General Information - Hazardous Material File (MQ/MR)

Hazardous Material File (MQ/MR)

The purpose of this application is to provide Nlets users with on-line information on hazardous materials.

Inquiry and Response

The inquiry will be made using a 4 to 6 character internationally recognized code called a "UN number" (United Nations number). This number, normally found on a placard on the vehicle, will relate directly to the hazardous material therein.

When conducting an MQ transaction you will either run an MQ search by UN number or by NAME. A search by UN number will provide you results from the Material Safety Data Sheet or MSDS that include the name, description, and recommended safety actions. This is accomplished by simply inputting the exact United Nations number (4-6 characters long) and submitting in the “HazardousMaterialCode” element of the query.

A search by NAME will provide you results that include the full chemical name and the UN number but will not provide you any additional information. To access the information from the MSDS, you will need to run an additional search by UN number. Therefore, if you want a complete chemical detail when searching by NAME then, you will run need to run two searches for a chemical when querying by name. First, the MQ by Name where you will be able to obtain the UN number and second, the MQ by UN where you will be able to submit the newly obtained chemical UN number and retrieve a full chemical description.

Note: You can conduct a search by name using partial spelling and/or the inclusion of the % symbol as a wild card. For example, a search for simply ‘CAL’ will return an exhaustive list of every single chemical which contains those consecutive letters. If you include the % wild card, you can retrieve more exact results. For example, a search ‘CAL%HYDRO’ will return a much shorter list with results such as CALCIUM HYDROSULFITE. The more specific you can be on the name, the shorter and closely related the results list will be.

The response will indicate a variety of information including:

Chemical name
Personal safety precautions
General handling procedures
Disposal methods
Degree of hazard to public health and
Availability of countermeasure materials.
Administering First Aid

The database will be housed and maintained by the Nlets system in Phoenix, Arizona. The base file and updates will be provided to Nlets by the Department of Transportation and, with a few minor exceptions, will mirror the Department of Transportation's (DOT) Emergency Response Guide.

The National Response Center is staffed 24/7/365 by qualified people who can assist you with hazardous materials. Each guide delivered by Nlets will refer to the National Response Center which can be reached by calling 800-424-8802.

Inquiry formats and examples of responses may be found below.

XML Tag: Legacy Prefix: Field Size: Data Requirements: Explanation:

j5:HazardousMaterialCode

UNN/ 4 - 6 String UN number (Legacy: no period)

n2-mr:ChemicalNameText

NAM/ 1 - 50 String Chemical Name. Can use a percent symbol as a wildcard Note: Destination address MUST ALWAYS BE 2-character code "NL".
Queries by rail car ID are currently not supported.

Hazardous Materials Information Guide

The following information is provided by Nlets from data supplied by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Hazardous Materials Transportation.

ERG GUIDE NUMBER: 27 FIRE OR EXPLOSION:

FLAMMABLE/COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL MAY BE IGNITED BY HEAT, SPARKS OR FLAMES.
VAPORS MAY TRAVEL TO A SOURCE OF IGNITION AND FLASH BACK.
CONTAINER MAY EXPLODE IN HEAT OF FIRE.
VAPOR EXPLOSION HAZARD INDOORS, OUTDOORS OR IN SEWERS.
RUNOFF TO SEWER MAY CREATE FIRE OR EXPLOSION HAZARD.

HEALTH HAZARDS:

MAY BE POISONOUS IF INHALED OR ABSORBED THROUGH SKIN.
VAPORS MAY CAUSE DIZZINESS OR SUFFOCATION.
CONTACT MAY IRRITATE OR BURN SKIN AND EYES.
FIRE MAY PRODUCE IRRITATING OR POISONOUS GASES.
RUNOFF FROM FIRE CONTROL OR DILUTION WATER MAY CAUSE POLLUTION.

EMERGENCY ACTION:

KEEP UNNECESSARY PEOPLE AWAY:
ISOLATE HAZARD AREA AND DENY ENTRY.
STAY UPWIND:
KEEP OUT OF LOW AREAS.
WEAR SELF-CONTAINED (POSITIVE PRESSURE IF AVAILABLE) BREATHING
APPARATUS AND FULL PROTECTIVE CLOTHING.
ISOLATE FOR 1/2 MILE IN ALL DIRECTIONS IF TANK CAR OR TRUCK IS INVOLVED IN FIRE.
FOR EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE CALL CHEMTREC (800) 424-9300.
IF WATER POLLUTION OCCURS, NOTIFY APPROPRIATE AUTHORITIES.

FIRE:

SMALL FIRES: DRY CHEMICAL, CO2, WATER SPRAY OR FOAM.
LARGE FIRES: WATER SPRAY, FOG OR FOAM.
MOVE CONTAINER FROM FIRE AREA IF YOU CAN DO IT WITHOUT RISK.
COOL CONTAINERS THAT ARE EXPOSED TO FLAMES WITH WATER FROM THE SIDE
UNTIL WELL AFTER FIRE IS OUT.
FOR MASSIVE FIRE IN CARGO AREA, USE UNMANNED HOSE HOLDER OR MONITOR NOZZLES;
IF THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE, WITHDRAW FROM AREA AND LET FIRE BURN.
WITHDRAW IMMEDIATELY IN CASE OF RISING SOUND FROM VENTING SAFETY DEVICE OR
ANY DISCOLORATION OF TANK DUE TO FIRE.

SPILL OR LEAK:

SHUT OFF IGNITION SOURCES: NO FLARES, SMOKING OR FLAMES IN HAZARD AREA.
STOP LEAK IF YOU CAN DO IT WITHOUT RISK.
USE WATER SPRAY TO REDUCE VAPORS.
SMALL SPILLS: TAKE UP WITH SAND OR OTHER NONCOMBUS??TIBLE ABSORBENT
MATERIAL AND PLACE INTO CONTAINERS FOR LATER DISPOSAL.
LARGE SPILLS: DIKE FAR AHEAD OF SPILL FOR LATER DISPOSAL.

FIRST AID:

MOVE VICTIM TO FRESH AIR: CALL EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE.
IF NOT BREATHING, GIVE ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION.
IF BREATHING IS DIFFICULT, GIVE OXYGEN.
IN CASE OF CONTACT WITH MATERIAL, IMMEDIATELY FLUSH EYES WITH RUNNING
WATER FOR AT LEAST 15 MINUTES. WASH SKIN WITH SOAP AND WATER.
REMOVE AND ISOLATE CONTAMINATED CLOTHING AND SHOES AT THE SITE.