Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

The Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG2008) 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. It is primarily a guide to aid first responders in (1) quickly identifying the specific or generic classification of the material(s) involved in the incident, and (2) 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.

DOT's goal is to place one ERG2008 in each emergency service vehicle, nationwide, through distribution to state and local public safety authorities. To date, nearly eleven million copies have been distributed without charge to the emergency response community. Copies are made available free of charge to public emergency responders through state coordinators in the U.S. In Canada, contact CANUTEC at 613-992-4624 or via email at canutec@tc.gc.ca for distribution information. In Mexico, call SCT at 52-5-684-1275. Copies are also available commercially through the GPO Bookstore and other commercial vendors.

To view/print the Guide Page(s) corresponding to the material you are shipping click on the appropriate link below.

• Full Version of the ERG2008 (2.4M)
• ERG2008 ERRATA
• ERG 2008 Mobile (software for Windows Mobile Pocket PC PDAs)   (6.5M) read me
• ERG2008 Mobile (software for Windows-based PCs) (2.8M)
     read me
• National Library of Medicine's WISER (Wireless Information System    for Emergency Responders) Software.
• ERG2008 State Coordinators List
• DOD Point of Contact for the ERG 2008
• Commercial Suppliers (198K) of:
  • 2008 Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG2008)
  • DOT Chart 13 (Marking, Labeling, and Placarding Guides)
• Full Version of the Spanish ERG2008 (2.5M)
• Argonne National Laboratory Report (4M)

  Development of the Table of Initial Isolation and Protective Action Distances for the 2008 Emergency Response Guidebook

PHMSA welcomes constructive comments for improvements to the ERG2008. Comments should be sent either by email, or in writing to the Office of Hazardous Materials Initiatives and Training, PHH-50, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE East Building, 2nd Floor, Washington, DC 20590.

Keep information on hazardous material handling close at hand.