Hazardous Materials: Hazmat Operations
12 questions in the bank cover this topic. Everything below is drawn from the sources those questions cite.
Sources: 49 CFR 392.10, 49 CFR 393.95, 49 CFR 397.11, 49 CFR 397.13, 49 CFR 397.15, 49 CFR 397.17, 49 CFR 397.19, 49 CFR 397.5, 49 CFR 397.7
What you need to know
397.5(d)(1) gives two ways to attend: on the vehicle, awake and out of the sleeper berth, or within 100 feet with the vehicle in unobstructed view.
Sleeping in the berth specifically does not count.
A motor vehicle is attended when the person in charge of the vehicle is on the vehicle, awake, and not in a sleeper berth, or is within 100 feet of the vehicle and has it within his/her unobstructed field of view
49 CFR 397.5
397.7(a)(3) sets 300 feet from a bridge, tunnel, dwelling or place where people work, congregate or assemble, with a narrow exception for brief operationally necessary stops.
None of the figures offered is the one the rule gives.
Within 300 feet of a bridge, tunnel, dwelling, or place where people work, congregate, or assemble, except for brief periods when the necessities of operation require the vehicle to be parked and make it impracticable to park the vehicle in any other place
49 CFR 397.7
397.7(a)(1) prohibits parking on or within 5 feet of the travelled portion.
The same 5-foot limit applies to other hazardous materials under 397.7(b), with a brief operational-necessity exception. None of the figures offered is the one the rule gives.
On or within 5 feet of the traveled portion of a public street or highway
49 CFR 397.7
397.13 prohibits smoking or carrying a lighted cigarette, cigar or pipe on or within 25 feet.
It applies to empty tank vehicles previously used for Class 3 or Division 2.1 materials as well. None of the figures offered is the one the rule gives.
No person may smoke or carry a lighted cigarette, cigar, or pipe on or within 25 feet of
49 CFR 397.13
397.15 sets exactly two conditions: the engine must not be operating, and a person must be in control of the fueling process at the point where the tank is filled.
At the point where the tank is being filled.
When a motor vehicle which contains hazardous materials is being fueled— (a) Its engine must not be operating; and (b) A person must be in control of the fueling process at the point where the fuel tank is filled
49 CFR 397.15
397.11(b) sets 300 feet.
397.11(a) separately prohibits operating such a vehicle near an open fire unless the driver has first ascertained it can pass safely without stopping. None of the figures offered is the one the rule gives.
A motor vehicle containing hazardous materials must not be parked within 300 feet of an open fire
49 CFR 397.11
397.17(a) requires examination at the start of each trip and every time the vehicle is parked.
This is stricter than the general Part 396 inspection duties. Both occasions, not just the pre-trip.
A driver must examine each tire on a motor vehicle at the beginning of each trip and each time the vehicle is parked
49 CFR 397.17
397.17(c) requires immediate removal and placement at a safe distance, and prohibits operating until the cause is corrected.
An overheated tire next to a hazmat load is an ignition source. You may not drive on until the cause has been corrected.
the driver shall immediately cause the overheated tire to be removed and placed at a safe distance from the vehicle. The driver shall not operate the vehicle until the cause of the overheating is corrected
49 CFR 397.17
392.10(a)(4) covers every cargo tank used for hazmat transportation whether loaded or empty.
Residue and vapour in an empty tank can be more dangerous than a full load.
Every cargo tank motor vehicle, whether loaded or empty, used for the transportation of any hazardous material as defined in the Hazardous Materials Regulations of the Department of Transportation, parts 107 through 180 of this title.
49 CFR 392.10
393.95(a)(1)(i) requires 10 B:C or more where the quantity requires placarding, against 5 B:C for a non-hazmat unit.
Double the rating for double the consequence. None of the figures offered is the one the rule gives.
A power unit that is used to transport hazardous materials in a quantity that requires placarding (See § 177.823 of this title) must be equipped with a fire extinguisher having an Underwriters' Laboratories rating of 10 B:C or more.
49 CFR 393.95
393.95(g) prohibits flame-producing signals on explosives carriers, on cargo tanks used for flammable gas or flammable liquid whether loaded or empty, and on vehicles using compressed gas as motor fuel.
Empty does not remove the restriction.
Fusees or any other signal produced by a flame shall not be carried on any commercial motor vehicle transporting Division 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 (explosives) hazardous materials; any cargo tank motor vehicle used for the transportation of Division 2.1 (flammable gas) or Class 3 (flammable liquid) hazardous materials whether loaded or empty
49 CFR 393.95
397.19(a) requires both a copy of the Part 397 rules and a document of procedures for accident or delay naming contacts, the nature of the explosives and the precautions for fires, accidents or leakage.
The driver must sign a receipt, kept for a year. The instructions must give contacts, the nature of the explosives and the precautions to take in an accident or delay.
A document containing instructions on procedures to be followed in the event of accident or delay. The documents must include the names and telephone numbers of persons (including representatives of carriers or shippers) to be contacted, the nature of the explosives being transported, and the precautions to be taken in emergencies such as fires, accidents, or leakages.
49 CFR 397.19
Check yourself
- What is counted as attending the vehicle?
- How far from a bridge, tunnel or dwelling must a vehicle carrying Division 1.1 explosives be parked?
- A vehicle carrying explosives may not be parked within what distance of the travelled portion of a public highway?
- How close to your vehicle carrying flammable or explosive material may someone smoke?
- What two conditions apply when you are fueling a vehicle containing hazardous materials?
- How far from an open fire must you park your hazmat vehicle?
- How often must a hazmat driver examine your tires?
- You find an overheated tire on a hazmat vehicle. What must you do?
- Your cargo tank is empty but was used for hazmat. Must you stop at a railroad crossing?
- What fire extinguisher rating must you carry on a placarded hazmat power unit?
- On which vehicle may you not carry fusees?
- What must the carrier give you transporting Division 1.1, 1.2 or 1.3 explosives?
Answers are in the practice test for this topic.