1 Hazardous Materials Section 6: Response Priorities and Actions Analyze Plan Implement Evaluate
Apr 01, 2015
11
Hazardous Materials
Section 6:
Response Priorities and Actions
Analyze
Plan
Implement
Evaluate
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What is a Risk-Benefit Response for Haz-Mat
Incidents? If hazardous material is covering a large
area and negatively affecting many people, responding personnel must withdraw for their own safety
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Exposures
People, property, structures, or the environment
Number of exposures is dictated by location Urban areasUrban areas——many exposuresmany exposures Rural areasRural areas——fewer exposuresfewer exposures
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Evacuation
One of the top priorities of the first responder Must be performed in PPEMust be performed in PPE
Has significant risks, even when properly planned
May include traveling to homes to advise residents to leave
Christopher G. Knight Photo
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Evacuation
Determine a safe and suitable shelter
Temporary evacuation areas Transportation must be
arranged
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Evacuation
Determine initial areas to be evacuated Refer to DOT-ERGRefer to DOT-ERG
Use devices to monitor concentrations and rate of movement of hazardous material
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Shelter-in-Place
Safeguarding people Doors and windows stay
closed Ventilation systems shut
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Evacuation or Shelter-in-Place
Chemical properties of the material(s) determines whether to shelter-in-place or evacuate
Expected duration of incident is a factor
Ability to evacuate is determined by resources
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Atmospheric Monitoring
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Atmospheric Monitoring
Usually performed on a priority basis: Radiation/radioactive materialRadiation/radioactive material Corrosive vaporsCorrosive vapors Oxygen levelsOxygen levels Flammable atmospheresFlammable atmospheres Other toxicsOther toxics
• Organics/inorganicsOrganics/inorganics
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Atmospheric Monitoring
Lower Flammable Limit increase
Carbon monoxide increase Oxygen level increase or
decrease Hydrogen sulfide increase
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Meter Specifics
What will it tell you? Carbon Monoxide levels in parts per millionCarbon Monoxide levels in parts per million Hydrogen Sulfide levels in parts per millionHydrogen Sulfide levels in parts per million Oxygen levels in percentageOxygen levels in percentage Lower Explosive (Flammable) Limit in Lower Explosive (Flammable) Limit in
percentagepercentage
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What is a Part Per Million?
A part per million is equal to: One penny in $10,000One penny in $10,000 One minute in two yearsOne minute in two years One dime in a one mile high stack of penniesOne dime in a one mile high stack of pennies
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Meter Specifics
What won’t it tell you? If radiation or radioactive material is presentIf radiation or radioactive material is present If explosive material is presentIf explosive material is present If biological material is present If biological material is present
When can it be used based on weather? Check manufacturer’s specificationsCheck manufacturer’s specifications
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Meter Specifics
Turning the meter on: Most units are activated by pressing a “mode” Most units are activated by pressing a “mode”
button oncebutton once Turning it off:
Most units are turned off by pressing and Most units are turned off by pressing and holding the same “on” button for several holding the same “on” button for several secondsseconds
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Meter Specifics
First and most important operational check: THE BATTERY THE BATTERY
Many units have dual power options Temperature affects battery life
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Meter Specifics
Many manufacturers recommend that a bump test be performed
A bump test is defined as a brief exposure of the monitor to the calibration gas
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Meter Specifics
Zero (fresh air) calibration Sensors remember last readingsSensors remember last readings Press a combination or series of buttonsPress a combination or series of buttons Make sure the meter is properly warmed upMake sure the meter is properly warmed up Calibration with issued gas Calibration with issued gas
cylinder requires detailed cylinder requires detailed trainingtraining
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Meter Specifics
Reading Interpretation Absence of evidence is not evidence of Absence of evidence is not evidence of
absence….absence…. Oxygen reading may be the first indicator of a Oxygen reading may be the first indicator of a
changing atmospherechanging atmosphere Sensors may take up to 30 seconds to register Sensors may take up to 30 seconds to register
readingsreadings
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Meter Specifics
A decrease in oxygen readings with no changes in other sensor readings means unknown substance(s) are displacing the oxygen and are not able to be measured/ detected by the other sensors A decrease of 1% in oxygen concentration is A decrease of 1% in oxygen concentration is
significantsignificant• A 1% drop in oxygen equates to 10,000 A 1% drop in oxygen equates to 10,000
PPM of contaminant in the air PPM of contaminant in the air
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Meter Specifics
Sensor cross-sensitivities LEL, CO, & HLEL, CO, & H22S readings are affected by other S readings are affected by other
substancessubstances Detecting a known substance in the atmosphere Detecting a known substance in the atmosphere
other than the one the sensor is designed to other than the one the sensor is designed to detect may be possible with the application of a detect may be possible with the application of a correction factorcorrection factor
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Meter Specifics
Meter alarm points Most meters have standardized alarm points Most meters have standardized alarm points
and limits (check your Operation Manual)and limits (check your Operation Manual)
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Meter Specifics
Pay attention to battery life during operations Exit area prior to meter shutting downExit area prior to meter shutting down
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Meter Specifics Action Levels
When detector alarms Leave the area Leave the area Change the atmosphereChange the atmosphere Use PPEUse PPE
Low/high oxygen At 19.5%, oxygen deficientAt 19.5%, oxygen deficient At 23.5%, oxygen enrichedAt 23.5%, oxygen enriched The space must be vacatedThe space must be vacated
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Meter Specifics Action Levels
Carbon monoxide OSHA permissible exposure limit (PEL) OSHA permissible exposure limit (PEL)
is 50 PPM in the workplace during an 8 is 50 PPM in the workplace during an 8 hour dayhour day
Most detectors alarm at 35 PPMMost detectors alarm at 35 PPM
Source: TABLE Z-1 Limits for Air Contaminants. - 1910.1000 TABLE Z-2
2626Source: http://www.fieldpiece.com
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Meter Specifics Action Levels
Hydrogen sulfide NIOSH IDLH = 100 PPM
Hydrogen sulfide (Z37.2-1966)
.......... 20 ppm 50 ppm 10 mins. once only if no other meas. exp. occurs.
Substance
8-hour time
weighted average
Acceptable
ceiling concentr
ation
Acceptable maximum peak above the acceptable
ceiling concentration for an 8-hr shift
Concentration
Maximum duration
Source: TABLE Z-1 Limits for Air Contaminants. - 1910.1000 TABLE Z-2
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Meter Specifics Action Levels
Flammable atmospheres The meter measures up to 10%
of the calibration gas LEL
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Search and Rescue
Protection of life is always first priority Search and rescue in a fire environment
is different from a hazardous materials incident
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Search and Rescue
Identification of hazards IC must determine search
and rescue Proper PPE must be worn Victims are
decontaminated in warm zone
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Exposure Protection
Remove exposure from the threat by evacuating residents
Place a barrier between the threat and the exposure
Neutralize the material Performed only by a Performed only by a
responder at the technician levelresponder at the technician level
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Confinement and Containment
Confinement—keeping material on-site or within immediate area of release Damming or diking materialDamming or diking material Confining vapors to a specific areaConfining vapors to a specific area
Containment—procedures to stop the leak or release (technician operations) Plugging and patching containersPlugging and patching containers Righting an overturned containerRighting an overturned container
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Fire Extinguishment
Handle hazardous materials cautiously Know materials (ID) before
extinguishing Some hazardous
materials react violently to water
Physical properties of material must be known
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Fire Extinguishment
Flammable liquid fires can be extinguished by foam agents
Types of foam: AFFFAFFF FluoroproteinFluoroprotein ProteinProtein High expansionHigh expansion
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Foam Application Techniques
Gently applied Object is not to upset burning surfaceObject is not to upset burning surface
Deflected off adjacent surface Rain-down/snowflake method Roll-on method
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Pressurized Gas Cylinder Emergencies
The nature of the threat depends on: The contents of the cylinderThe contents of the cylinder The area in which the The area in which the
cylinder is storedcylinder is stored The design and integrity The design and integrity
of the cylinder of the cylinder
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Pressurized Gas Cylinder Emergencies
Some action options may include: EvacuationEvacuation RescueRescue Firefighting actionFirefighting action DecontaminationDecontamination
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Defensive Control Activities
Natural control points—areas in the terrain or structure that can contain hazardous materials Doors to a roomDoors to a room Doors to a buildingDoors to a building Curb areas of roadwaysCurb areas of roadways
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Absorption
Process of using a material to soak up and hold a spill
Collection and disposal manageable Add dry, granular,
clay-based material or dry sand to a spill
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Absorption
Places personnel in close proximity to spill Apply absorbent from a distance using shovelsApply absorbent from a distance using shovels
Adds volume to the spill Absorbent material may
react with spilled material
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Diking, Damming, Diversion, and Retention
Diking—barrier Damming—stopping flow Diversion—redirecting flow Retention—hold released
material
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Dam Types
Complete Used across a small stream/ditch to stop Used across a small stream/ditch to stop
material flowmaterial flow Underflow
Used for lighter materials Used for lighter materials (specific gravity < 1)(specific gravity < 1)
Overflow Used for heavier materials (specific Used for heavier materials (specific
gravity >1)gravity >1)
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Dilution
Addition of water to weaken the strength or concentration of a material
Can only be used when the
identity of the material is
known Greatly increases volume
of spill and may overwhelm containment measures
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Vapor Dispersion
Process of spreading the vapor over a greater area
Accomplished with fog streams, large displacement fans, or heating/cooling systems
Consider all consequences before dispersing vapors
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Vapor Suppression
Technique of controlling fumes The use of foam agents Reducing the temperature of
hazardous material
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Remote Shut-Off
Identification and isolation Valves can be shut-off remotely or
manually Many cargo tanks also have remote shut-
off valves MC 306 normally located front driver’s side MC 306 normally located front driver’s side
or rear of cargo tankor rear of cargo tank
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Decision to Withdraw
IC may decide that the incident cannot be handled without unnecessary risk to personnel
IC may decide to withdraw to a safe distance & set defensive perimeter To wait for additional resourcesTo wait for additional resources To let the incident run its courseTo let the incident run its course
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Recovery
Occurs when eminent danger has passed Cleanup effort begins Transition between emergency
responders and commercial cleanup companies
Incident is NOT over at this point
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When to Terminate the Incident
Decision to terminate made by the IC Recovery phase can go on for days,
weeks, or months Ultimate goal is to return the site to a
pre-incident condition
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Summary
Options for mitigating a hazardous materials incident include: EvacuationEvacuation ConfinementConfinement ContainmentContainment AbsorptionAbsorption DilutionDilution DispersionDispersion
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Summary
Concerns about evacuation versus sheltering-in-place are very serious Incident may progress and be over before Incident may progress and be over before
you can interveneyou can intervene Incident is so deadly that responders Incident is so deadly that responders
should undertake no actionshould undertake no action Concerns for life safety must weigh on
the side of firefighters
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