'First responders arriving on scene need to know what kind of hazardous materials are present so they can protect themselves'
Railroads of all sizes in the U.S. must now let first responders know what hazardous chemicals are on a train almost immediately after a derailment.
This is essential so that they can look it up in the government's official guidebook and make sure they have the right protective gear and firefighting tools, said Tristan Brown, deputy administrator of the Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration agency, according to a report from The Canadian Press (CP).
The rule, proposed by the agency, came into effect on Monday.
Letting first responders know about hazardous chemicals contained in derailed trains is also essential to ensure public safety, especially in cases where an evacuation may be needed, said Brown.
“There are so many different types of hazardous materials being transported across the country on any given day — one in 10 goods that move across the United States — and each one poses unique risks and hazards, certainly to the folks who are running towards a fire,” Brown said in the CP report. “But certainly as well for anybody who may be living or working in that vicinity.”
The new rule applies to railroads of all sizes. Even those that only have one or two employees must now have a plan to get the crucial details of their cargo to the local fire department quickly, even if its as simple as having the fire chief's cell phone number at the ready. Railroads also must test their plan at least once a year.
“In a hazmat incident, firefighters and first responders arriving on scene need to know what kind of hazardous materials are present so they can protect themselves and their communities,” said Pete Buttigieg, U.S. transportation secretary, in the report.
Expansion of AskRail app
Regulators also want railroads to continue expanding access to the AskRail app – developed by the largest freight railroads about a decade ago – which enables firefighters to quickly look up the details of what each train carries.
Currently, not every firefighter has the app, and cell phones don't always have a signal strong enough to work in a disaster. Regulators want access to the app to be extended to 911 centers, so information reaches first responders sooner, according to the report.
The Association of American Railroads trade group estimates some 2.3 million first responders now have access to the information, according to the report.
