CHEMTREC: Are You Connected?


first_responderSource: CHEMTREC.com Homepage

CHEMTREC (Chemical Transportation Emergency Center) was established in 1971 by the chemical industry as a public service hotline for emergency responders, such as fire fighters and law enforcement, to obtain information and assistance for emergency incidents involving chemicals and hazardous materials.

Registration with CHEMTREC helps assist shippers of hazardous materials to comply with the U.S. Department of Transportation hazardous materials regulation 49 CFR § 172.604, which requires hazmat shippers to provide a 24-hour emergency telephone number on shipping documents for use in the event of an emergency involving hazardous materials.

What is CHEMTREC, view an overview video HERE.

CHEMTREC services include a broad range of critical resources that can help emergency responders mitigate incidents involving hazardous materials, such as:

  • A round-the-clock communications center staffed by trained and experienced emergency specialists;
  • Immediate access to thousands of chemical product specialists and hazardous materials experts through CHEMTREC’s database of over 30,000 manufacturers, shippers, carriers, public organizations and private resources;
  • A state-of-the-art telecommunications system that supports the virtual emergency response team, seamlessly linking on-scene responders with chemical experts, transportation companies, medical experts, and clean-up efforts;
  • An expansive electronic library of over 4 million Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS);
  • An unmatched database of medical experts and chemical toxicologists who provide advice and emergency medical treatment assistance to on-scene medical professionals treating victims of product exposure;
  • Translation capabilities for more than 170 languages in the event of an emergency involving non-English speaking stakeholders; and
  • All the contacts, access and advantages that come with being a division of the American Chemistry Council.

CHEMTREC’s 24-hour Communications Center is located in Arlington, VA (Washington, DC metropolitan area).