Define Hazardous Materials. Hazardous Materials Awareness. Hazardous Materials Incidents. Public Safety Duty to Act. Five Levels of Training

Transcription

1 Define Hazardous Materials Hazardous Materials Awareness A hazardous materialis any item or agent (biological, chemical, physical) which has the potential to cause harm to humans, animals, or the environment, either by itself or through interaction with other factors. Presented by: Patriot Ambulance, Inc. Safety Department Hazardous Materials Incidents Haz-Mat incidents are unique incidents. They require specialized protective measures not normally available to first responders AND they demand a different operational approach! Public Safety Duty to Act Public safety responders have a Duty to Act. Your level of involvement is defined by your employer s Emergency Response Plan (ERP). The actions you are expected to take should be in Standard Operating Procedure format. NEVERexceed your level of training and protection! Five Levels of Training Operational Modes First Responder Awareness Level First Responder Operational Level Hazardous Materials Technician Hazardous Materials Specialist Hazardous Materials Incident Commander Awareness and Operational level responders take DEFENSIVE actions. Technicians and Specialists take OFFENSIVE actions. The Incident Commander coordinates the response and is ultimately responsible for safety. 1

2 Awareness Level Response Goals Recognition Isolation Protection Notification North American Emergency Response Guidebook Available in every Emergency Vehicle and online Purpose: An aid for identification of the material involved. Outlines basic initial actions. Recommends protective action areas. Serves as an initial incident safety plan. Hazard Identification Six Basic Clues to Recognition 1 - Occupancy and location 2 -Container shape and size 3 -Placards and labels 4 -Shipping papers/facility documents 5 -Markings and colors 6 -Human senses Clue # 1 -Occupancy and Location Specific occupancy or general area Fixed facilities Five modes of hazardous materials transportation Rail, air, marine, highway and pipeline Drug lab considerations (Universities, chemistry labs, meth labs ) Clue # 2 -Container Shape and Size Classifications Portable, fixed or transportation Pressure Non-pressurized, low or high pressure Vapor Pressure and Storage The higher the pressure, the greater the potential for catastrophic failure BLEVE Clue # 3 -Placards and Labels Placards and their limitations Not always required The 1000 pound rule Placards and labels used for transport are based upon DOT Hazard Class Nine Hazard Classes Subdivided into divisions Refer to page 14 of 2008 ERG 2

3 Hazard Class 1 Explosives Subdivided into 6 divisions Mass explosion hazard Projectile hazard Fire, minor blast or projectile Minor explosion Very insensitive explosives Extremely insensitive Hazard Class 2 -Gases Pressurized or liquefied Compressed nitrogen and liquefied petroleum gases (LPG) are examples Product and container present hazards Three Subdivisions 2.1 -Flammable gases Non-Flammable, Non-Poisonous 2.3 -Poisonous Gases Hazard Class 3 - Flammable/Combustible Liquids Flammable Liquids can be ignited at room temperature Combustible Liquids require some degree of pre-heating to ignite Number 1 rule -eliminate ignition sources Hazard Class 4 Flammable Solids Three subdivisions Flammable Solids Spontaneously Combustible 4.3 -Dangerous when wet Hazard Class 5 -Oxidizers and Organic Peroxides Oxidizers release oxygen to enhance or intensify burn With strong fuels, oxidizers can create conditions which can lead to violent combustion Many Organic Peroxides are very unstable Hazard Class 6 -Poisonous and Infectious Substances Poisonous to human Can include severely irritating substances Tear Gas, Hydrocyanic acid, Carbon Tetrachloride Infectious Substances Potential to cause diseases in humans Anthrax, human blood and many body fluids 3

4 Hazard Class 7 -Radioactive Materials Ionizing radiation hazard Exposure does not always result in contamination Safety Rules: Time, Distance and Shielding Shipped in specialized containers Hazard Class 8 - Corrosives Corrosives can burn and destroy body tissues on contact. The stronger, or more concentrated, the corrosive material is and the longer it touches the body, the worse the injuries will be. Hazard Class 9 -Miscellaneous Hazardous Materials ORM A -Dry Ice ORM B -Quick Lime, Metallic mercury ORM C -Asphalt, Battery parts ORM D -Consumer commodities ORM E -Hazardous substances and hazardous wastes Pesticide Labels Product name Active ingredients Signal word Caution Warning Danger (Poison) Precautionary statements Clue # 4 -Shipping Papers and Facility Documents Mode Called Location Rail Waybill and Consist With Crew Highway Bill of Lading Driver / on seat or door pocket Air Airbill Pilot Pipeline Marker At cross with other mode of transport Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) Required to be maintained by the OSHA s Hazard Communication Standard and they are found at fixed facilities Provides a variety of information Emergency Response Plans (ERP) Emergency Action Plans (EAP) 4

5 Clue # 6 -Human Senses Methods of Identification RISK LEVEL High Low TASTE TOUCH SMELL SIGHT SOUND Once you recognize, try to identify Location of material name Shipping papers MSDSs (fixed facilities) Facility Pre-Plans Employees and bystanders If you cannot safely identify, try to classify the material into a hazard class Taking Control Identify the procedures for initiating your Emergency Response Plan. Identify the proper procedures for implementing protective action distances. Take actions necessary to properly isolate the incident. ERG 2008 The Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG2008) was developed jointly by the US Department of Transportation, Transport Canada, and the Secretariat of Communications and Transportation of Mexico (SCT) for use by firefighters, police, and other emergency services personnel who may be the first to arrive at the scene of a transportation incident involving a hazardous material. It is primarily a guide to aid first responders in (1) quickly identifying the specific or generic classification of the material(s) involved in the incident, and (2) protecting themselves and the general public during this initial response phase of the incident. The ERG is updated every three to four years to accommodate new products and technology. Steps for Proper Use of the ERG Guide Use First locate hazard ERG provides guidelines Recognize & Identify Hazardous Materials Name Four digit ID number Placard description Look up the guide page number Take basic protective actions according to the guide page Initiate isolation and evacuation according to protective action distances 5

6 Table of Protective Action Distances Protective Action Options Evacuation Potential for massive fire or explosion Long duration incidents Shelter in-place Short duration incidents Greater hazard to attempt to move Impractical to evacuate Emergency Response Information Firefighting, not your father s fire. Definition of Haz-Mat Fire Defensive Vs. Offensive Role of the awareness responder Spill / Leak Control Not an awareness level role First Aid Remember to prevent secondary contamination Questions?? Please ask a supervisor or a manager 6