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Transcription

1 Introduction 1 Welcome to HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination. Select the Next button to advance through the course. 2 The buttons at the bottom of your screen will help you navigate this course. Use the Back and Next buttons to go backward or forward through each lesson. As you go through the course, you will always find the Table of Contents in the drop-down menu along the top of the screen. Run your mouse over the list of lessons at the top of the screen and you will see these drop-down menus. Your first time through the course, you can look at the contents in these drop-down menus, but you will not be able to skip ahead. After you go through the course once, you can use the Table of Contents to skip around and review for the exam. Your progress through the course is tracked. If you must leave at any time, don't worry. You will be taken back to the same screen when you return. 3 You can control each page's audio using the Play/Pause button at the bottom of the screen. The Audio On/Off button allows you to disable audio for the course. If you are taking the course in an area where you cannot hear the audio, you can download a printable audio transcript by selecting the Transcript button. 1 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination

2 4 The Resources button appears when additional learning tools like printable documents or web links are provided. Select Resources now to visit J. J. Keller's website. The site will open in a new browser window and will not interfere with your movement through this course. If the site does not open, you may have a pop-up blocker enabled. We'll talk more about disabling pop-up blockers on the next slide. Simply close the new browser window to return to the course. 5 If you had trouble opening the J. J. Keller link on the previous page, you may have a pop-up blocker. This course will not work correctly unless all browser-based and third-party pop-up blockers are disabled. Instructions for disabling pop-up blockers for Internet Explorer and Firefox are shown on the screen. You can also select the Resources button to download a PDF document with these and additional instructions. The document also contains instructions to help you adjust your screen text size. 6 Parts of this course feature video. The Video Player controls are detailed in the image on the screen. Use the Play button to start or pause the video. You can move to any part of the video by selecting and dragging the Progress Indicator forward or backward along the Progress Bar. Use Rewind to go back to the beginning of the video. The Maximize/Minimize button allows you to make the video larger. Maximizing the video will allow it to fill the content screen. Select the button again to minimize the video so you can view the other screen content. 2 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination

3 7 The Course Highlights document provides an overview of the interactive activities in this course. Download the Course Highlights by selecting the Resources button on this page. 8 When you select Next, you will begin the pretest for this course. Your score will be reported to you, but will not be recorded. There are 10 questions in this pretest. 10 By completing this course, you will learn the following: The potential for various emergency scenarios on hazardous waste sites, The required elements of an emergency response plan, The different levels of emergency response personnel, The importance of a thorough evacuation plan, How to take preventative measures against contamination, Types of contamination and methods for decontamination, The equipment and facilities used during decontamination, And emergency decontamination procedures. 3 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination

4 Site Emergencies 2 You may encounter one or more of the following releases or events at your site. It is important that you understand how to evaluate the following situations and how to initiate a proper response during: Fires Explosions Chemical leaks Releases of toxic vapors Chemical reactions Collapses of containers Discoveries of radioactive materials And worker-related emergencies 3 From the list of emergencies presented in the previous slide, there are a variety of different hazards that can emerge. Here is a basic breakdown of the possible hazards: Explosions and fires are typically caused by chemical reactions and the ignition of flammable substances. Oxygen deficiencies are caused by the replacement of oxygen by gas or another vapor. Ionizing radiation is a risk associated with radioactive materials. Biological agents can be dispersed as aerosols or airborne particles. Safety hazards can emerge with a loss of structural integrity or slippery surfaces. Extreme temperatures can develop from the use of personal protective equipment. And your site may have other hazards too. 4 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination

5 4 Responders during an emergency response can come into contact with hazardous substances in four ways: 1. Inhalation, which means breathing in substances or vapors. 2. Ingestion, which refers to swallowing a substance, usually by touching your mouth, eating or smoking with contaminated hands. 3. Absorption, which occurs when substances pass through your skin, eyes or cuts. 4. And Injection, which is where substances enter the body through puncture wounds. 5 For every release and event, you must be able to recognize the difference between an incidental release and a release that requires an emergency response under HAZWOPER: 1. An Incidental Release has occurred when the release of a hazardous substance can be absorbed, neutralized or controlled at the time by employees in the immediate area or by maintenance. 2. An Emergency Release has occurred when the release of a hazardous substance cannot be absorbed, neutralized or controlled at the time by trained employees in the immediate area or by maintenance. Emergency response releases are uncontrolled or likely to result in an uncontrolled release, and employees from outside the immediate area or designated responders are needed to handle the release. 5 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination

6 6 Incidental releases tend to be very limited in quantity and carry a low risk of exposure potential and toxicity. When you attempt to determine whether a release is incidental, keep the following factors in mind: Quantity released Properties of the substance Ventilation Whether the release is in a confined space Availability of personal protective equipment (or PPE) Existing standard operating procedures And any engineering control measures that can be activated to mitigate the release 8 If a release is an emergency response release, an emergency plan must be initiated. Your company must have one the following two types of plans available for use: 1. An Emergency Action Plan (or EAP) when all employees will be evacuating from the danger area when the emergency release occurs and no site employees will be permitted to assist in handling the emergency release. Instead, an outside contractor or fire department will handle the emergency. 2. And an Emergency Response Plan when your employer has designated and trained at least some site employees to assist in handling the emergency release. 6 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination

7 9 If your employer opts for an EAP, then according to OSHA standards, your plan must include the following elements: Procedures for reporting a fire or other emergency; Evacuation procedures and exit route assignments; Procedures to be followed by employees who remain to perform critical plant operations before they evacuate; Procedures to account for all employees after evacuation; Procedures to be followed by employees performing rescue or medical duties; And the name or job title of every employee who may be contacted for more information about the plan or duties under the plan. 10 During any emergency release, it's important to keep a safe distance from the release area if you are not involved in the response effort. This isolation distance may be: Found on the safety data sheet (or SDS) for the hazardous substance involved in the release, Determined using the Emergency Response Guidebook (or ERG), And/Or based on other factors. 7 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination

8 11 SDSs contain the most current and accurate information on hazardous chemicals. You may find the safe or isolation distance within the accidental release measures section (section 6) of the SDS. That's because the modern-day SDS calls for emergency procedures to be found there. However, if you have an older SDS, this information may be found elsewhere on the sheet. Select Play now to watch a video explaining the importance of Safety Data Sheets. 12 We will go over the contents of the ERG in more detail a bit later, but for now, let's focus on how to use it to determine the isolation distance. First identify the hazardous substance by its name or four-digit identification number. Refer to the yellow- or blue-bordered pages and note whether the hazardous substance is highlighted. If the hazardous substance is NOT highlighted OR if it IS but there is a fire or a fire is involved, then find the three-digit emergency response guide number there and turn to the guide number in the orange-bordered pages. You'll find the isolation distance you're looking for on the orange-bordered page. However, if the hazardous substance IS highlighted on the yellow- or blue-bordered pages, but there's no fire and no fire is involved, then take note of the 4-digit identification number, and turn to the green-bordered pages to find the initial isolation distance. There's even a downwind distance indicated. 8 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination

9 13 After consulting the relevant Safety Data Sheet or Emergency Response Guidebook section to determine the safe isolation distances for the released substance, you may also need to consider some additional factors, such as: The properties of the substance, The quantity released and its rate of release, Vapor pressure and vapor density of the substance, Wind speed and direction, Air temperature, And local topography. 14 Evacuation is moving people from a threatened area to a safe place. To perform an evacuation, there must be enough time for people to be warned, to get ready, and to leave the area. If there's enough time, evacuation is the best protective action. Once the initial isolation distance is determined, employees should be directed to move, in a crosswind direction, away from the release to the distance specified. Once the downwind distance is determined, a protective action zone, the length and width of the downwind distance is formed, and employees are directed to move crosswind away from the zone. Employees should be sent to a definite place, by a specific route, far enough away so they will not have to be moved again if the wind shifts. 9 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination

10 15 In an emergency, you may be cut off from your normal exit. Therefore, your site should establish alternate routes for evacuating, in advance. Both primary and alternate routes should: Run upwind from the Exclusion Zone, through the contamination reduction zone, to the support zone, and then to an off-site location; The routes should be easily accessible and kept clear; And they should account for any mobility constraints of wearing protective clothing and equipment; While routes may be marked, you and your co-workers should know where these escape routes are located. 16 If the emergency is localized and does not require a complete site evacuation, a safety station can be set up in a relatively safe area to provide emergency items such as: A sitting or resting area for temporary relief Water for decontamination A wind indicator A communication system with the Command Post First-aid supplies such as eyewash, stretchers and blankets Special monitoring devices such as extra detector tubes and personal monitors Fire extinguishers And hand tools. 10 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination

11 17 Shelter in-place means seeking shelter inside a building until the danger passes. However, sheltering in-place is used only when evacuating would cause greater risk than staying, or when evacuation cannot be performed. In-place protection may not be the best option if release vapors are flammable, or if it will take a long time for the gas to clear. If you are ordered to shelter in-place, you may be directed to close all doors and windows; shut off all ventilating, heating, and cooling systems; and maintain communications with those outside. 18 In the case of site-wide evacuations, off-site refuges can be set up at a safe exit destination that should be stocked with items such as: Decontamination supplies Oxygen and/or air Water Special testing equipment like ph paper or cyanide paper A wind indicator First-aid supplies And a communication system 20 If your site employer has the potential for an emergency response to a release and the site permits its own employees to assist in the handling of an emergency release, then it must develop and implement an Emergency Response Plan, prior to starting hazardous waste operations. This written plan must be made available to all employees for inspection and copying. 11 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination

12 21 OSHA also requires the emergency response plan to be: A separate section of the Site Safety and Health Plan; Compatible and integrated with local, state, and federal emergency and disaster plans; Rehearsed regularly; And reviewed periodically and updated as necessary. In addition, a compliant alarm system must be installed to alert you to emergencies, to begin emergency procedures, to stop work if needed and to lower background noise in order to speed communication. 22 According to the HAZWOPER Standard, an Emergency Response Plan will include the 13 elements you see on the screen: 1. Pre-emergency planning; 2. Personnel roles, lines of authority and communication; 3. Emergency recognition and prevention; 4. Safe distances and places of refuge; 5. Site security and control; 6. Evacuation routes and procedures; 7. Any decontamination procedures which are not covered by the site safety and health plan; 8. Emergency medical treatment and first aid; 9. Emergency alerting and response procedures; 10.Critique of response and follow-up; 11.PPE and emergency equipment; 12.Site topography, layout and prevailing weather conditions; and 13.Procedures for reporting incidents to local, state, and federal government agencies. Be sure that you understand the nature of each element and the roles that have been assigned to you. 12 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination

13 23 You will note that one element of the Emergency Response Plan is Site topography, layout, and prevailing weather conditions or site map for short. You should be very familiar with the site map. It will contain the locations and hazards at the site, and will focus on potential areas where emergencies may develop. The site map may include: Site topography, buildings, and drainage Tanks and other containers Hazard areas where PPE is required Areas where conditions could be Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Site work zones, including the exclusion, contamination reduction and support zones Access and evacuation routes Off-site populations at potential risk And prevailing wind direction 13 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination

14 24 According to OSHA, you must not rush into the situation when an emergency response release occurs. Instead, there are four basic steps to any response: 1. Notification of personnel; 2. Size up the situation by quickly evaluating casualties, hazards, and response capabilities and allocating personnel and equipment for response; 3. Respond according to appropriate steps in the plan by: taking rescue actions to stabilize, extricate, decontaminate and transport victims, evacuating personnel and/or the public and containing and extinguishing the hazard; 4. And follow-up with termination procedures: by replacing or rejuvenating damaged or exhausted equipment; debriefing responders, critiquing the incident and updating the emergency response plan. 25 As stated in the last slide, OSHA makes it clear in the regulation that you should never rush in to a situation where there has been a release of hazardous substances. It is always important to stay clear of vapors, fumes, smoke and spills to minimize any health and safety risks. If you do need to approach the released substance at any time, be sure to do so from upwind, uphill or upstream. 26 The same don t rush in concept is reiterated in the Department of Transportation s Emergency Response Guidebook (or ERG). For emergency response, this guidebook is also recommended by OSHA, in addition to the safety data sheet. The ERG may help you quickly identify hazardous substances and their hazards, secure isolation distances, select proper PPE and learn what fire and spill control measures may work best for that substance. 14 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination

15 27 The ERG is generally organized in the following manner: White front pages contain instructions for using the guide and general safety precautions, along with a list of hazard classes and divisions and a table of placards. Yellow-bordered pages present an index list of hazardous materials in order of ID number. Blue-bordered pages contain an index list of hazardous materials in alphabetical order. Orange-bordered pages list the potential hazards, public safety recommendations and emergency response recommendations for fires, spills and leaks. Green-bordered pages have a table that lists toxic inhalation hazard materials by ID number and safe distances information for each material. And the White back pages contain explanations for protective clothing, fire and spill control measures and emergency response telephone numbers. 28 Your employer may implement a site-specific Incident Command System (ICS) during an emergency response effort. Generally speaking, an ICS is an organized approach to effectively controlling and managing operations at an emergency incident. The individual in charge of the ICS will be the senior official responding to the incident. This person will handle communications, planning, logistics and delegation during a response. 29 Select Play now to watch a video showing an example of how you might use the ERG. 15 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination

16 30 According to OSHA standards, a typical ICS unit would have these roles and responsibilities during an emergency response effort: Incident Commander to coordinate all aspects of the response. Information Officer to develop and release information about the incident to news media, incident personnel and other organizations. Liaison Officer to assist in coordinating response activities. And Safety Officer to assess health and safety hazards. 31 Your roles and responsibilities in an emergency response effort can vary greatly depending on the amount of training you have received. Be sure you know the requirements and limits of your duties in any emergency response effort. First responder at the awareness level takes no action beyond notification. First responder at the operations level attempts to contain the release from a safe distance. Hazardous materials technician attempts to stop the release. Hazardous materials specialist supports the technicians and acts as the liaison between the company and any government agencies. And the On-scene incident commander assumes control of the incident scene. 16 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination

17 32 First responders at the awareness level are the individuals who witness or discover a hazardous substance release and initiate the emergency response by notifying the proper authorities. As a first responder at the awareness level, you must be able to: Recognize the presence of a hazardous material in an emergency, Know how to identify the substance, Understand the risks associated with each incident And realize the need for additional resources. 33 First responders at the operations level respond for the purpose of protecting persons, property or the nearby environment without actually trying to stop the release. Working from a safe distance, these responders take defensive action to keep the release from spreading and prevent exposures. A first responder at the operations level must be able to do what a first responder at the awareness level can do, but also: Use basic techniques to assess hazards and risks, Select and use proper PPE, Perform basic control, confinement and containment operations And implement basic decontamination procedures. 17 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination

18 34 Hazardous materials technicians are the individuals who work to stop the release. These responders take an aggressive role and approach the point of release. As a hazardous materials technician, you must be able to, not only do what a first responder at the operations level can do, but also: Implement your employer's emergency response plan, Know how to classify and identify unknown materials using field survey equipment, And perform advanced control, containment and confinement operations. 35 Hazardous materials specialists are the individuals who support the technicians, and demonstrate more specific knowledge of the substances to be contained. As a hazardous materials specialist, you must be able to do, not only what a hazardous materials technician can do, but also: Implement the local emergency response plan, Classify and identify unknown materials using advanced survey equipment, Know the state emergency response plan And understand in-depth hazard and risk techniques. 18 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination

19 36 The on-scene incident commander is the individual who assumes control of the incident scene. This person must demonstrate competence in a broad range of areas, and must also have training equal to the first responder operations level. As on-scene commander, you must be able to: Implement your employer's Incident Command System, Implement your employer's emergency response plan, Understand the hazards and risks associated with protective clothing, Know how to implement the local emergency response plan, Know about your state emergency response plan And understand the importance of decontamination procedures. 38 In addition to the five emergency response roles described in the video, responders and others may take on other roles, including, but not limited to: Safety officials to identify and evaluate health and safety hazards; Backup personnel to provide assistance or rescue; Advance first-aid support personnel; Skilled support personnel to assist in the operation of certain equipment; Specialist employees to provide technical advice regarding specific substances And off-site personnel to provide rescue, response or support. 40 When you select Next, you will begin the test for this lesson. There are five questions in this test. If you do not get at least three questions correct, you will be advised to review the lesson and take the lesson test again. 19 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination

20 Emergency Response 2 If you determine a release is not incidental, meaning that it cannot simply be absorbed, neutralized or otherwise controlled at the time of the release by employees in the immediate area or maintenance, then you must follow the procedures specified in your site's emergency plan -- either the emergency action plan or the emergency response plan, whichever has been implemented at your site. Your duties may be simply to immediately report the release and evacuate, or they may be more involved. If your site has an emergency response plan, and you are trained as an emergency responder, you will initiate the notification process according to plan. Make sure you're ready, by knowing: Your company's emergency response procedure, What means of communication to use, Who to contact And where to find the contacts' telephone numbers and extensions. 3 When notifying on-site emergency response personnel, you should be prepared to provide the following information regarding the release: The location, Time of occurrence, A description of the incident, A report on any injuries or fatalities, The extent of damage, Any actions taken And the identified response needs on site. 20 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination

21 4 After notification, it's important to size up the situation and consider all available information about the incident and emergency response capabilities. If you are part of the initial response effort, you should try to determine what happened. This includes: The type of incident and its cause; The extent of the release and the damage to structures, equipment and terrain; Any information on victims, including the number, location and condition of any injured parties; Any treatment that victims may require And an update on any missing personnel. 5 Emergency response efforts also require you to make an evaluation of what could still happen after a release of hazardous substances. You should try to size up what could still happen. Consider: The types of chemicals on site, The potential for fire, explosion and release of hazardous substances, The location of all personnel on site, relative to hazardous areas And any potential dangers posed to off-site populations or environments. 21 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination

22 6 Finally, it is important for you to make an initial evaluation of what can be done during the initial stages of an emergency response effort. You should consider the following factors when making this assessment: What equipment and personnel resources are needed for victim rescue and hazard mitigation The number of uninjured personnel that are available for response efforts The resources available on site Resources available from outside groups and agencies How long it will take outside resources to reach the site And any potential hazards that may be involved in rescue and response efforts. 7 Medical treatment of injured victims may be required during an emergency response effort. Medical treatment may range from bandaging of minor cuts and abrasions to life-saving techniques. First-aid sites should be set up in safe areas at the site, and you ll want to refer to your site map for locations. Once casualties are assessed, trained responders will administer any medical procedures that are necessary, remove or assist victims from the release area, decontaminate them as their medical condition indicates and arrange transport for further treatment. 8 Based on the available information, your response team will take a few minutes to plan its response and allocate the proper resources. As the response efforts unfold, this action plan should be checked and may need to be revised. 22 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination

23 9 There are three methods you can use to deal with an emergency response release as a first responder: 1. Control it, 2. Contain it 3. And confine it. 10 Control measures are actions that can be taken to limit exposure risks and damages during the release of a hazardous substance. Basic control measures that you should know include: Shutting off the control valve, Diluting the spill with water if the spill is not water reactive And dispersing gas releases. 11 If you have received the proper level of training, you may be required to take an aggressive role and approach the point of release in order to stop it. Containment is one such method. Containment is designed to keep the remaining hazardous substance inside its container, if the container is not compromised and the substance is stable. Plugging and patching a leak, for example are two ways to "contain" a release. You should refer to your training for any specific containment techniques. 23 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination

24 12 Confinement methods are designed to keep the release from flowing any further by using absorption, diversion, dam building and digging techniques. The confinement response method will be determined by factors such as: The type of substance that has been released, The extent of the release And the characteristics of the site. 14 Effective communication is another important aspect of an emergency response effort. On-site and off-site personnel must be able to pass along information quickly and accurately, such as the location of an injured person, evacuation orders, or notice of a blocked evacuation route, even through noise and confusion. Let s explore the details of an emergency response communication system and techniques. 15 There are two sets of communication systems you may use during an emergency response effort: 1. Internal communication systems 2. And external communications systems. 16 Internal communication systems such alarms, noisemakers, sirens and flags play an important role in emergency response efforts. Internal communication systems are used to: Alert team members about emergencies, Pass along safety information with rest period updates, such as the amount of time left before the next rest period, breathing apparatus air change or heat stress check Communicate changes in work tasks And maintain site control. 24 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination

25 17 Because verbal communication may be impeded at the site, a number of internal communication devices may be employed, including: Intrinsically safe radios Bells, horns, megaphones, sirens, whistles and other noisemakers Flags, lights, signal boards, hand and whole body movements and other visual signals Flares and smoke signals may also be used from the support zone. The primary system must have a backup, and any signals used should be prearranged. 18 You should never enter a contaminated or otherwise hazardous area, including the Exclusion Zone, without a buddy. OSHA defines the buddy system as A system of organizing employees into work groups in such a manner that each employee of the work group is designated to be observed by at least one other employee in the work group. The idea behind the buddy system is to provide rapid assistance to you or your buddy in the event of an emergency. In many ways, your buddy is much like a communication system, passing along information to you or about you quickly and accurately, so we ve chosen to include this important control measure here in our discussion of communication systems. 19 Under the Buddy System, you must be able to: Provide your partner with assistance; Observe your partner for signs of chemical, heat or other exposure; Periodically check the integrity of your partner's personal protective equipment and clothing And, if emergency help is needed, notify the Command Post Supervisor or the On-Scene Incident Commander. 25 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination

26 20 You need to understand all signals and alarms utilized at your worksite. In fact, you ll want to regularly rehearse your emergency signals for evacuate, help, can t breathe, no, okay and all clear. For example, clutching your throat with your hand commonly indicates you re out of air or cannot breathe. In addition, you should know where communication devices are located and under what circumstances each should be used. 21 You may also need to communicate externally during an emergency response effort to help: Coordinate emergency response efforts, Report response progress to management, Maintain contact with essential off-site personnel, And present important information to the news media or government officials. The primary means of external communications are telephone and radio. 22 You may also be asked to deal with the media or you may be confronted by the media during an emergency response situation. Your company will have specific guidance based on the particular circumstances, but in general, it s important to: Keep media members safe at the site; Avoid unauthorized communication with the media; Stick to basic, factual information, not opinions, predictions or who might be to blame; And prevent rumors and misinformation from spreading -- if you don t know the answer, it s okay to say you don t know. 26 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination

27 24 An emergency response effort does not end when the release has been controlled. If you are a first responder, you must understand the decontamination and termination procedures relevant to you. We provide more about decontamination procedures in a later lesson, so our focus here will be on the termination procedure. You may be expected to take part in this procedure and/or provide information upon request. 25 After a response effort has been completed, there are four general steps you may take part in to terminate the response process: debriefing, a critique of the response, recordkeeping activities and restocking equipment and supplies. 26 Within 24 to 72 hours after a response effort is completed, all responders should meet to share and gather information that will go into the incident report. This is the time to openly share opinions and details on how the effort unfolded. Nothing said during a debriefing should be debated or argued, as the process is merely about sharing and gathering information. 27 After any emergency response effort, it is important to review the process and ask key questions like: What caused the emergency? Was the situation preventable? If so, how? Were procedures for prevention of the emergency adequate? If not, how can they be improved? Were all phases of the response adequate? How could it have been improved? How did the incident affect the site? And was the public safety protected? The emergency action plan or emergency response plan will be updated as necessary, based on lessons learned. 27 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination

28 28 An incident report and a written critique are two parts of the recordkeeping process, but you may also be asked to produce or maintain exposure records, activity logs and any required federal, state or local report. Exposure records might include monitoring records, safety data sheets and the site s chemical inventory. 29 Before normal site activities may be resumed, you must be fully equipped to handle another emergency. That means: All equipment and supplies must be restocked, Damaged equipment must be replaced or repaired And equipment must be cleaned and refueled. 31 When you select Next, you will begin the test for this lesson. There are five questions in this test. If you do not get at least three questions correct, you will be advised to review the lesson and take the lesson test again. Decontamination 2 Despite the measures you use to prevent contamination, it may be impossible to prevent all contamination. Therefore, OSHA requires all personnel, clothing, equipment and samples leaving contaminated areas (generally referred to as the exclusion zone) to be decontaminated. The decontamination process removes or neutralizes contaminants that have accumulated on you and your equipment. This process is critical to health and safety at the site. Decontamination also minimizes the transfer of hazardous substances into clean areas. Decontamination procedures are based on factors specific to the site or emergency response incident. They are also based on the site-specific safety and health plan. 28 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination

29 3 Simply put, contamination is contact with contaminants. During day-to-day hazardous waste site activities and during emergency response, hazardous substances may contaminate your protective clothing and other equipment. You will encounter two basic types of contaminants: Surface Contaminants that can be easily detected and removed from your equipment and clothing. And Permeated Contaminants that are difficult or impossible to detect and remove, and may cause unexpected exposure if not properly removed by decontamination. 4 When you are dealing with a Permeated Contaminant, five factors generally affect the extent of permeation: 1. Contact time. The longer a contaminant is in contact with an object, the greater the probability and the extent of permeation. For this reason, minimizing contact time is one of the most important objectives of a decontamination program. 2. Concentration. Molecules flow from areas of high concentration to areas of low concentration. As concentrations of chemicals increase, the potential for permeation of personal protective clothing increases. 3. Temperature. An increase in temperature generally increases the permeation rate of contaminants. 4. Size. Smaller contaminant molecules and larger pore spaces in protective clothing means an increase in permeation. 5. And the physical state of chemicals. As a rule, gases, vapors and lowviscosity liquids tend to permeate more readily than high-viscosity liquids or solids. 29 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination

30 5 The good news is you have some ways to help avoid contamination: Limit contact with hazardous substances whenever possible. Use remote sampling and handling techniques. Check protective equipment for cuts or punctures. And dress properly before entering the exclusion zone. Make sure fasteners are fully closed, boots are tucked under pant legs of outer clothing, and detached hoods are worn outside the collar. Gloves too should be tucked under sleeves, but then a pair of outer gloves is often worn over the sleeves. It is also a common practice to tape gloves to sleeves and boots to pant legs. Your site will have standard operating procedures you'll want to follow for minimizing contact with hazardous substances. 6 The HAZWOPER Standard specifically calls for decontamination to be performed in geographical areas that will minimize the exposure of uncontaminated employees or equipment to contaminated employees or equipment. At a hazardous waste site, decontamination facilities will be located in the Contamination Reduction Zone (or CRZ) to ensure that contaminants and hazardous materials do not enter the Support Zone. In other words, decontamination will occur between the Exclusion Zone (the contaminated area) and the Support Zone (the clean area). 30 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination

31 7 Decontamination procedures required will always depend on site-specific factors, including: The chemical, physical and toxicological properties of the hazards; The amount, location and containment of contaminants; The potential for exposure; The potential for wastes to permeate, degrade or penetrate clothing, equipment and structures; The proximity of incompatible wastes; The movement of personnel and/or equipment among different zones; Emergencies; The methods available for protecting workers during decontamination And the impact of the decontamination process and compounds on worker safety and health. 9 There are three basic decontamination methods you may be asked to use: 1. Physically remove contaminants, 2. Inactivate contaminants by chemical detoxification or disinfection/sterilization 3. And Remove contaminants by a combination of both physical and chemical means. Click the Resource button on your screen to access a flowchart for evaluating which decontamination method or methods to use. 31 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination

32 10 You can physically remove some contaminants by dislodging, wiping or rinsing them. Physical removal is appropriate for the following types of contaminants: Loose contaminants like dust and vapor can be removed using water or a liquid rinse. Adhering contaminants such as glues, cements, resins and muds can be removed by scraping, brushing and wiping. And volatile contaminants can be removed by evaporation followed by a water rinse. 11 Physical removal of gross contamination should be followed by washing and rinsing using cleaning solutions. Here are some methods of chemical removal: Dissolving contaminants using organic solvents or halogenated solvents. Rinsing to remove contaminants. Disinfecting or sterilizing to inactivate infectious agents Using surfactants like household detergents to reduce adhesion forces between contaminants. And solidifying contaminants using absorbents or freezing techniques. 12 While decontamination is performed to protect your health and safety, it can also pose hazards under certain circumstances. For example, decontamination solutions may: React with contaminants to produce an explosion, heat or toxic products; Permeate or degrade your protective clothing; Or create toxic or flammable vapors. 32 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination

33 13 As stated earlier, decontamination procedures will be based on many factors, but there are two basic types of decontamination you should understand: 1. Decontamination to allow you to safely exit or remove your PPE. 2. And Decontamination for reuse of your PPE. 14 The on-site supervisor or designated safety professional is the only person with authority to decide that decontamination for reuse of PPE can occur. Reuse can only be considered if the supervisor determines: No "significant" exposures have occurred, Or that decontamination methods have been successful in reducing contamination levels to safe or acceptable concentrations. 15 There is no completely accurate way to determine if decontamination of PPE or clothing has been effective enough for reuse to be safe, but here are a few methods the on-site supervisor or designated safety professional may use: Visually examining PPE and clothing for signs of discoloration, corrosion or degradation, Wiping external surfaces for additional analysis And evaluating the final rinse solution for elevated levels of contaminants. 33 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination

34 16 In addition to routine decontamination procedures, emergency decontamination procedures must be established at your site. During a medical emergency, the primary concern is always to prevent the loss of life or severe injury to site personnel. Here are some general decontamination rules you can follow in the event of a medical emergency: Decontaminate immediately if it will not interfere with life-saving techniques or first aid activities. Or wait to decontaminate the victim if immediate medical treatment is needed to save his or her life. You can proceed with decontamination when the victim is stabilized. 18 Whether your clothing or equipment is being decontaminated or you are a decontamination line worker, you will learn that decontamination facilities involve a variety of stations, decontamination solutions, PPE, and other equipment, no matter what the contaminant. This section goes over some of the basics. It does not, however, cover the decontamination equipment for radioactively contaminated personnel and equipment. A health physicist should be consulted if this situation arises. 19 Decontamination procedures occur in a specific sequence. For example, your outer, more heavily contaminated items (like your boots and gloves) will be decontaminated and removed first, followed by decontamination and removal of inner, less contaminated items (like your jacket and pants). And each procedure will occur at a different station, in a line fashion, to prevent cross-contamination during each phase of decontamination. Flow patterns will isolate workers from incompatible hazards, and dressing stations will be separate from re-dressing stations. 34 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination

35 20 Because of the potential hazards, any solvents used during decontamination should only be selected by an industrial hygienist or other qualified health professional. However, generally speaking: Water is used on inorganic compounds, salts and some hydrocarbons and organic acids. Dilute acids are used on caustic compounds, amines and hydrazines. Dilute bases like detergents and soaps are used on acidic compounds, phenols and certain other compounds. And organic solvents like alcohols, ethers and fuel oils are used on non-polar compounds. 21 If you are a decontamination worker, you need to wear the proper PPE, selected by a qualified health and safety expert. If you come in contact with personnel and equipment leaving the exclusion zone, you will require more protection from contaminants than decontamination workers who are assigned to the last station in the decontamination line. In some cases, you will be required to wear the same level of PPE as the workers in the exclusion zone. In other cases, you might be protected by wearing one level lower protection. Before entering the clean support zone, you too, as a decontamination worker, will need to be decontaminated to the extent determined by your site employer. 35 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination

36 22 In selecting decontamination equipment, your site should consider whether the equipment itself can be decontaminated for reuse or can be easily disposed of during cleanup. While other types of equipment may be selected and used for decontamination at your site, here are some typical examples: Plastic drop cloths Lined cans or drums Absorbents Large tubs, tanks or pools Long-handled brushes Paper or cloth towels And showers and wash sinks 23 Hazardous conditions can quickly change, so it is important to know when to upgrade your PPE level for greater protection and when to downgrade your level of PPE to safely limit heat stress, as well as physical and psychological stress. Here is a recap of the four basic levels of PPE protection: Level A provides the greatest level of skin, respiratory and eye protection. Examples include totally-encapsulating chemical protective suits with self-contained breathing apparatuses (also known as SCBAs). Level B provides the greatest level of respiratory protection, but a lesser level of skin protection than Level A. Examples include chemical resistant clothing items with SCBAs. Level C provides skin protection, but a lesser level of respiratory protection than Level B. Examples include chemical-resistant clothing items with air purifying respirators. And Level D, which provides only minimal protection from nuisance contamination. Examples include general coveralls, hard hats, safety glasses and boots. 36 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination

37 24 Heavy equipment and vehicles may require further decontamination equipment, including, but not limited to: Storage tanks for temporary storage and/or treatment of contaminated wash and rinse solutions; Drains or pumps for collection of contaminated wash and rinse solutions; Long-handled brushes for general exterior cleaning; Pressurized sprayers for washing and rinsing in hard-to-reach areas And containers for storage and disposal of contaminated wash and rinse solutions, damaged or heavily contaminated parts and equipment to be discarded. Click the Resource button on your screen to access a decontamination checklist. 25 Properly decontaminating and/or disposing of all items used in the decontamination procedure is an OSHA requirement. You should be prepared to deal with: Clothing, Equipment, Wash liquids, Runoff And any other contaminated items. If something cannot be completely decontaminated, it must be dealt with in a way that best protects the safety and health of those on-site and in the surrounding community, pending further decontamination and/or disposal. Commercial laundries, if used, must be informed of the potential hazards of contaminants. 37 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination

38 27 When you select Next, you will begin the test for this lesson. There are five questions in this test. If you do not get at least three questions correct, you will be advised to review the lesson and take the lesson test again. Conclusion 2 You should now have knowledge of the following: The potential for various emergency scenarios on hazardous waste sites, The required elements of an emergency response plan, The different levels of emergency response personnel, The importance of a thorough evacuation plan, How to take preventative measures against contamination, Types of contamination and methods for decontamination, The equipment and facilities used during decontamination, And emergency decontamination procedures. 3 Now that you've covered everything in the course, it's time to review for the exam. To help you prepare for the exam, you can now move back and forth within the course. Use the drop-down menus at the top of the screen, or the Back and Next buttons at the bottom. The Review Questions will also help you review main concepts covered on the exam. Select Next to download the Review Questions. 38 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination

39 4 The Review Questions will open in a separate window. Keep this original window open. That way if you don't know an answer, you can go back into the course and find it. Once you've finished the Review Questions and have finished studying, continue on to take the exam. To begin the Review Questions, select Resources. 5 Now it s time to take the Final Exam. This exam includes 15 questions. If you close the exam before finishing, your answers will not be saved for later. You will have three chances to take the Final Exam. Your highest score will be recorded. To begin the exam, select Next. 7 Congratulations, you have completed this course. 39 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination