Shippers of radioactive materials display a placard that

• A. Displays a number, the higher the number the more radiation is emitted.
• B. Has a red and white striped background.
• C. Lists the number for CHEMTREC.
• D. Describes the level of personal protective equipment required to handle the materials.

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that radioactive material placards communicate how intense the radiation is by displaying a numeric value. That number indicates the level of radioactivity being emitted, so a higher value means more radiation and a greater hazard. The placard’s yellow-and-white appearance with the radiation trefoil identifies it as radioactive, but the important detail for assessing risk is the numeric indicator of radiation level. Other options don’t fit because red-and-white stripes are not used for radioactive placards, CHEMTREC contact numbers aren’t shown on the placard itself, and PPE requirements come from the hazard assessment and other documentation, not from the placard alone.