© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0512
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
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Real Chemical Spills and Releases• Ammonia Evacuates
Industrial Site• Acid Spill Sends
Workers to Hospital• Fuel Spill
Contaminates River• Natural Gas Pipeline
Ruptures
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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
© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0512
Five Levels of Emergency Response• First Responder Awareness Level• First Responder Operations Level• Hazardous Materials Technician• Hazardous Materials Specialist• Incident Commander
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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
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HAZWOPER—Any Questions?• Any questions about
HAZWOPER?• Any questions about
your role at the First Responder Awareness Level?
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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
© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0512
Recognizing Chemical Substances• Danger, caution, or
warning signs• NFPA or HMIS labels• DOT hazard placards
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Learn About Chemicals• Flammable or
explosive• Reactive• Corrosive• Toxic
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Hazardous Chemicals— Any Questions?• Any questions about
the hazardous chemicals at our facility?
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Recognizing a Significant Chemical Release• Dripping or
pool of liquid• Unusual smell• Unusual sound• Loss of pressure
or flow
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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
© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0512
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
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Evaluate Site Conditions• Vapor clouds• Smoke• Injured persons• Surrounding populations• Dispersion pathways• Environmental damage
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Nonhazardous Spills• Incidental or small
spills• Handled by the
employees in immediate area
• Get help if you are unsure
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Dangers of a Release• Flammable
liquids or gases• Toxic cloud• Reaction with
nearby chemicals• Irritants• Mild hazards or non-
hazardous
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How Chemicals Harm You• Skin or eye contact• Inhalation• Swallowing• Avoid contact and
evacuate immediately
Image Credit: Missouri HHW ProjectImage Credit: Missouri HHW Project
© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0512
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?
© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0512
Report the SpillAfter identifying a spill and evacuating the area:• Contact the emergency
response team• Request additional
resources if necessary• Ask for instructions
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Report Information• Chemical names and hazard information• Locations of release• Quantities of released chemical(s)• Site conditions• Evacuation and victims
© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0512
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
© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0512
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
© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0512
Emergency Response Plan• Preemergency
planning and training• Spill recognition• Evacuation procedures• Emergency response
and reporting• PPE and emergency
equipment• Decontamination
and medical treatment
© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0512
Other Response Personnel• Analyze the incident• Use proper PPE and
equipment• Contain and stop the
spill• Clean up the spill• Decontaminate• Report the incident
© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0512
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?
© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0512
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
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