With either the proper shipping name or the identification number, emergency responders can determine the proper response actions to be taken.

Actions keyed by a given proper shipping name or UN identification number include fire fighting strategies, spill or leak confinement techniques, and first aid considerations. These actions are published in the U.S. Department of Transportation's Emergency Response Guidebook which is used by fire, law enforcement, and other emergency response organizations for dealing with all kinds of hazardous material emergencies.