Hazardous Materials Hotline©
September 6, 2025
NIOSH News
NIOSH has released a primer and technical assistance document for monitoring and documenting the
health and safety status of emergency personnel along with messaging guidance for hurricanes and
floods.
Discussion: NIOSH, along with many federal agencies, continues to be buffeted by changes, however it
continues to fulfill a critical mission in protecting the health and safety of response personnel.
USBTA Request for Information
The United States Bomb Technicians Association is requesting feedback (survey) from responders
regarding Lithium-Ion batteries.
Discussion: Lithium-Ion batteries challenges continue to expand with their deployment and are
requiring that EOD personnel adapt to new technologies as an emerging hazard.
Proposed Changes to Shipping Paper Requirements
The US Department of Transportations Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has
proposed , and is seeking comment on, changing the requirement for hard copy shipping documents to
electronic.
Discussion: Shipping papers are critical sources of information during an emergency response and
responders who do not have reliable access to electronic systems should be aware of the proposal.
Research and Reporting
Recent research reports and articles of interest include a review of Casualty Behavior and Mass
Decontamination, the frequency of train derailments involving hazardous materials, Handbook of
Lessons Learned from Chemical Incidents, a listing of publications from the recently closed USAF CSDS
Academic Repository, and an article on how AI is speeding up the ability to produce chemical weapons.
Discussion: Research continues to add information and context to emergency planning and response
and all emergency personnel should maintain awareness of the latest information and seek ways to
incorporate it into their mission.
NOAA Wildfire Prediction Tool
NOAA has announced the release of an experimental prediction tool that may be able to provide near
real-time wildfire risk.
Discussion: If successful, this tool can assist with short-term planning, resource deployment, and rapid
response to wildfire incidents.
NHTSA Standardized EV Response Guide Released
NHTSA has released standardized response guidance for responding to electric vehicles and electric
vehicle hybrids. The guidance is specific to each make of EV in the United States and includes
information on recognition, hazards, and emergency procedures.
Discussion: As electric vehicle use has increased, information regarding emergency response has been
limited. This guidance seeks to bridge some of the information gap, providing emergency responders
and trainers with information needed to respond safely and effectively while reducing risk.
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