Emergency Response - American Chemistry Council

A Commitment to Accident Prevention

Diisocyanate manufacturers have been producing and transporting diisocyanates, like ADI, to their customers for many years. ADI Panel members stress safe material handling, whether at their own sites or working with customers. ADI producers are also committed to accident prevention and emergency preparedness.

Effective emergency response to an accident begins with planning and preparation. CHEMTREC^® is an around-the-clock service available to fire fighters, law enforcement officials and other emergency responders who need immediate critical response information for emergency incidents involving chemicals, hazardous materials and dangerous goods.

In addition, CHEMTREC is a sponsor of TRANSCAER^® (Transportation Community Awareness and Emergency Response), a voluntary outreach effort in the United States that focuses on assisting communities in preparing for and responding to a possible hazardous material transportation incident. TRANSCAER^® members consist of volunteer representatives from the chemical manufacturing, transportation, distributor, and emergency response industries, as well as the government.

How Does HDI, IPDI, or HMDI React If Spilled?

HDI, IPDI, or HDMI are routinely transported in a variety of dedicated containers ranging from ships' tanks to plastic drums under applicable transportation safety laws and regulations. In the unlikely event of a spill to the aquatic or soil environments, HDI, IPDI, or HMDI reacts with water to form predominantly insoluble, inert polyureas and release carbon dioxide. Of course, if a spill occurs, refer to the applicable U.S. environmental laws and the manufacturer’s Safety Data Sheet (SDS).

What If an Accident involving HDI, IPDI, or HMDI Occurs?

In the unlikely event of an accident involving HDI, IPDI, or HMDI, such as a spill, emission, or fire, diisocyanates producers are committed to handling the emergency in a manner that minimizes any potential impact to people or the environment. Like other chemicals, incidents involving HDI, IPDI, or HMDI require immediate response by trained, knowledgeable personnel. Leave the area immediately and notify the appropriate emergency response personnel. Those persons dealing with emergencies involving HDI, IPDI, or HMDI are required by OSHA to wear personal protective equipment (PPE). The SDS provides information about emergency response procedures. Manage accidents and report an accident in accordance with all local, state and federal regulations.

An additional source of information is also CHEMTREC, which can be reached at 1-800-424-9300. CHEMTREC operators are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.