FRA Hazardous Materials Transportation 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A railroad employee discovers a leaking tank car of anhydrous ammonia. What is the FIRST action required under FRA/DOT incident response rules?
- Attempt to plug the leak using available materials
- Notify the emergency contact number on the shipping paper and isolate the area (Correct answer)
- Move the car to an industry siding away from populated areas
- Complete a Form FRA F 6180.1 before taking any other action
Correct answer: Notify the emergency contact number on the shipping paper and isolate the area
The immediate priority is to isolate the hazard and notify emergency responders via the 24-hour emergency contact number listed on the shipping paper.
Question 2: Which packing group designation indicates the HIGHEST degree of danger for a hazardous material?
- Packing Group I (Correct answer)
- Packing Group II
- Packing Group III
- Packing Group IV
Correct answer: Packing Group I
Packing Group I (PG I) designates materials presenting the greatest danger, requiring the most stringent packaging standards.
Question 3: Under 49 CFR Part 174, where must hazmat shipping papers be kept while a train is in motion?
- In the caboose or rear-end device
- In a holder or location readily accessible to the train crew in the locomotive cab (Correct answer)
- Faxed to the destination yard dispatcher before departure
- Stored in a sealed container in the lead locomotive's nose compartment
Correct answer: In a holder or location readily accessible to the train crew in the locomotive cab
Shipping papers must be immediately accessible to the train crew in the locomotive cab so they can be retrieved quickly during an emergency.
Question 4: What does the 'Z' suffix after a UN number on a shipping paper indicate?
- The material is radioactive
- The material is a marine pollutant (Correct answer)
- The material is an explosives stabilizer
- The shipment is moving under a special permit
Correct answer: The material is a marine pollutant
A 'Z' suffix (e.g., UN1234Z) is not standard; however, the marine pollutant designation (M) is a common modifier—but under DOT rules the 'RQ' prefix signals a reportable quantity, not 'Z'.
Question 5: Which federal agency has primary regulatory jurisdiction over hazardous materials transportation by rail in the United States?
- EPA
- OSHA
- PHMSA and FRA jointly (Correct answer)
- DHS
Correct answer: PHMSA and FRA jointly
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) sets hazmat transport regulations, while the FRA enforces railroad safety compliance.
Question 6: A train consists of 20 or more loaded tank cars of a single flammable liquid commodity. Under HM-251, what special operating requirement applies?
- The train must operate at night only
- The train is classified as a High-Hazard Flammable Train (HHFT) with speed restrictions and route analysis requirements (Correct answer)
- Each car must carry a dedicated conductor
- The train must bypass all urban areas via alternate routes
Correct answer: The train is classified as a High-Hazard Flammable Train (HHFT) with speed restrictions and route analysis requirements
HM-251 defines High-Hazard Flammable Trains (HHFTs) and imposes speed restrictions (typically 40–50 mph) and mandatory route analysis and selection requirements.
Question 7: What color and shape is the placard required for Division 2.3 (Poisonous Gas) materials?
- Orange diamond
- White diamond with black skull and crossbones (Correct answer)
- Green diamond
- Yellow diamond
Correct answer: White diamond with black skull and crossbones
The POISON GAS placard is a white diamond bearing the skull-and-crossbones symbol and the text 'POISON GAS' or 'TOXIC GAS'.
FRA Hazardous Materials Transportation 3
A railroad employee discovers a leaking tank car of anhydrous ammonia.
What is the FIRST action required under FRA/DOT incident response rules?