This guide contains information regarding the containment of a hazardous material that has escaped from its container. If a material can be contained, the impact on the environment and the threat it poses to responders and the general public is usually reduced. The techniques described in this guide are among those that may be used by emergency responders to lessen the impact of a discharge.

Emergency responders might include police, fire service personnel, government spill response personnel, industrial response personnel, or spill response contractors. In order to apply any of the techniques described in this guide, appropriate training is recommended.

1.1 This guide describes methods to contain the spread of hazardous materials that have been discharged into the environment. It is directed toward those emergency response personnel who have had adequate hazardous material response training.