Travis County Emergency Services District #1 Standard Operating Guidelines

Transcription

1 Section Policy Number Effective Date B B8 06/16/2015 Policy Issued As Reference Policy # HAZMAT Response B2, B3, B4, B6, C3, C4, C6, C12, C14, D2, E1 Subject Approval: Hazardous Materials Response Donald Norman, Fire Chief PURPOSE Hazardous materials are stored and transported throughout our community. When hazardous materials are unintentionally released, they pose a threat to people, animals and the environment. In the event of an incident we will be called to respond. The purpose of this SOG is to ensure a safe and effective response for all Travis County ESD #1 personnel. SCOPE It shall be the policy of the TCESD#1 to follow these procedures in the handling of hazardous material incidents and to ensure the safety of personnel and citizens. They are the basic procedures to be followed with the understanding that an emergency scene may require some modification to the guidelines, but all efforts should be made to adhere to them. RESPONSIBILITY 1. It shall be the responsibility of all officers to ensure the proper compliance and adequate training of personnel under their command. 2. All members have the responsibility to adequately learn and follow this guideline. PROCEDURE LEVELS OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS INCIDENT 1. Level 1 - Incident that can be easily handled and evacuation is not necessary: Examples are: a. Small fuel spill (contained). b. Small chemical spill (contained). SOG B8 Version Date: 06/16/2015 Page 1 of 11

2 2. Level 2 - More complex than Level 1; Additional resources will be needed to contain or mitigate the incident. Examples are: a. Unidentified material. b. Leak from a drum of poison. c. Fire involving pesticides storage. d. Chlorine rail car leak. e. Drug Labs. Level 2 or greater incidents require appointment of a Safety Officer 3. Level 3 - An incident beyond the capability of local resources; State and Federal resources will be needed. A Disaster Declaration may be necessary. DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES FOR INCIDENT COMMANDER Upon Arrival: 1. Establish Incident Action Plan based on a. Life Safety b. Incident Stabilization c. Property Conservation 2. Establish Operational objectives 3. Re-evaluate plan with HazMat Team Leader upon arrival 4. Shall appoint an Incident Recorder (Not a Technician) to record and maintain a complete log of all communications and orders. 5. Upon arrival at the area of the incident the Incident Commander shall conduct operations according to the following tactical objectives: a. Secure the area within 500 ft. in all directions. This area will be considered the HOT ZONE until such time as the material is identified and proper size of hot zone can be determined as per the DOT North American Guide Book. 1. Evacuate HOT ZONE by having those in the HOT ZONE self-evacuate. DO NOT ENTER THE HOT ZONE. SOG B8 Version Date: 06/16/2015 Page 2 of 11

3 2. Rescue of those in the HOT ZONE SHALL NOT BE attempted unless the protection of structural firefighting clothing and SCBA provides adequate protection according to the DOT Handbook. b. Identify the hazardous material. This information is to be communicated immediately to dispatch. c. Re-adjust the HOT ZONE as required. SET up warm and cold zones. 6. Begin evacuations as necessary. 7. For any hazardous material spill that cannot be safely handled by TCESD#1 personnel, have dispatcher call for the AFD HAZMAT Team. Upon arrival of the AFD Hazardous Materials Unit, the IC shall assign companies to assist as requested. This may include setting up DECON and treating victims. 8. Personnel may only enter the HOT ZONE when wearing proper protective clothing and have been trained in its use under the direction of haz-mat OPS. The type of hazardous material involved determines the level of protection necessary. Any decon needed must be set up and in place by the haz-mat OPS. A personnel accountability system (PAR) must be used for any hazmat call involving the hazmat team. See Command Procedures SOG, Accountability Section, for additional detail. 9. Shall make suitable conditions for rest and rehab. OPERATIONS OFFICER Appointment and instructions as per Incident Commander to implement strategy and tactics with Hazmat Team Leader as assistant. ADDITIONAL POSITIONS Depending on the severity of the conditions, these tasks within the Hazmat Branch are filled with one or two dedicated persons with training up to the Hazmat Technician level: 1. Hazmat Team Leader Oversees overall operations of the Hazmat Branch, implements phases of the IAP dealing with Hazmat Branch ops, assigns resources within the Hazmat Branch and reports on the progress of control operations and Branch resource status. SOG B8 Version Date: 06/16/2015 Page 3 of 11

4 2. SAFETY OFFICER Travis County Emergency Services District #1 As requested by IC or toned by TC Dispatch. Shall always be assigned for Level 2 or greater incidents. The Safety Officer is responsible for monitoring and assessing hazardous and unsafe situations and developing measures to assure personnel safety. Has authority to stop or prevent unsafe acts. 3. Entry Team Leader Supervises the resources involved in operations in the Hot Zone (such as product control and incident mitigation). 4. Decon Team Leader Manages the decontamination of chemical protective clothing and equipment 5. Medical Team Leader Supervises pre and post entry medical monitoring and emergency medical care for Hazmat Branch personnel. 6. Resource Technical Specialist Gather information on the product(s) involved and determine the appropriate personal protective equipment and decontamination methods Note: Hazardous Materials are great equalizers. They can injure anyone who gets in their way, regardless of background, training or intentions. Everyone at a hazardous materials incident must show concern for the potential harm of the chemicals involved. ON SCENE SIZE-UP CONSIDERATIONS Size-Up 1. The first unit must consciously avoid committing itself to a dangerous situation. When approaching, slow down or stop to assess any visible activity taking place. Evaluate the effects of the wind, topography and location of the situation. 2. The objective of size-up is to identify the nature and severity of the immediate problem and gather sufficient information to formulate a valid action plan. Hazardous materials incident requires a more cautious and deliberate size-up than most fire situations. 3. Avoid premature commitment of companies and personnel to potentially hazardous locations. Proceed with caution in evaluating risks before formulating a plan and keep uncommitted companies at a safe distance. SOG B8 Version Date: 06/16/2015 Page 4 of 11

5 4. Make careful size-up before deciding on a commitment. It may be necessary to take immediate action to make a rescue or evacuate an area, but this should be done with an awareness of the risk to Fire Department personnel, and taking advantage of available protective equipment. Don't assume anything! A wrong decision, while working with hazardous materials, can be worse than no decision. 1. Report on conditions. 2. Establish an operational perimeter. 3. If the involved incident has occurred on a public road, highway or freeway, request notification of the appropriate law enforcement agency having investigative authority for the involved location. If said agency is already at the scene, make contact and coordinate with same. Initiate material identification operations: 1. It is imperative that the first arriving Fire Department unit determine what hazardous material(s) is involved, and how much, prior to taking action to stabilize the incident. 2. Entering the scene to make positive identification may be a considerable risk. The danger of explosion, leaking gas and poisoning may be great.. 3. Action taken prior to determining the product involved may be totally wrong and may severely compound the problem. 4. Transportation emergencies are often more difficult than those at fixed locations. The materials involved may be unknown, warning signs may not be visible, or obscured by smoke and debris, the driver may be killed or missing. D.O.T. hazardous materials marking systems are inadequate because some hazardous materials in quantities up to 1000 pounds do not require a placard and there may be combinations of products involved with only a "dangerous" label showing. Sometimes only the most evident hazard is identified, while additional hazards are not labeled. Attempt to identify the involved material(s) by way of the following: 1. Check placarding and/or labeling. 2. Check paperwork associated with the materials transportation or storage. 3. Check with persons directly related to the accident/incident, i.e. driver, owner, trainman, technician, plant manager, etc. 4. Contact shipper and/or manufacturer. 5. Obtain the exact spelling of the materials involved. SOG B8 Version Date: 06/16/2015 Page 5 of 11

6 INITIAL OPERATIONS 1. Establish a command post. If the incident is on a highway or roadway, make contact with the appropriate law enforcement agency having primary investigative authority and coordinate with same. 2. Obtain technical information: a. Utilize the D.O.T. Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Guidebook. Contact ChemTrec (800) b. Utilize other informational sources available. c. Contact the shipper and/or the manufacturer. (ChemTrec can assist in this) 3. Identify priorities based on the following: a. The type and magnitude of life hazard involved. b. The type and quantity of hazardous material(s) involved. c. Reference the "D.E.C.I.D.E." mnemonic for determining the steps in dealing with a hazardous materials event. D - Detect the presence of hazardous materials. 4. Identify the Objectives: E - Estimate potential harm without intervention. C - Choose response objectives. I - Identify action options. D - Do best option. E - Evaluate progress. a. The objectives must be based upon those priorities, which have already been identified. They must be flexible enough to account for the dynamics of the situation. b. The objectives must focus on confinement and/or control of the involved materials in such a way so as to save lives and to prevent the unnecessary exposure of on-scene or nearby personnel (including firefighters, bystanders, law enforcement personnel, etc.) to the adverse effects of the involved material(s). Objectives must also provide for the protection of uninvolved property and the environment. c. Objectives must be clearly understood and well communicated among all levels of the on-scene organization, which is attempting to cope with the problem. Close cooperation and coordination is essential if disaster is to be averted. SOG B8 Version Date: 06/16/2015 Page 6 of 11

7 5. Action Plan - The action plan must be based upon the identified objectives and must be based upon the identified objectives and must be understood by all involved personnel at the scene. The action plan should be centered primarily around the following: a. Protection of life. b. Confinement of the material and its by-products. c. Control of the material and its effects on humans, animals, property and the environment. 6. Monitor progress of the action plan to insure that objectives are either accomplished or modified according to the dynamics of the situation. SAFETY 1. All operations up to and including the evacuation process must be accomplished with the idea of overall safety as the key component. 2. Members shall wear the appropriate protective clothing. A minimum of FULL PROTECTIVE CLOTHING must be worn inside the operational perimeter. Special protective clothing may be necessary depending upon the nature of the materials involved. 3. Be alert for the symptoms of chemical poisoning and reactions that could threaten the lives of firefighters and other involved personnel. 4. Members who have been exposed to hazardous materials shall receive immediate medical treatment. NOTE: Many symptoms may be delayed up to twenty-four (24) hours after contact. 5. In general, the following safety guidelines should be observed: a. Move and keep people away from incident scene. b. Do not walk into or touch any spilled material. c. Avoid inhalation of all gases, fumes and smoke even if no hazardous materials are involved. d. Do not assume that gases or vapors are harmless because of lack of smell. 6. Keep in mind the basic safety priorities: a. Personnel safety. b. Safety of others. c. Environmental impact. SOG B8 Version Date: 06/16/2015 Page 7 of 11

8 COMMUNICATION 1. The best, most accurate method of communication is face-to-face communication. 2. Radio directions must be clear, concise and on the correct radio frequency. 3. Communications during the incident must be of necessity and two-way in nature. Information, reconnaissance data and suggestions must flow up to Command level for evaluation. Clear directions and coordination must flow down from Command level. 4. Operations shall be conducted in accordance with ICS Guidelines for communications and radio frequency assignments. 5. In incidents which occur on highways or roadways, early and clear communication links must be established between the Incident Commander and the law enforcement scene manager to ensure successful operations. COORDINATION AND CONTROL 1 State law provides that the on scene Fire Incident Commander is in charge of the incident and coordination of all agencies handling the incident. 2 In incidents occurring within incorporated areas within TCESD#1, TCESD#1 will have control and coordination of the incident. 3 On incidents occurring in Travis County the first in Fire Officer shall have control and coordination of the incident until the Chief Officer of the responding fire department, or his/her designate, assumes command. 4 On incidents on private property the fire department shall have control and coordination of the incident and make use of on-site employees as information resources in handling the incident. 5 TCESD#1 shall establish the command post for all agencies working at a hazardous materials incident. CLEANUP AND DISPOSAL The Incident Commander's responsibility, beyond that of preserving life and property, is only to identify and, if possible, contain the spill material. Under most circumstances, no attempt should be made to decontaminate" a spill unless directed and supervised by responsible parties from the industry and/or other technical advisors. Professional disposal companies and/or teams should be utilized for cleanup and disposal. Use of this resource is expected, but will normally occur after local expertise is on hand.. SOG B8 Version Date: 06/16/2015 Page 8 of 11

9 PROCEDURES (GENERAL): It must be remembered that any and all procedures, which may be carried out at a hazardous materials incident, must be based upon and compatible with the physical properties of the involved material(s). The following list contains some basic guidelines which may apply to hazardous materials situations in a general sense. The nature of materials involved will dictate more specific procedures. 1. Take all feasible steps necessary to protect or save human life. Safeguard property insofar as practical. 2. Take actions to contain and/or prevent the spread of the material. Spread sand or other collection agents, build dikes, etc. Control run-off water at fires. 3. Keep the public as far from the scene of the incident as reasonably possible. Prevent souvenir hunting and handling of debris. In the case of a nuclear weapons incident, keep the public at least 2,000 feet away. 4. Isolate for further examination those persons who may have had contact with the material. Obtain names and addresses of those involved. 5. Remove injured persons from the area with a little direct personal contact as possible. Hold them at a transfer point for first aid. If serious injury has occurred, demanding more than first aid measures, the patient should be sent, at once, to the nearest emergency room for medical attention. Advise medical attendants and facilities of possible contamination and what material is involved. a. Medical first aid is directed primarily at restoration of breathing, control of hemorrhage, splinting for fractures, and prevention of shock and control of pain. These are carried out for exposed person in the same basic fashion as for a non-exposed individual. b. First aid for contaminated persons consists of cleansing the skin of obvious dirt (possible contamination) and, if feasible, carefully remove the outer garments and shoes of the patient and wrapping him mummy fashion in a blanket, sheet, canvas, or large coat. By this measure, any remaining contamination is contained and if the wrapping is carefully done, the victim can be moved with little likelihood of spreading contamination. 6. If incidents involve fire or material subject to blowing in the wind, conduct operations from an upwind position. Keep out of smoke, fumes, or dust resulting from the incident. Segregate clothing and tools used at the scene until they can be checked for contamination. Do not handle suspected material until it has been inspected and released by qualified technical experts. 7. In a vehicle accident involving hazardous material, detour all traffic around the accident scene. If this is not possible, move the vehicle or vehicles involved the shortest distance necessary to clear the right-of-way. If the material is spilled, prevent the passage of vehicles and people SOG B8 Version Date: 06/16/2015 Page 9 of 11

10 through the area until it has been surveyed. If right-of-way must be cleared before the assistance team arrives, wash spillage to the shoulders of the right-of-way with a minimum of dispersal of wash water. Try and construct a dike to contain the wash water or use absorbent material to control run off. Do not allow wash water to enter the drainage system. 8. Do not eat, drink, or smoke in the accident area. Do not use food or drinking water that may have been in contact with material from the incident area. 9. Take only necessary emergency actions prior to the arrival of a qualified hazardous materials specialist, team and/or physician. 10. There are basically four different methods of handling hazardous materials spills or leaks. They are: a. Absorption. b. Containment. c. Separation. d. Neutralization. 11. Sometimes, a non-attack posture is the best approach to a hazardous materials problem. A fire in any of the following materials should signal a non-attack posture and immediate evacuation of the surrounding area: a. Explosives A. b. Explosives B. c. Oxidizers. d. Organic peroxides. 12. Hazardous materials must not be carelessly washed down storm drains or sewers. Such action could compound the problem and hasten disaster. 13. In some cases, it may be better to let a fire involving certain hazardous materials to burn. In such cases, the run-off water from fire extinguishment operations may pose more of a hazard than the fire itself. 14. Fires involving hazardous materials in closed containers such as tank trucks, tank farms, etc., require special decision-making considerations and may also indicate a non-attack posture. The responder is the most important person at the incident. We must accept responsibility for protecting ourselves. Do not needlessly expose yourself to avoidable risks of hazardous contamination. Nothing is gained, and a good deal is lost when responders become victims. The first few minutes are critical. What we do the first few minutes at a hazardous materials incident can shape the rest of our lives. Before allowing ourselves to become exposed to hazardous materials, we must evaluate the incident, determine its dangers, and plan a response. SOG B8 Version Date: 06/16/2015 Page 10 of 11

11 SOG Revision Record Version Number Date Reason for Revision 1 06/16/2015 Document Release SOG B8 Version Date: 06/16/2015 Page 11 of 11