PHMSA Seeks Input for 2020 Emergency Response Guidebook
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), a division of the Department of Transportation, is actively soliciting feedback to improve the upcoming 2020 edition of the administration’s Emergency Response Guidebook.
Overview of the PHMSA Emergency Response Guidebook
The Secretary of Transportation is responsible for issuing and enforcing regulations to ensure the safe transport of hazardous materials (biological, chemical, radiological, etc.) in commerce, and since 1980 PHMSA has been deemed the entity responsible for documenting and distributing information to help emergency responders handle this type of emergency situation. In a nutshell, the Emergency Response Guidebook documents procedures for responding to hazardous material transportation incidents.
The latest edition of the guidebook is from 2016, and so far, nearly 15 million copies have been distributed mainly to fire, police and medical first responders. The information is critical to help standardize emergency response related to hazardous material transportation emergencies throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Type of Feedback Requested
PHMSA is looking for input from users regarding the user-friendliness, organization, clarity, accuracy, consistency, format, and completeness of the information contained within the guidebook. The agency wants help identifying errors and wants to make sure that each user can access the information in a way that best suits his or her needs and preferences.
From a utility perspective, you should be familiar with the emergency guidebook, because you just never know when an emergency situation might involve hazardous materials. Understanding alternative emergency response approaches is also good in terms of enhancing creativity and adopting best practices from the PHMSA information for your own emergency response plans.
