General Knowledge: Hazardous Materials Awareness
10 questions in the bank cover this topic. Everything below is drawn from the sources those questions cite.
Sources: 49 CFR 383.111(a)(18), 49 CFR 392.10, 49 CFR 393.95, 49 CFR 397.11, 49 CFR 397.13, 49 CFR 397.15, 49 CFR 397.5, 49 CFR 397.7
What you need to know
383.111(a)(18) requires awareness of four things: what constitutes hazmat requiring an endorsement, the classes, labeling and placarding requirements, and the need for specialised training.
Detailed response procedures and segregation tables belong to the Hazmat endorsement test. It stops short of full emergency response procedures.
What constitutes hazardous material requiring an endorsement to transport
Classes of hazardous materials
Need for specialized training as a prerequisite to receiving the endorsement and transporting hazardous cargoes
49 CFR 383.111(a)(18)
393.95(a)(1)(i) requires a UL rating of 10 B:C or more for a power unit transporting hazmat in a quantity requiring placarding.
The 5 B:C option, or two of 4 B:C, applies to non-hazmat units under 393.95(a)(1)(ii).
A power unit that is used to transport hazardous materials in a quantity that requires placarding (See § 177.823 of this title) must be equipped with a fire extinguisher having an Underwriters' Laboratories rating of 10 B:C or more.
49 CFR 393.95
393.95(g) prohibits flame-producing devices on vehicles carrying Division 1.1, 1.2 or 1.3 explosives, on cargo tanks used for Division 2.1 flammable gas or Class 3 flammable liquid whether loaded or empty, and on vehicles using compressed gas as motor fuel.
The empty status does not remove the restriction.
Fusees or any other signal produced by a flame shall not be carried on any commercial motor vehicle transporting Division 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 (explosives) hazardous materials; any cargo tank motor vehicle used for the transportation of Division 2.1 (flammable gas) or Class 3 (flammable liquid) hazardous materials whether loaded or empty; or any commercial motor vehicle using compressed gas as a motor fuel.
49 CFR 393.95
392.10(a)(4) applies to every cargo tank motor vehicle used for hazmat transportation whether loaded or empty.
The stop requirement does not depend on the tank being loaded. The rule applies whether the cargo tank is loaded or empty.
Every cargo tank motor vehicle, whether loaded or empty, used for the transportation of any hazardous material as defined in the Hazardous Materials Regulations of the Department of Transportation, parts 107 through 180 of this title.
49 CFR 392.10
397.5(d)(1) defines attended two ways: on the vehicle, awake and not in a sleeper berth, or within 100 feet of the vehicle with it in an unobstructed field of view.
Sleeping in the berth does not count as attending. If aboard, the person must not be in a sleeper berth; if outside, the vehicle must be in unobstructed view.
A motor vehicle is attended when the person in charge of the vehicle is on the vehicle, awake, and not in a sleeper berth, or is within 100 feet of the vehicle and has it within his/her unobstructed field of view
49 CFR 397.5
397.7(a)(3) sets 300 feet from a bridge, tunnel, dwelling, or place where people work, congregate or assemble, with a narrow exception for brief periods where operational necessity makes parking elsewhere impracticable.
Within 300 feet of a bridge, tunnel, dwelling, or place where people work, congregate, or assemble, except for brief periods when the necessities of operation require the vehicle to be parked and make it impracticable to park the vehicle in any other place
49 CFR 397.7
397.7(b) prohibits parking on or within five feet of the travelled portion of a public street or highway, with a brief operational-necessity exception.
The 300-foot rule in 397.7(a)(3) applies only to Division 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3 explosives. A brief stop is allowed where it is operationally necessary.
A motor vehicle which contains hazardous materials other than Division 1.1, 1.2, or 1.3 materials must not be parked on or within five feet of the traveled portion of public street or highway except for brief periods when the necessities of operation require
49 CFR 397.7
397.13 prohibits smoking or carrying a lighted cigarette, cigar or pipe on or within 25 feet of such a vehicle.
It applies to empty tank vehicles previously used for Class 3 or Division 2.1 materials as well. None of the figures offered is the one the rule gives.
No person may smoke or carry a lighted cigarette, cigar, or pipe on or within 25 feet of
49 CFR 397.13
397.15 sets exactly two conditions: the engine must not be operating, and a person must be in control of the fueling process at the point where the fuel tank is filled.
The person must be at the point where the tank is being filled.
When a motor vehicle which contains hazardous materials is being fueled— (a) Its engine must not be operating; and (b) A person must be in control of the fueling process at the point where the fuel tank is filled
49 CFR 397.15
397.11(b) sets 300 feet.
Separately, 397.11(a) prohibits operating such a vehicle near an open fire unless the driver has first ascertained that the vehicle can safely pass without stopping. None of the figures offered is the one the rule gives.
A motor vehicle containing hazardous materials must not be parked within 300 feet of an open fire
49 CFR 397.11
Check yourself
- What is within the scope of hazardous materials awareness on the General Knowledge test?
- What is the minimum fire extinguisher rating on a placarded power unit?
- On which vehicle may you not carry fusees or other flame-producing signals?
- What is required of an empty hazmat cargo tank at a railroad grade crossing?
- When is your vehicle carrying explosives considered attended?
- How far from a bridge, tunnel or dwelling must a vehicle carrying Division 1.1, 1.2 or 1.3 explosives be parked?
- What parking restriction applies to placarded materials other than Division 1.1, 1.2 or 1.3?
- How close to a vehicle containing flammable or explosive materials may a person smoke?
- What two conditions apply when fueling a vehicle containing hazardous materials?
- How far from an open fire must a vehicle containing hazardous materials be parked?
Answers are in the practice test for this topic.