A Simple Guide To Hm Response
- 1. A Simple Guide to Hazardous Materials Response
- 2. Let’s start with the basics…
- 3. Our Incident Priorities Life Safety first Incident Stabilization second Property Conservation third
- 4. Eight easy steps to HM Incident Management Isolation SpillControl Notification Leak Control Identification Fire Control Protection Recovery and Termination
- 5. What do you call an Engine with 3 HM Techs initially arriving on an incident? An Engine with three HM Operations level personnel…
- 6. Until you get the right level of CPE and decon on the scene… You’re stuck at the Operations level!
- 7. But that’s OK… You can do a lot of good at the Operations level!
- 8. Defensive Response Operations (HM Operations) Isolation Notification Identification Protection – Level B and D Spill Control – Product Confinement Fire Control Recovery and Termination
- 9. Offensive Response Operations (HM Techs) Identification – Sampling – Categorization Protection – Level A Leak Control – Product Containment
- 10. Life Safety Isolation – Deny entry – Don’t expose anyone else – Keep the dirty people in the hot zone Set up an Area of Safe Refuge then decon Notification – BFD HazMat Team – Williamson County HazMat Response Group – Williamson County EMA and EMS – Nashville Fire Department HazMat
- 11. Isolation Deny entry by public and other responders – Stay 300 feet away – uphill and upwind – Block access with apparatus – Use PD to block other avenues – Exercise extreme caution with downwind and downstream access – Establish Area of Safe Refuge for contaminated persons (uphill/upwind but still in Hot Zone)
- 12. Evacuation Takes a lot of time…consider it early! Be proactive…get ahead of the power curve! But, stick with the NAERG initial isolation distances and protective action distances…they are defensible in court. The higher the vapor pressure…or lower the IDLH - the greater the likelihood of evacuation.
- 13. Life Safety Identification – Based on: Occupancy and location Container shapes and sizes Markings and colors Placards and labels Documents and papers Senses – Distance from incident decreases and risk increases as you go down the list
- 14. Life Safety Protection – Isolation zones (hot, warm, cold) – CPE (Level A, B, C or D) – Decontamination (mass, emergency and technical) – Air monitoring – Medical monitoring – Rehabilitation
- 15. Protection Four levels of CPE – Level A – vapor tight with SCBA – Level B – splash protection with SCBA – Level C – splash protection with APR – Level D – turnouts/work clothes
- 16. CPE vs. Incident Types 9 Hazard Classes Each hazard class typically has a level of CPE associated with it We are only concerned with three of them (Level A, B, and D) – 75% Initial responders are only concerned with one (Level D) – makes it easy! Caveat is that you are sufficient distance away – out of the hot zone!
- 17. Hazard Classes and CPE Class 1 – Explosives Class 5 – Oxidizers – Level D – Level D Class 2 – Gases Class 6 – Poisons – Poison – Level A – Gases – Level A – Others – Level D – Others – Level B Class 3 – Liquids Class 7 – Rads – Level D – Level D Class 4 – Solids Class 8 – Corrosives – Level D – Level A or B Class 9 – ORM’s – ?
- 18. Level A CPE High level of protection Vapor tight CPE Highest level of respiratory protection with SCBA Technician level activity Requires: – Two in – Two Out – Technical and Emergency Decon
- 19. Level B CPE Second highest level of protection Splash protection coupled with highest level of respiratory protection with SCBA Operations level activity in defensive mode Requires – Two In – Two Out – Technical and Emergency Decontamination
- 20. Level C CPE Lowest level of chemical protection Splash protection with lowest level of respiratory protection with air purifying respirator APR’s require known identification and concentration of contaminant Not practical for initial response
- 21. Level D CPE The ultimate in standoff protective attitude Provides sub-minimal splash protection SCBA provides highest level of respiratory protection Suitable protection for explosives, flammable gases and liquids, flammable solids, oxidizers, and radioactive Works best when added with DISTANCE!
- 22. Incident Stabilization Notification – Who you gonna call? Call early and often! Identification – Operations level activity at a distance (binocs) – Technician level activity hands on (HazCat) Spill Control – Operations level activity
- 23. Incident Stabilization Leak Control – Technician level activity Fire Control – Operations level activity Recovery – Will be handled by HM clean-up company
- 24. Decision Making Use the DECIDE model – Detect the problem – Estimate the likely harm w/wo intervention – Choose response objectives – Identify action options – Do the best option – Evaluate progress
- 25. Detect the problem Occupancy and location Container shapes and sizes Markings and colors Placards and labels Information sources Senses
- 26. Estimate likely harm Stress – event begins w/stress to container Breach – stress leads to container failing Release – breach releases matter or energy Engulf – matter or energy creates a zone of danger Impinge – matter or energy impinges on exposures Harm – impinged exposures will be harmed based on chemical properties
- 27. Choose response objectives Offensive – requires HM techs to come into close or physical contact with the material Defensive – requires HM ops to act to prevent the material from spreading Non-intervention – taking no action – absolute defensiveness.
- 28. Identify action options Notification – Mutual aid – Specialized personnel – Specialized equipment – Command, control, communication, computers, and information (C4I) – Incident management (NIMS) – Incident Action Plans (IAP’s)
- 29. Do the best option According to Callan, Hierarchy of Decisions – Quickest – usually the first and deadliest – Easiest – usually the second – least resource or labor intensive – Best – 30 second rule – take your time.
- 30. Do the best option Also consider: According to Callan, two types of danger – Matter – Gases, vapors, liquids, and solids Energy – Radioactive, explosive, reactive, flammable, thermal extremes, and mechanical hazards Materials are toxic before they are flammable – all flammables should be considered toxic.
- 31. Evaluate your progress Did it work? Do you need more help? Do you need to revise your incident management system? Do you need to revise your Incident Action Plan?
- 32. Property Conservation Spill Control – Confine the spill to the smallest possible area Leak Control – Contain the spill to the container – reduce or discontinue the spill Recovery – Recover spilled materials and return environment to pre-spill condition Terminate – Paperwork and lessons learned
- 33. Questions?
- 34. References Callan, Michael. Street Smart Hazardous Materials Response. 2004. Noll, Greg; Hildebrand, Michael; Yvorra, James. Managing Hazardous Materials Incidents. 2005. US Department of Transportation. North American Emergency Response Guide. 2004.