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Ok.

They are in 9 main classes of material such as Class 1 for explosives or Class 7 for Radioactive

The 4 digit number denotes the exact material that is on board. You might discover that a tanker truck might be hauling gasoline or desiel fuel by finding out the 4 digit numbers.

The colors of the diamonds as authorized in the Haz-mat class table refer specifically to the TYPE of hazard.

Example Red means Flammable, Orange means explosive etc...

Every driver is issued a response book. In the book are procedures to be followed such as Evacuation, Type of fire fighting or action to be taken.

If a rail car carrying artillery shells, for example, derails in my town and catches fire (Not likely but bear with me) You would need to evacuate ALL people starting with "Line of Sight" and up to 5 miles radius.

That means my entire town would need to speedily get out and that can be rough.

The many subclasses and charts also explains how to placard a load, denies loading of certain products with each other such as Chlorine and Alcohol (+ Something else = Boom)

Fire Departments recieve extensive training and all responders usually have some kind of action ready for hazmat.

Industrial Buildings show a diamond with 4 colors

Blue
Red
Yellow
Clear

On each of these colors is fixed a number from one to four (1 - 4)

By simply looking at the large diamond on the exterior of the building containing hazmat you can understand the level of danger associated with the product.

Extreme rules apply to those who haul or are involved with Hazmat. For example.. if there is a leak of Inhalation Hazard you would be required to clear everyone out of the area downwind up to a distance set in the book.

If anyone behind me trips and falls while fleeing I cannot go back to help. It might result in two casulties not just one. That is just one example.

I hope this helps.

Flamable material placards