of handling gasoline and fuel oils, simply because of the frequency that they 

 meet them. Most, however, have little or no knowledge of what to do when they 

 encounter the vast range of hazardous materials that are shipped by our 

 industries. This is particularly true of the smaller volunteer fire depart- 

 ments, although it does pertain frequently to the larger professional depart- 

 ments as well. They generally are not prepared to identify the materials 

 involved, and rarely have training in how to handle these materials once they 

 are leaking or burning. Too often, they simply apply water. 



The same problem applies to carriers, although some tank truck drivers 

 on steady chemical or petroleum runs may be aware of the nature of their 

 cargo and possibly have some guidance as to handling of the products. In 

 general, carrier personnel are completely untrained in handling leaks or fires 

 involving the products they are carrying. 



Recognizing these problems, the Chemical Manufacturers Association (CMA) 

 (formerly Manufacturing Chemists Association) in 1964 created the first Chem- 

 Cards which were oriented to assisting carriers and emergency services in the 

 handling of specific products. There were about 90 of these cards prepared. 

 The format was the forerunner of many transportation guides currently in use. 

 In the 1 960 ' s , CMA studied the needs for communications to emergency services 

 and carriers, and made recommendations to the Department of Transportation 

 (DOT) regarding a hazard information system. During this study, the concept 

 of emergency telephone communications was reviewed; however, the idea had 

 not reached its time, and nothing further was done with it until later. 

 Following the Dunreath, Indiana derailment of 1968, the National Transporta- 

 tion Safety Board recommended that DOT establish a communications system 

 whereby the emergency services could get advice and guidance on the handling 

 of hazardous materials. At that time, the DOT approached CMA to see what the 

 chemical industry could do in this regard. A study group was formed. The 

 outcome of this was the recommendation to the Board of Directors that a cen- 

 ter be established in Washington to perform this function. Chemtrec was 

 approved in June 1970 and became operational on 5 September 1971. It is 

 financed entirely by the CMA. Its services are available at no charge to 

 carriers, emergency services, and others who have need. Publicity on the 

 operation has been restricted to those who have need to know, and has been 

 concentrated in the emergency services, carriers, and the chemical and 

 associated industries. 



Chemtrec is based on a two-step concept. First, on receipt of informa- 

 tion regarding a chemical involved in an incident, the communicator transmits 

 immediate information of the Chem-Card level from prewritten files. This 

 file information is provided by the shippers of the materials. This is short, 

 concise information on the nature of the product, and its hazards, and 

 guidance for actions in case of spill, leak, fire, or exposure. 



Once this information has been transmitted, the communicator then takes 

 immediate steps to determine and make contact with the shipper, or other ex- 

 pertise, who then provides additional advice, and if necessary, onscene 



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