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OSHA Hazard Communication Letters of Interpretation

Emergency response in the trucking industry

Issued
Record type
Interpretation
Historical standard
1910.1200, 1987 expanded rule (PDF)
Current standard
HCS 2024, as amended

ILPI assessment: Unknown spill hazards require qualified emergency planning and response

This letter's central HazCom principle remains useful: workers need effective hazard information, while an unknown potentially dangerous release cannot simply be assigned to an unprepared driver. The obsolete 1987 HCS label summary is not a complete modern label specification.

Apply shipped-container label elements and Appendix C, sealed-container duties, current information and training requirements and current emergency planning/response training. The evacuation-only exception requires a compliant emergency action plan and no employee assistance in handling the emergency. For unknown inhalation hazards, use response respiratory protection with current respiratory-protection requirements; shipping papers alone do not establish a safe entry atmosphere. OSHA marks its source corrected January 17, 2003.

Last reviewed: .

Related interpretations
About this ILPI assessment

This comparison with current requirements is not a finding that OSHA has formally withdrawn this letter. This assessment reflects editorial judgment informed by human review and AI assistance. It is an opinion, may contain errors or omissions, and is not an official OSHA determination. For guidance on how OSHA requirements apply to your circumstances, contact your local OSHA office.

OSHA's notice about interpretation letters

The following notice is published on OSHA's interpretation pages; it is general guidance, not a letter-specific withdrawal notice.

OSHA requirements are set by statute, standards and regulations. Our interpretation letters explain these requirements and how they apply to particular circumstances, but they cannot create additional employer obligations. This letter constitutes OSHA's interpretation of the requirements discussed. Note that our enforcement guidance may be affected by changes to OSHA rules. Also, from time to time we update our guidance in response to new information. To keep apprised of such developments, you can consult OSHA's website at https://www.osha.gov.

Source: OSHA's original letter page.

April 3, 1991

MEMORANDUM FOR: JAMES W. STANLEY, REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR

THROUGH: LEO CAREY, DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF FIELD PROGRAMS

FROM: PATRICIA K. CLARK, DIRECTOR, DIRECTORATE OF COMPLIANCE PROGRAMS

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SUBJECT: Emergency Response in the Trucking Industry: 1910.1200 [ILPI: Original HCS 1987 context (PDF) · Current HCS] vs. 1910.120 [ILPI: Original 1989 HAZWOPER context (PDF) · Current HAZWOPER]

This is in response to your inquiry concerning the application of 29 CFR 1910.120 [ILPI: Original 1989 HAZWOPER context (PDF) · Current HAZWOPER] and 29 CFR 1910.1200 [ILPI: Original HCS 1987 context (PDF) · Current HCS] at trucking terminals. For the sake of clarity, we are restating your questions before the answers.

  1. Question: A trucker opens the back of the truck at the trucking terminal to find a container split open with an unknown noxious chemical located on the truck bed. This person is told to go in and clean up the material. The company has no way to characterize the exposure. What level of personal protective equipment should be required and which standards apply.

    Answer: Based on the limited information you presented several standards could be applicable. The following are some examples:

    1. Hazard Communication Standard (HCS), 29 CFR 1910.1200 [ILPI: Original HCS 1987 context (PDF) · Current HCS]:

      1. Each container of hazardous chemicals must be labeled, tagged or marked with the identity of the hazardous chemical, an appropriate hazard warning, and the name and address of the chemical manufacturer, importer, or other responsible party. If there is time, and based on the information on the label, the chemical manufacturer or "other responsible party" could be contacted to determine emergency control measures and to estimate "worst-case exposures."
      2. A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) must accompany each initial shipment of hazardous chemical and must be readily accessible to employees handling the chemical. MSDSs are also sent with the product whenever new information on the chemical necessitates the updating of the MSDS. The Department of Transportation (DOT), however, requires information on the bill of lading for all shipments of hazardous cargo which all drivers must carry. The company could characterize the exposure by the DOT-required information from the driver's bill of lading papers.
      3. If there is no potential for an emergency, then training under HCS [ILPI: Original HCS 1987 context (PDF) · Current HCS] must include if applicable leak and spill cleanup procedures including appropriate PPE, decontamination procedures and safety precautions, and other training elements required under the HCS standard.
    2. Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response:
      If there is an emergency, or if a trained person capable of determining whether a situation is an emergency or has the potential to be an emergency is not available, (i.e., if "worst-case exposures" have not been estimated) then the situation needs to be treated as an emergency and the provisions of 1910.120 [ILPI: Original 1989 HAZWOPER context (PDF) · Current HAZWOPER] apply as set forth below.

      [ILPI note: At issuance: 1910.1200, 1987 expanded rule (PDF). Apply current emergency response and respiratory protection. A label or shipping-paper description alone does not establish safe entry into an unknown release. Incidental cleanup still requires task-appropriate training.]

      1. Prior to the commencement of emergency response procedures, an emergency response plan must be developed and implemented (1910.120(q)(1) [ILPI: Original 1989 HAZWOPER context (PDF) · Current HAZWOPER]).
      2. If the employer elects to respond himself, the company needs to have someone on hand at each shift who can provide direction with respect to safe response operations for each emergency situation (29 CFR 1910.120(q)(3)(vii) [ILPI: Original 1989 HAZWOPER context (PDF) · Current HAZWOPER]).
      3. Employees engaged in responding to spills of unknown chemicals presenting an inhalation hazard or potential inhalation hazard must wear the level of respiratory protection which will protect against the worst case possible scenario. Most of the time positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus will be initially required until such time monitoring data indicates otherwise (see 29 CFR 1910.120(q)(3)(iv) [ILPI: Original 1989 HAZWOPER context (PDF) · Current HAZWOPER]).
      4. The training under 29 CFR 1910.120(q)(6) [ILPI: Original 1989 HAZWOPER context (PDF) · Current HAZWOPER] depends on the duties and functions to be performed by the truck driver. If the truck driver is expected to stop dangerous leaks and clean up the spills then the training at the hazardous materials technician or hazardous materials specialist level is appropriate.
  2. Question: Does a freight company have the responsibility of training its employees to be ready to clean up or to respond to an emergency caused by the opening of a package or container improperly labelled by a customer?
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    Answer: If a freight company has the potential for receiving hazardous substances in a form, amount, or manner that has a potential for causing an emergency situation then the company falls under the scope of 29 CFR 1910.120(q) [ILPI: Original 1989 HAZWOPER context (PDF) · Current HAZWOPER]. The employer can elect to evacuate their employees from the danger area when an emergency occurs and have an emergency action plan in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.38(a) (see 1910.120(q)(1) [ILPI: Original 1989 HAZWOPER context (PDF) · Current HAZWOPER]). If the employer takes a response role then an emergency response plan must be developed. This plan must address, among other elements, personnel roles, lines of authority, training, and communication. The employer has several options on the structure of the emergency response organization. For example, the employer could train all receivers at the first responder awareness level and have a response team that would be called in to respond to emergencies. The receivers could also be trained under the HCS [ILPI: Original HCS 1987 context (PDF) · Current HCS] to clean up minor spills and leaks.

  3. Question: If 1910.1200(h) [ILPI: Original HCS 1987 context (PDF) · Current HCS] is cited for training, it requires retraining "whenever a new hazard is introduced into their work area". This could be a daily event in a trucking terminal. Is there a point at which we should require these companies train under both 1910.120 [ILPI: Original 1989 HAZWOPER context (PDF) · Current HAZWOPER] and 1910.1200 [ILPI: Original HCS 1987 context (PDF) · Current HCS]? How strict should we interpret this requirement?

    Answer: As you are aware, under the HCS [ILPI: Original HCS 1987 context (PDF) · Current HCS] if a new chemical is brought into the workplace, and it has hazards similar to existing chemicals for which training has already been conducted, then no new training is required. (See page A-34 of OSHA Instruction CPL 2-2.38C ILPI note: Original: CPL 2-2.38C (1990). Current: HCS inspection guidance..) If this question is a follow-up to question 2 pertaining to unknown hazards, then the answer depends on what role the employer wants the employees to take during a potential emergency. (Answer to question 2 expands on this.)

The original official public domain version of this document is available from OSHA at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/1991-04-03-0.