HEALTH
* Radiation presents minimal risk to transport workers, emergency response personnel, and the public during transportation accidents. Packaging durability increases as potential radiation and criticality hazards of the content increase. * Chemical hazard greatly exceeds radiation hazard. * Substance reacts with water and water vapor in air to form toxic and corrosive hydrogen fluoride gas and an extremely irritating and corrosive, white-colored, water-soluble residue. * If inhaled, may be fatal. * Direct contact causes burns to skin, eyes, and respiratory tract. * Low-level radioactive material; very low radiation hazard to people. * Runoff from control of cargo fire may cause low-level pollution.
FIRE OR EXPLOSION
* Substance does not burn. * Containers in protective overpacks (horizontal cylindrical shape with short legs for tie-downs), are identified with "AF" or "B(U)F" on shipping papers or by markings on the overpacks. They are designed and evaluated to withstand severe conditions including total engulfment in flames at temperatures of 800 degrees C (1475 degrees F). * Bare filled cylinders, identified with UN2978 as part of the marking, may rupture in heat of engulfing fire; bare empty (except for residue) cylinders will not rupture in fires. * The material may react violently with fuels. * Radioactivity does not change flammability or other properties of materials.
PUBLIC SAFETY
* CALL Emergency Response Telephone Number on Shipping Paper first. If Shipping Paper not available or no answer, refer to appropriate telephone number listed on the inside back cover. * Priorities for rescue, life-saving, first aid, and control of fire and other hazards are higher than the priority for measuring radiation levels. * Radiation Authority must be notified of accident conditions. Radiation Authority is usually responsible for decisions about radiological consequences and closure of emergencies. * Isolate spill or leak area immediately for at least 25 to 50 meters (80 to 160 feet) in all directions. * Stay upwind. * Keep unauthorized personnel away. * Detain or isolate uninjured persons or equipment suspected to be contaminated; delay decontamination and cleanup until instructions are received from Radiation Authority.
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
* Wear positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). * Wear chemical protective clothing which is specifically recommended by the manufacturer. It may provide little or no thermal protection. * Structural firefighters' protective clothing provides limited protection in fire situations ONLY; it is not effective in spill situations.
EVACUATION
Large Spill: Consider initial downwind evacuation for at least 100 meters (330 feet).
Fire: When a large quantity of this material is involved in a major fire, consider an initial evacuation distance of 300 meters (1000 feet) in all directions.
FIRE
* DO NOT USE WATER OR FOAM ON MATERIAL ITSELF. * Move containers from fire area if you can do it without risk.
Small Fires: Dry chemical or CO2.
Large Fires: * Water spray, fog or regular foam. * Cool containers with flooding quantities of water until well after fire is out. * If this is impossible, withdraw from area and let fire burn. * ALWAYS stay away from tanks engulfed in fire.
SPILL OR LEAK
* Do not touch damaged packages or spilled material. * Without fire or smoke, leak will be evident by visible and irritating vapors and residue forming at the point of release. * Use fine water spray to reduce vapors; do not put water directly on point of material release from container. * Residue buildup may self-seal small leaks. * Dike far ahead of spill to collect runoff water.
FIRST AID
* Medical problems take priority over radiological concerns. * Use first aid treatment according to the nature of the injury. * Do not delay care and transport of a seriously injured person. * Apply artificial respiration if victim is not breathing. * Administer oxygen if breathing is difficult. * In case of contact with substance, immediately flush skin or eyes with running water for at least 20 minutes. * Effects of exposure (inhalation, ingestion or skin contact) to substance may be delayed. * Injured persons contaminated by contact with released material are not a serious hazard to health care personnel, equipment or facilities. * Ensure that medical personnel are aware of the material(s) involved, take precautions to protect themselves and prevent spread of contamination.