A Simple Guide toA Simple Guide to

Hazardous Materials Hazardous Materials ResponseResponse

Let’s start with the Let’s start with the basics…basics…

Our Incident PrioritiesOur Incident Priorities

Life Safety firstLife Safety first

Incident Stabilization secondIncident Stabilization second

Property Conservation thirdProperty Conservation third

Eight easy steps to HM Eight easy steps to HM Incident ManagementIncident Management

IsolationIsolation NotificationNotification IdentificatioIdentificatio

nn ProtectionProtection

Spill ControlSpill Control Leak ControlLeak Control Fire ControlFire Control Recovery Recovery

and and TerminationTermination

What do you call an What do you call an Engine with 3 HM Techs Engine with 3 HM Techs initially arriving on an initially arriving on an incident?incident?

An Engine with three HM An Engine with three HM Operations level personnel…Operations level personnel…

Until you get the right Until you get the right level of CPE and decon level of CPE and decon on the scene…on the scene…

You’re stuck at the Operations You’re stuck at the Operations level!level!

But that’s OK…But that’s OK…

You can do a lot of good at You can do a lot of good at the Operations level!the Operations level!

Defensive Response Defensive Response Operations (HM Operations (HM Operations)Operations) IsolationIsolation NotificationNotification IdentificationIdentification ProtectionProtection

– Level B and DLevel B and D Spill ControlSpill Control

– Product ConfinementProduct Confinement Fire ControlFire Control Recovery and TerminationRecovery and Termination

Offensive Response Offensive Response Operations (HM Techs)Operations (HM Techs) IdentificationIdentification

– SamplingSampling– CategorizationCategorization

ProtectionProtection– Level ALevel A

Leak ControlLeak Control– Product ContainmentProduct Containment

Life SafetyLife Safety

IsolationIsolation– Deny entryDeny entry– Don’t expose anyone elseDon’t expose anyone else– Keep the dirty people in the hot zoneKeep the dirty people in the hot zone

Set up an Area of Safe Refuge then deconSet up an Area of Safe Refuge then decon

NotificationNotification– BFD HazMat TeamBFD HazMat Team– Williamson County HazMat Response GroupWilliamson County HazMat Response Group– Williamson County EMA and EMSWilliamson County EMA and EMS– Nashville Fire Department HazMatNashville Fire Department HazMat

IsolationIsolation

Deny entry by public and other Deny entry by public and other respondersresponders– Stay 300 feet away – uphill and upwindStay 300 feet away – uphill and upwind– Block access with apparatusBlock access with apparatus– Use PD to block other avenuesUse PD to block other avenues– Exercise extreme caution with downwind Exercise extreme caution with downwind

and downstream accessand downstream access– Establish Area of Safe Refuge for Establish Area of Safe Refuge for

contaminated persons (uphill/upwind but contaminated persons (uphill/upwind but still in Hot Zone)still in Hot Zone)

EvacuationEvacuation Takes a lot of time…consider it early!Takes a lot of time…consider it early! Be proactive…get ahead of the power Be proactive…get ahead of the power

curve!curve! But, stick with the NAERG initial But, stick with the NAERG initial

isolation distances and protective isolation distances and protective action distances…they are defensible action distances…they are defensible in court.in court.

The higher the vapor pressure…or The higher the vapor pressure…or lower the IDLH - the greater the lower the IDLH - the greater the likelihood of evacuation.likelihood of evacuation.

Life SafetyLife Safety

IdentificationIdentification– Based on:Based on:

Occupancy and locationOccupancy and location Container shapes and sizesContainer shapes and sizes Markings and colorsMarkings and colors Placards and labelsPlacards and labels Documents and papersDocuments and papers SensesSenses

– Distance from incident decreases and risk Distance from incident decreases and risk increases as you go down the listincreases as you go down the list

Life SafetyLife Safety

ProtectionProtection– Isolation zones (hot, warm, cold)Isolation zones (hot, warm, cold)– CPE (Level A, B, C or D)CPE (Level A, B, C or D)– Decontamination (mass, emergency Decontamination (mass, emergency

and technical)and technical)– Air monitoringAir monitoring– Medical monitoringMedical monitoring– RehabilitationRehabilitation

ProtectionProtection

Four levels of CPEFour levels of CPE– Level A – vapor tight with SCBALevel A – vapor tight with SCBA– Level B – splash protection with Level B – splash protection with

SCBASCBA– Level C – splash protection with APRLevel C – splash protection with APR– Level D – turnouts/work clothesLevel D – turnouts/work clothes

CPE vs. Incident TypesCPE vs. Incident Types

9 Hazard Classes9 Hazard Classes Each hazard class typically has a level Each hazard class typically has a level

of CPE associated with itof CPE associated with it We are only concerned with three of We are only concerned with three of

them (Level A, B, and D) – 75%them (Level A, B, and D) – 75% Initial responders are only concerned Initial responders are only concerned

with one (Level D) – makes it easy!with one (Level D) – makes it easy! Caveat is that you are sufficient Caveat is that you are sufficient

distance away – out of the hot zone!distance away – out of the hot zone!

Hazard Classes and Hazard Classes and CPECPE Class 1 – ExplosivesClass 1 – Explosives

– Level Level DD Class 2 – GasesClass 2 – Gases

– Poison – Level Poison – Level AA– Others – Level Others – Level DD

Class 3 – LiquidsClass 3 – Liquids– Level Level DD

Class 4 – SolidsClass 4 – Solids– Level Level DD

Class 5 – OxidizersClass 5 – Oxidizers– Level Level DD

Class 6 – PoisonsClass 6 – Poisons– Gases – Level Gases – Level AA– Others – Level Others – Level BB

Class 7 – RadsClass 7 – Rads– Level Level DD

Class 8 – CorrosivesClass 8 – Corrosives– Level Level AA or or BB

Class 9 – ORM’sClass 9 – ORM’s– ??

Level A CPELevel A CPE

High level of protectionHigh level of protection Vapor tight CPEVapor tight CPE Highest level of respiratory Highest level of respiratory

protection with SCBAprotection with SCBA Technician level activityTechnician level activity Requires:Requires:

– Two in – Two OutTwo in – Two Out– Technical and Emergency DeconTechnical and Emergency Decon

Level B CPELevel B CPE

Second highest level of protectionSecond highest level of protection Splash protection coupled with highest Splash protection coupled with highest

level of respiratory protection with SCBAlevel of respiratory protection with SCBA Operations level activity in defensive Operations level activity in defensive

modemode RequiresRequires

– Two In – Two OutTwo In – Two Out– Technical and Emergency DecontaminationTechnical and Emergency Decontamination

Level C CPELevel C CPE

Lowest level of chemical Lowest level of chemical protectionprotection

Splash protection with lowest level Splash protection with lowest level of respiratory protection with air of respiratory protection with air purifying respiratorpurifying respirator

APR’s require known identification APR’s require known identification and concentration of contaminantand concentration of contaminant

Not practical for initial responseNot practical for initial response

Level D CPELevel D CPE

The ultimate in standoff protective The ultimate in standoff protective attitudeattitude

Provides sub-minimal splash protectionProvides sub-minimal splash protection SCBA provides highest level of SCBA provides highest level of

respiratory protectionrespiratory protection Suitable protection for explosives, Suitable protection for explosives,

flammable gases and liquids, flammable flammable gases and liquids, flammable solids, oxidizers, and radioactivesolids, oxidizers, and radioactive

Works best when added with DISTANCE!Works best when added with DISTANCE!

Incident StabilizationIncident Stabilization

NotificationNotification– Who you gonna call? Call early and often!Who you gonna call? Call early and often!

IdentificationIdentification– Operations level activity at a distance Operations level activity at a distance

(binocs)(binocs)– Technician level activity hands on Technician level activity hands on

(HazCat)(HazCat) Spill ControlSpill Control

– Operations level activityOperations level activity

Incident StabilizationIncident Stabilization

Leak ControlLeak Control– Technician level activityTechnician level activity

Fire ControlFire Control– Operations level activityOperations level activity

RecoveryRecovery– Will be handled by HM clean-up Will be handled by HM clean-up

companycompany

Decision MakingDecision Making

Use the DECIDE modelUse the DECIDE model– DDetect the problemetect the problem– EEstimate the likely harm w/wo stimate the likely harm w/wo

interventionintervention– CChoose response objectiveshoose response objectives– IIdentify action optionsdentify action options– DDo the best optiono the best option– EEvaluate progressvaluate progress

Detect the problemDetect the problem

Occupancy and locationOccupancy and location Container shapes and sizesContainer shapes and sizes Markings and colorsMarkings and colors Placards and labelsPlacards and labels Information sourcesInformation sources SensesSenses

Estimate likely harmEstimate likely harm

Stress – event begins w/stress to containerStress – event begins w/stress to container Breach – stress leads to container failingBreach – stress leads to container failing Release – breach releases matter or Release – breach releases matter or

energyenergy Engulf – matter or energy creates a zone of Engulf – matter or energy creates a zone of

dangerdanger Impinge – matter or energy impinges on Impinge – matter or energy impinges on

exposuresexposures Harm – impinged exposures will be harmed Harm – impinged exposures will be harmed

based on chemical propertiesbased on chemical properties

Choose response Choose response objectivesobjectives Offensive – requires HM techs to Offensive – requires HM techs to

come into close or physical come into close or physical contact with the materialcontact with the material

Defensive – requires HM ops to Defensive – requires HM ops to act to prevent the material from act to prevent the material from spreadingspreading

Non-intervention – taking no Non-intervention – taking no action – absolute defensiveness.action – absolute defensiveness.

Identify action optionsIdentify action options

NotificationNotification– Mutual aidMutual aid– Specialized personnelSpecialized personnel– Specialized equipmentSpecialized equipment– Command, control, communication, Command, control, communication,

computers, and information (C4I)computers, and information (C4I)– Incident management (NIMS)Incident management (NIMS)– Incident Action Plans (IAP’s)Incident Action Plans (IAP’s)

Do the best optionDo the best option

According to Callan, Hierarchy of According to Callan, Hierarchy of DecisionsDecisions– Quickest – usually the first and Quickest – usually the first and

deadliestdeadliest– Easiest – usually the second – least Easiest – usually the second – least

resource or labor intensiveresource or labor intensive– Best – 30 second rule – take your Best – 30 second rule – take your

time.time.

Do the best optionDo the best option

Also consider:Also consider: According to Callan, two types of According to Callan, two types of

danger – danger – MatterMatter

– Gases, vapors, liquids, and solidsGases, vapors, liquids, and solids EnergyEnergy

– Radioactive, explosive, reactive, flammable, Radioactive, explosive, reactive, flammable, thermal extremes, and mechanical hazardsthermal extremes, and mechanical hazards

Materials are toxic before they are Materials are toxic before they are flammable – all flammables should be flammable – all flammables should be considered toxic.considered toxic.

Evaluate your progressEvaluate your progress

Did it work?Did it work? Do you need more help?Do you need more help? Do you need to revise your Do you need to revise your

incident management system?incident management system? Do you need to revise your Do you need to revise your

Incident Action Plan?Incident Action Plan?

Property ConservationProperty Conservation

Spill ControlSpill Control– Confine the spill to the smallest possible Confine the spill to the smallest possible

areaarea Leak ControlLeak Control

– Contain the spill to the container – reduce Contain the spill to the container – reduce or discontinue the spillor discontinue the spill

RecoveryRecovery– Recover spilled materials and return Recover spilled materials and return

environment to pre-spill conditionenvironment to pre-spill condition TerminateTerminate

– Paperwork and lessons learnedPaperwork and lessons learned

Questions?Questions?

ReferencesReferences

Callan, Michael. Street Smart Callan, Michael. Street Smart Hazardous Materials Response. Hazardous Materials Response. 2004.2004.

Noll, Greg; Hildebrand, Michael; Noll, Greg; Hildebrand, Michael; Yvorra, James. Managing Hazardous Yvorra, James. Managing Hazardous Materials Incidents. 2005.Materials Incidents. 2005.

US Department of Transportation. US Department of Transportation. North American Emergency North American Emergency Response Guide. 2004.Response Guide. 2004.