EmS Guide and MFAG: Responding to Emergencies Involving Dangerous Goods
The EmS Guide provides fire and spillage response procedures for every entry in the IMDG Code, while the MFAG guides medical first aid in the event of exposure to dangerous substances: both are mandatory on board and updated with the 2024 edition.
Operational Explanation
The EmS Guide (Emergency Response Procedures for Ships Carrying Dangerous Goods) provides, for every entry in the IMDG Code, the pair of emergency schedules (Fire Schedule and Spillage Schedule) to be applied in the event of a fire or spillage involving that specific substance. The MFAG (Medical First Aid Guide) is instead the IMO/WHO/ILO reference tool for medical first aid in the event of exposure, poisoning or contact with the dangerous substances governed by the IMDG Code.
The 2024 edition of the Supplement to the IMDG Code includes the revised EmS Guide aligned with Amendment 42-24, incorporating the new entries for lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries and battery-powered vehicles.
Regulatory Reference
The IMDG Code requires the updated EmS Guide and MFAG to be carried on board as part of the mandatory documentation for the carriage of dangerous goods. The ISM Code requires these procedures to be integrated into the company's emergency management plan (contingency plan).
Scope of Application
Every ship carrying dangerous goods in packaged form, with the Master and watchkeeping officers responsible for being able to quickly identify the applicable EmS/MFAG schedule for a specific substance during a real emergency.
Procedure / How to Complete It
- Check that the edition of the EmS Guide and MFAG on board is consistent with the edition of the IMDG Code applied to the cargo.
- In the event of an incident, quickly identify the UN number and class of the substance involved from the transport documentation.
- Consult the specific EmS schedule (Fire Schedule for fire, Spillage Schedule for spillage) for the immediate actions to be taken.
- In the event of exposure or poisoning of personnel, consult the MFAG for first-aid guidance specific to the substance involved.
- Periodically integrate realistic EmS/MFAG scenarios into emergency drills, rather than limiting drills to generic fire scenarios.
Practical Example
Example: during a spillage of a Class 8 corrosive substance, the watchkeeping officer identifies the UN number from the transport documentation, consults the corresponding EmS Spillage Schedule for containment actions, and at the same time applies the MFAG guidance for treating any skin exposure of the personnel involved.
Real Cases
Common Mistakes Mistake Library
| Mistake | Consequence | How to avoid it |
|---|---|---|
| EmS Guide or MFAG on board in an edition not consistent with the IMDG edition applied to the cargo | Absence of emergency procedures for the new entries introduced by the latest amendment | Check and update the EmS Guide and MFAG with every new amendment to the IMDG Code |
| Personnel not trained to quickly identify the applicable EmS schedule during a real emergency | Delay in the appropriate response during the critical first minutes of the emergency | Include practical EmS/MFAG consultation exercises in periodic drills, not just classroom theory |
| Generic firefighting procedures applied without consulting the substance-specific EmS schedule | Actions that may be ineffective or counterproductive for substances with specific behaviour | Always consult the specific EmS schedule before acting, when safety conditions allow |
PSC Observations
Operational Tips
- Always keep a paper copy or an easily accessible copy of the EmS Guide and MFAG, not only a digital format that may not be consultable in an emergency.
- Train the crew to search by UN number, not just by the substance's trade name: the UN number is the unique reference in the EmS Guide.
- Update the SMS contingency plan procedures with every revision of the EmS Guide, rather than leaving them unchanged from one amendment to the next.
Checklist
- EmS Guide and MFAG on board in the edition consistent with the applied IMDG Code
- Personnel trained in quick searches by UN number
- Realistic EmS/MFAG scenarios included in periodic drills
- SMS contingency plan updated in line with the latest EmS revision
- Post-emergency debrief procedure that checks the adequacy of the schedules applied