HAZWOPER: First Responder

HAZWOPER:First Responder

Awareness Level

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Session ObjectivesYou will be able to:• Understand your role as a first responder• Identify hazardous substances and risks• Recognize a hazardous release or spill and

potential outcomes• Report the spill or release and call for

additional resources• Protect yourself and others• Secure the area


Real Chemical Spills and Releases• Ammonia Evacuates

Industrial Site• Acid Spill Sends

Workers to Hospital• Fuel Spill

Contaminates River• Natural Gas Pipeline

Ruptures


What Is “HAZWOPER”?• HAZWOPER stands for Hazardous Waste

Operations and Emergency Response• Emergency response rules cover any facility

that stores, handles, and uses hazardous chemicals

• Defines emergency response procedures


Five Levels of Emergency Response• First Responder Awareness Level• First Responder Operations Level• Hazardous Materials Technician• Hazardous Materials Specialist• Incident Commander


Awareness Level: Your Role• DEFENSIVE ACTIONS

ONLY• Recognize a chemical

release• Determine chemical’s

identity• Protect yourself and

others• Call for help• Secure the area


HAZWOPER—Any Questions?• Any questions about

HAZWOPER?• Any questions about

your role at the First Responder Awareness Level?


Hazardous Substances at Your Workplace• [Name of the

hazardous substance]• Physical hazards• Routes of entry• Health effects of

exposure• Environmental hazards• Location of potential

spill


Recognizing Chemical Substances• Danger, caution, or

warning signs• NFPA or HMIS labels• DOT hazard placards


Learn About Chemicals• Flammable or

explosive• Reactive• Corrosive• Toxic


Hazardous Chemicals— Any Questions?• Any questions about

the hazardous chemicals at our facility?


Recognizing a Significant Chemical Release• Dripping or

pool of liquid• Unusual smell• Unusual sound• Loss of pressure

or flow


Recognize a Smaller Spill Or Release• Even a small spill can

be dangerous• Fires, explosions, and

contamination can result

• Only trained workers should clean up spills

• Everyone must understand potential spill hazards and their role in an emergency


Identify the ChemicalFrom a safe distance:• Find out where the chemical is coming from• Look for labels, signs, and placards• Determine if it is liquid, gas, or solid• Determine its color• Identify any odors


Evaluate Site Conditions• Vapor clouds• Smoke• Injured persons• Surrounding populations• Dispersion pathways• Environmental damage


Nonhazardous Spills• Incidental or small

spills• Handled by the

employees in immediate area

• Get help if you are unsure


Dangers of a Release• Flammable

liquids or gases• Toxic cloud• Reaction with

nearby chemicals• Irritants• Mild hazards or non-

hazardous


How Chemicals Harm You• Skin or eye contact• Inhalation• Swallowing• Avoid contact and

evacuate immediately

Image Credit: Missouri HHW ProjectImage Credit: Missouri HHW Project


Response to a Release or Spill—Any Questions?• Any questions about how to recognize a

spill or release?• Any questions about how to identify a

chemical during an emergency?• Any questions about evaluating site

conditions?


Report the SpillAfter identifying a spill and evacuating the area:• Contact the emergency

response team• Request additional

resources if necessary• Ask for instructions


Report Information• Chemical names and hazard information• Locations of release• Quantities of released chemical(s)• Site conditions• Evacuation and victims


Protect Yourself and Others• Report the release to

others in the immediate area

• Signal an alarm• Retreat to a safe

distance, shelter-in-place, or evacuation assembly area


Secure the Area• Keep people a safe

distance from the spill• Use caution tape, rope,

or cones• Guard the spill scene

until trained responders arrive


Emergency Response Plan• Preemergency

planning and training• Spill recognition• Evacuation procedures• Emergency response

and reporting• PPE and emergency

equipment• Decontamination

and medical treatment


Other Response Personnel• Analyze the incident• Use proper PPE and

equipment• Contain and stop the

spill• Clean up the spill• Decontaminate• Report the incident


Reporting, Protecting, and Securing—Any Questions• Any questions about how to report a spill?• Any questions about how to protect yourself

and others after a spill?• Any questions on how to secure the site

after a spill?


Key Points to Remember• HAZWOPER applies to facilities storing

or using hazardous chemicals• Awareness Level—defensive only• Recognize chemicals and identify spills or

releases• Evacuate the spill area• Notify spill response team• Secure the area

HAZWOPER: First Responder

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