VOLUSIA COUNTY FIRE CHIEFS ASSOCIATION MODEL OPERATING PROCEDURE GUIDE # SUBJECT: HAZARDOUS MATERIALS INITIAL RESPONSE DATE ISSUED: 03/16/06 REVIEW DATE: PURPOSE: The purpose of this document is to outline the duties, responsibilities and priorities of emergency response personnel during incidents involving hazardous materials. (Substances or materials capable of posing an unreasonable risk to health, safety, property, or the environment, if released; i.e. flammable, corrosive, detonable, toxic, radioactive, oxidizer, etiologic, or highly reactive materials.) POLICY: These guidelines apply to both fixed-site and transportation incidents. They are intended to comply with, and compliment, the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and Volusia County s Emergency Management Plan for Hazardous Materials Incidents. Flammable and combustible liquids, and flammable gases are specifically covered by these guidelines as is the intent of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration during the development of 29 CFR 1910.120 Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER). The guidelines are also intended to comply with 29 CFR 1910.1200, and 40 CFR 311 (EPA), National Fire Protection Association Standards: 471 Responding to Hazardous Materials Incidents, 472 Professional Competence of Responders to Hazardous Materials Incidents, 473 Competencies for EMS Personnel Responding to Hazardous Materials Incidents, and NFPA 1991, 1992, and 1994 Standards on Personal Protective Equipment. RESPONSIBILITY: It is the responsibility of the Volusia County Fire Chief s Association, with direction from the Volusia County Hazardous Materials Team Manager to review and update this guideline. Page 1 of 8
TERMINOLOGY AND DEFINITIONS: Absorbents - Products used to confine a hazardous product (e.g., sawdust, kitty litter, and polyolefin type fibers). Confinement Those procedures taken to keep a material in a defined or localized area. Confinement Methods - Refers to physical barrier s to prevent or to reduce the amount of hazardous liquid flowing into the environment (e.g., dams, and booms). Containment - The actions taken to keep a material in its container (e.g., stops the release of a material or reduces the amount being released into the environment). Contamination - Transference of a hazardous material from its source to people, animals, equipment, or the environment. Secondary contamination is the spread of contaminants from somewhere other than from the source. Control - The defensive or offensive procedures, techniques, and methods used in the mitigation of a hazardous materials incident, including containment, confinement and extinguishment. Control Zones - The designation of areas at a hazardous materials incident scene, based upon safety and the degree of hazard. Many terms are used to describe the zones involved in a hazardous materials incident. The most widely used terms are hot, warm, and cold zones. Hot Zone (Exclusion Zone) the area immediately surrounding the hazardous area that is restricted to essential personnel only. Warm Zone (Contamination Reduction Zone) a buffer zone that lies between the hot and cold zone. This zone is restricted to personnel performing direct support functions (e.g., decontamination and fire protection). Cold Zone - An area of less restriction normally used by the incident command system and also for rehabilitation, staging, and other similar functions. Public Zone - The area beyond the cold zone, outside of the incident Isolation Perimeter- No special precautions or restrictions are imposed in this area. Safe Refuge Area - (SRA) A designated area within the Warm Zone for assembling individuals who may have been exposed to Hazardous Materials. The SRA is uphill, upwind, and remote enough from the spill/leak as to prevent further exposure/contamination. This assemblage will provide for the separation of contaminated persons from non-contaminated persons. The SRA may also be used Page 2 of 8
by the entry team during emergency egress should they be unable to exit by the decontamination corridor. Decontamination - The physical and/or chemical process of removing or neutralizing contaminants to reduce injuries, and prevent secondary contamination. Self-Decontamination removal of contaminates from one self. I.e. removal of gear and or clothes. This needs to be under the direction of a first responder. Gross-Decontamination removal of 80-90 percent of all contaminates. This depending on the product can be accomplished by copious amounts of water, or using a dry brushing off process. Technical-Decontamination methodical removal of all contaminates. This can be accomplished by setting up a decon corridor and utilizing a three to twelve step process. Mass-Decontamination This can be gross, and technical decon. Where there are large amounts of people, or crowds. Starting with setting up decon corridors and using a mass decon system. Defensive Control Measures - Actions taken during an incident where there is no intentional contract with the material involved, such as, evacuations, elimination of ignition sources, vapor suppression, and diking. Diking - The utilization of sand or other materials to divert or confine a hazardous spill. Entry Team Personnel with technician level training, meeting NFPA 472 competency requirements and certified as HazMat Technicians, authorized to perform offensive control measures within the Hot Zone at HazMat incidents. Hazmat Branch - The function within an overall incident management system (ICS), that deals with the mitigation of a hazardous materials incident. Mitigation - Actions taken to prevent or reduce casualties, product loss, environmental damage, and property damage due to the release or potential release of hazardous materials. Monitoring Equipment - Specialized instruments and/or devices used to identify and quantify hazardous materials. Offensive Control Measures - Actions taken during an incident, which involve direct or close proximity contact with hazardous materials. HazMat technicians wearing chemical protective clothing handle offensive actions for most hazardous materials. Page 3 of 8
Rescue Team First Responder personnel with a minimum of Operations level training, authorized to enter the hot zone to effect immediate life-saving rescue of exposed victims with a reasonable expectation of survival. A Rescue Team shall not unduly jeopardize personal safety. PROCEDURE: The first arriving First Responder personnel shall determine if hazardous materials are involved in the incident, and if so, take appropriate actions by establishing Incident Command as set forth by NIMS. Upon recognition of a potential hazardous materials situation, identify to the extent possible the material(s) involved and any hazards, and have the On-Duty Hazmat Officer notified through Dispatch/Communication Center. (ECC is primary notification center for Hazmat Team Duty Officer) The immediate responsibility of the First Responder personnel on the scene is to provide for the safety of the public and all emergency response personnel. At no time shall personnel be committed to a hazardous atmosphere or condition without appropriate training and personal protective equipment. Fixed-site (facility) incidents involving hazardous materials shall be handled in accordance with the first-due station s tactical pre-fire plan, and the facility s emergency response plan Transportation emergencies involving hazardous materials shall be handled in accordance with the North American Emergency Response Guidebook (DOT ERG). These types of incidents may involve an unknown hazardous material. Placards and labels may not be visible because of smoke or debris, and the driver/operator may be incapacitated or missing. DOT hazardous materials marking systems are often inadequate because some materials may be transported in quantities less than 1,000 lbs. and are not required to be placarded. There may be combinations of products involved with only a "DANGEROUS" placard/label showing. In many cases, only the most evident hazard is identified, while additional hazards are not labeled. Responding to Incidents Treat all responses as potential hazardous materials incidents. Gather pertinent information before and during your response to the incident. Information should include: Type of incident Location (possible alternate routes of access) Weather (including wind speed and direction) Terrain and topographical features Page 4 of 8
Chemical names and quantities, if known Notify the Volusia County Hazmat Team Duty Officer through jurisdiction s dispatch center to Emergency Communication Center (ECC). Utilize the North American Emergency Response Guidebook (DOT ERG), to determine isolation/evacuation distances and initial responder actions. Approaching Incidents: All units shall approach from upwind and uphill whenever possible. Utilize the following clues to assist in determining the possible involvement of hazardous materials: Occupancy type and location Container shape and size Placards and labels Shipping papers and MSDS Markings and colors Senses sight and sound Initial Actions: 1. Attempt to identify the hazardous materials involved, and reference the material involved in the North American Emergency Response Guidebook (DOT ERG). 2. Establish an Incident Action Plan (IAP) based on information found in the DOT Guidebook. The DOT ERG may be utilized as the Initial Incident Action Plan for up to the first 30 minutes of a hazardous materials incident. 3. Call for additional resources as needed. NOTE: The Hazmat Duty Officer shall be notified of all HAZMAT incidents that are beyond the scope of the First Responder Operational level. 4. An Incident Management System shall be utilized at all HAZMAT incidents in accordance with NIMS. Personnel accountability shall be maintained at all times, in compliance with Volusia County Fire Chief s Association MOG # 100-08, (03/24/04) procedure. The first arriving unit shall assume command, and complete a size-up of the incident. Consider the immediate appointment of a Safety Officer. The Hazmat Team Branch Director will assist the Incident Commander and/or Operations Chief in establishing the incident objectives. The Hazmat Branch Director will evaluate their progress and effectiveness throughout the duration of the incident and notify the Incident Commander and/or Operations Chief of any modifications that might occur during the incident as necessary. 5. All personnel operating in or near the immediate vicinity of a hazardous atmosphere shall wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). Page 5 of 8
6. Designate boundary early for Hot, Warm, and Cold Zones in accordance with the North American Emergency Response Guidebook (DOT ERG). 7. Provide Dispatch with the number of any victims exposed and the dimensions of the endangered area. 8. Isolate the area, deny entry, and shelter-in-place or evacuate endangered persons as necessary. Early notification of area hospitals for possible arrival of contaminated victims that may have left the scene prior to the arrival of the first responders. Direct individuals who may have been exposed/contaminated by hazardous materials to a Safe Refuge Area and provide for self-decontamination. Immediate life-saving rescues of exposed victims may be attempted if doing so does not unduly jeopardize the First Response Personnel. Prior to entry into the hot zone, full PPE must be donned and emergency decontamination procedures established. If an immediate rescue is necessary and First Responders need to enter the hot zone, all other radio traffic on the assigned communications channel shall be restricted during the rescue. 9. Establish an adequate water supply, if required, and make provisions for run-off. 10. Consider notification of Volusia County Emergency Management of significant incidents involving hazardous materials. Notify Volusia County Environmental Management of significant incidents involving actual or potential damage to the environment, including fuel spills greater than 25 gallons. If the chemical is unknown, provide Dispatch or Chemtrec with as much information as possible, with the following information: Shipper or Manufacturer Transporter information (vehicle type and number) Labels and placards Names, tags, or other identifying information Physical description of the container size, shape, and quantity of the product if known. Physical description of the product. I.e., solid, liquid, gas, color, etc General Operations: Control measures for hazardous materials are divided into two categories Defensive and Offensive. Generally speaking, personnel trained to the First Responder Operations level perform defensive operations only. However, offensive control measures may be used to handle small quantities of commonly encountered hazardous materials, such as, flammable and combustible liquids, flammable gases, and oxygen as identified below. Page 6 of 8
1. Defensive Control Measures: Personnel meeting the training requirements for the First Responder Operations Level may engage in the following defensive control activities: Isolation of the hazardous area Evacuation of endangered persons Product spill control measures such as damming and diking Fire control operations without direct hazardous chemical exposure Vapor suppression and dispersion activities Supporting HazMat Team operations 2. Offensive Control Measures: Personnel meeting the First Responder Operations Level training requirements are permitted to engage in the following, if all appropriate safety precautions are taken: Immediate life-saving rescues of victims. If a rescue attempt is made, every precaution for the protection of Rescue Personnel shall be utilized. Flammable and combustible liquids spill containment, confinement, and extinguishment, should the product pose no additional unreasonable health or reactivity hazard. First Responders may shut off controls of a Hazardous Material if it s from a remote area. Control of flammable gas leaks from pressurized containers holding less than 50 gallons if the benefit outweighs the risk, and: a. The flammable gas poses no additional unreasonable health or reactivity hazard. b. Control does not involve movement of a Critical Container. Personnel meeting the First Responder Operations Level training requirements (but not meeting Technician Level training) are not permitted to engage in the following: a. Direct contact with hazardous materials that require the use of chemical protective suits. b. Offensive leak control measures on pressurized containers holding more than 50 gallons of flammable gasses (e.g., propane), where the risk outweighs the benefit. c. Movement of a Critical Container. A Critical Container is defined as any pressurized container which has sustained any of the following: Page 7 of 8
i. Severe dents or similar damage ii. Deep scores or gouges which cross a weld bead iii. Severe rust or corrosion damage iv. Metal fatigue evidenced by small cracks or other indications of structural deterioration. Page 8 of 8