Chapter 4 of 420% of exam

Emergency Response and Security

Even with careful preparation, leaks, spills, fires, and security threats can happen. This chapter explains how to protect yourself and the public, when to fight a fire, how to report a release, and what security measures carriers and drivers must follow. Your calm, correct response can prevent an incident from becoming a disaster.

Responding to Leaks and Spills

At any hazmat incident, your first job is to protect yourself and others, not to clean up the material. Keep people away, position yourself safely, and provide responders with the information from your shipping papers. Never attempt cleanup beyond your training and equipment.

Protect people first
Keep everyone away from the area and stay upwind and uphill of the release.
Do not move a leaking vehicle
Move it only as far as safety requires; never drive on to get help.
Provide information
Give responders the material identity, ID number, and details from the shipping papers.
Warn traffic
Set out reflective triangles or warning devices so vehicles do not drive into the danger zone.

Fires Involving Hazardous Materials

A hazmat fire is extremely dangerous, and a driver's extinguisher is only for small fires caught early. Once the cargo is involved, keep back and let trained responders handle it. Knowing the limits of your equipment keeps you alive.

Small fires only
Use your extinguisher only on small fires, like a tire or engine fire, before they reach the cargo.
Do not fight cargo fires
If flammable or reactive cargo is burning, keep back and wait for trained responders.
Move to safety if possible
If safe, move the vehicle away from buildings and people, then keep everyone back and call for help.
Identify the hazard
Tell the fire department which hazardous materials are involved so they respond correctly.

Reporting and Notification

Releases of reportable quantities must be reported promptly to the proper authorities. Reporting allows a professional cleanup and protects public health. The Emergency Response Guidebook helps set safe isolation and evacuation distances.

Report reportable quantities
Notify the National Response Center and local authorities when an RQ of a hazardous substance is released.
Carrier responsibility
The carrier is responsible for making the required notifications about a release.
Use the ERG distances
Follow the guidebook's initial isolation and protective action distances to keep people safe.
Leave papers for responders
If you must leave the scene, leave shipping papers on the seat or in the door pouch.

Security Awareness and Plans

Hazardous materials can be targets for theft or misuse, so carriers of certain materials must have security plans and train their drivers. En route, drivers reduce risk by staying alert, keeping the load attended or secured, and not advertising the cargo. Security is now a core part of hazmat driving.

Security plan
Carriers of certain materials must have a plan covering personnel, access, and en route security.
Security training
Drivers must receive security awareness training and instruction on the company's security plan.
En route vigilance
Stay alert, avoid predictable routines, keep the vehicle attended or locked, and do not advertise the cargo.
Report suspicious activity
Report anything suspicious to authorities to help prevent theft or tampering.
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Last updated: July 2026

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