Lesson 2: Hazardous Materials Classes and Divisions

The Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Hazard Classification System groups hazardous materials into nine classes. These classes assist responders in quickly identifying dangers, protocols, and recommendations for hazardous materials. Some of these classes are further separated into divisions for specific hazards within the class.

In this lesson, you will identify classes and divisions of hazardous materials.

Four hazardous materials placards from left, white diamond placard with skull and crossbones at top and the words Inhalation Hazard on it with the number 2 below. Next a red diamond placard with a flame at the top and the number 1863 with a white number 3 on the bottom; below an orange diamond placard with an image of an explosion at the top and the word explosives in the middle beneath that the numbers 1.1 and the letter B with the number 1 at the bottom; lastly a white diamond placard with a radioactive symbol on a yellow background at the top and the word radioactive in the middle with a black number 7 on the bottom.