The U.S. Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration released the 2012 version of its Emergency Response Guidebook today, providing first responders with an newly revised go-to manual to help deal with hazmat accidents during the critical first 30 minutes.

PHMSA will distribute more than two million copies of the guidebook to firefighters, emergency medical technicians and law enforcement officers across the nation who will use it to identify specific risks associated with compromised hazmat items, measures they should take to protect themselves and procedures for containing the incident as quickly and safely as possible.

The ERG contains an indexed list of dangerous goods and the associated ID number, the general hazards they pose and recommended safety precautions. For example, if emergency responders arrive at the scene of an overturned tractor trailer displaying a DOT hazmat placard, they would use the guide to identify the material associated with the placard and how to respond accordingly.

PHMSA has also partnered with the National Library of Medicine to provide a free Smartphone version of the ERG in its Wireless Information System for Emergency Responders. The mobile version will be available this summer.

Print copies of ERG2012 are available for sale to the general public through the U.S. Government Printing Office Bookstore at http://bookstore.gpo.gov.