Hazardous Materials Hotline©
November 19, 2025
Request for Policy or SOGs
The Interagency Board is looking for Standard Operating Guidelines or Policies, from law enforcement and fire departments, related to response to Lithium-Ion battery or electric vehicle battery fires. Anyone who can share, is asked to send copies to secretary@interagencyboard.org.
Discussion: The IAB is looking to identify best practices for response and making them available for responders.
CGA Handbook On-Line
The Compressed Gas Association’s Compressed Gas Handbook is available online. The handbook provides monographs of 70 different compressed gases. The monographs provide chemical and physical properties, pressure gradients, and other information that can assist with emergency planning and response.
Discussion: Industry groups often make information available that can be utilized for emergency planning and response.
CNG Response
The Transport Project has released a job aid for response to compressed natural gas vehicles.
Discussion: With the expansion of alternative fuels, responders are confronted with new challenges. Continuing training and the use of job aids improve the response to these incidents.
NTSB Releases Video of Findings – FSK Bridge Collapse
The National Transportation Safety Board has released a video addressing the findings of the MV Dali Incident. The incident resulted in the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, impacting commerce throughout the Mid-Atlantic.
Discussion: The findings identified that the incident was directly related to a failure of a small electrical component. As discussed in Normal Accidents, significant incidents related to technology frequently result from cascading failures, each of which is individually minor but which compound to catastrophic failure.
TRANSCAER Magazine
TRANSCAER has released its annual magazine. The magazine provides information on a variety of topics, including information on highway containers, monitoring, and training.
Discussion: TRANSCAER provides support to emergency response and planners, training, and information exchange, enhancing safety and responder effectiveness.
Chemical Identification Technology Purchasing Guidance
The IAB has released a guidance document to assist organizations with assessing the need for and capabilities of Field Raman.
Discussion: The purchase of technologies for chemical identification requires appropriate assessment, capability and need assessment, and planning for equipment sustainment. This document provides guidance for organizations that are considering purchasing Field Raman.
Chemical of the Week
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About the Author:
Dave Donohue is a hazardous materials course developer, educator, and trainer with experience at the local, regional and national level. He is also a Master Exercise Practitioner, firefighter, and emergency manager.
