The new “Table 3” in the 2012 DOT ERG

On May 17th of this year I posted the article “Emergency Response Guidebook 2012 Summary of Changes (April 2012)” pointing out some of the changes and upgrades to the 2012 edition of the DOT ERG.  If your business handles Ammonia (UN1005), Chlorine (UN1017), Ethylene oxide (UN1040), Hydrogen chloride (UN1050) and Hydrogen chloride, refrigerated liquid (UN2186), Hydrogen fluoride (UN1052), Sulfur dioxide/Sulphur dioxide (UN1079) you will be thrilled at the advancements of the 2012 DOT ERG (pdf).  The new table “TABLE 3 – INITIAL ISOLATION AND PROTECTIVE ACTION DISTANCES FOR DIFFERENT QUANTITIES OF SIX COMMON TIH GASES” is actually six new tables covering these six “Toxic Inhalation Hazard” materials.  At first glance many users may not notice some of the changes to the 2012 edition, as the “official list of changes” from PHMSA apparently did NOT list every single change in 2012.  Some will call the changes “needed” and some may call the changes “dangerous”; I will leave that up to the reader.  But there are a few changes that I have come across as I used the 2012 edition in the past few weeks that may be of use to you and your facility, and at least need to be pointed out.