds radiation hazard. |
- Substance reacts with water and water vapor in air to form toxic and corrosive hydrogen fluoride gas, hydrofluoric acid, and an extremely irritating and corrosive, white-colored, water-soluble residue. |
- If inhaled, may be fatal. |
- Direct contact causes burns to skin, eyes, and respiratory tract. |
- Low-level radioactive material; very low radiation hazard to people. |
- Runoff from control of cargo fire may cause low-level pollution. |
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- Substance does not burn. |
- The material may react violently with fuels. |
- Product will decompose to produce toxic and/or corrosive fumes. |
- Containers in protective overpacks (horizontal cylindrical shape with short legs for tie-downs), are identified with "AF", "B(U)F" or "H(U)" on shipping papers or by markings on the overpacks. They are designed and evaluated to withstand severe conditio |
- Bare filled cylinders, identified with UN2978 as part of the marking (may also be marked H(U) or H(M)), may rupture in heat of engulfing fire; bare empty (except for residue) cylinders will not rupture in fires. |
- Radioactivity does not change flammability or other properties of materials. |
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PUBLIC SAFETY |
- CALL 911. Then call emergency response telephone number on shipping paper. If shipping paper not available or no answer, refer to appropriate telephone number listed on the inside back cover. |
- Priorities for rescue, life-saving, first aid, fire control and other hazards are higher than the priority for measuring radiation levels. |
- Radiation Authority must be notified of accident conditions. Radiation Authority is usually responsible for decisions about radiological consequences and closure of emergencies. |
- Stay upwind, uphill and/or upstream. |
- Keep unauthorized personnel away. |
- Detain or isolate uninjured persons or equipment suspected to be contaminated; delay decontamination and cleanup until instructions are received from Radiation Authority. |
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- Wear positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). |
- Wear chemical protective clothing that is specifically recommended by the manufacturer when there is NO RISK OF FIRE. |
- Structural firefighters' protective clothing provides thermal protection but only limited chemical protection. |
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Immediate precautionary measure |
- Isolate spill or leak area for at least 25 meters (75 feet) in all directions. |
Spill |
- See Table 1 - Initial Isolation and Protective Action Distances. |
Fire |
- When a large quantity of this material is involved in a major fire, consider an initial evacuation distance of 300 meters (1000 feet) in all directions. |
- In Canada, an Emergency Response Assistance Plan (ERAP) may be required for this product. Please consult the shipping paper and/or the ERAP Program Section (page 390). |
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EMERGENCY RESPONSE |
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- DO NOT USE WATER OR FOAM ON MATERIAL ITSELF. |
- If it can be done safely, move undamaged containers away from the area around the fire. |
Small Fire |
- Dry chemical or CO2. |
Large Fire |
- Water spray, fog or regular foam. |
- Cool containers with flooding quantities of water until well after fire is out. |
- If this is impossible, withdraw from area and let fire burn. |
- ALWAYS stay away from tanks engulfed in fire. |
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- Do not touch damaged packages or spilled material. |
- DO NOT GET WATER INSIDE CONTAINERS. |
- Without fire or smoke, leak will be evident by visible and irritating vapors and residue forming at the point of release. |
- Use fine water spray to reduce vapors; do not put water directly on point of material release from container. |
- Residue buildup may self-seal small leaks. |
- Dike far ahead of spill to collect runoff water. |
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- Call 911 or emergency medical service. |
- Ensure that medical personnel are aware of the material(s) involved and take precautions to protect themselves. |
- Medical problems take priority over radiological concerns. |
- Use first aid treatment according to the nature of the injury. |
- In case of skin contact with hydrogen fluoride gas and/or Hydrofluoric acid, if calcium gluconate gel is available, rinse 5 minutes, then apply gel. Otherwise, continue rinsing until medical treatment is available. |
- Do not delay care and transport of a seriously injured person. |
- Give artificial respiration if victim is not breathing. |
- Administer oxygen if breathing is difficult. |
- In case of contact with substance, immediately flush skin or eyes with running water for at least 20 minutes. |
- Effects of exposure (inhalation, ingestion or skin contact) to substance may be delayed. |
- Keep victim calm and warm. |
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