Hazardous MaterialsScene Safety

Presented by

LT Russell Peterson, MS, EMT, CPR

Hazardous Materials Specialist

Introduction

• Training Requirements

• Planning Requirements

• Incident Management

• Medical Support

• Administrative Functions

Training Requirements

• OSHA training levels include:– HM Awareness (no minimum hours)– HM Operations (minimum 8 hours)– HM Technician (minimum 24 hours)– HM Specialist (minimum 24 hours)

• OSHA-only certification/Not NFPA level

– HM Incident Commander

Certifications

• OSHA v. NFPA– NFPA 472– 29 CFR 1910.120

• Where?– TEMA– FEMA– USEPA

HM Awareness

• May come upon spill or leak during duty times (PD & Public Works)

• Protect nearby public and property by isolation and evacuation

• Defensive mode only

• Cannot contain or confine

Special Personnel

• Temporary personnel needed to perform immediate support functions, such as heavy equipment operators may not need to meet training requirement

• Must be briefed on:– chemical hazards– PPE– safety/work plans

HM Operations

• Respond to releases as the initial response (firefighters; some EMT’s)

• Protect nearby public and property by isolation and evacuation

• Defensive mode only

• Can contain but cannot confine

HM Technician

• Respond for the purpose of stopping the spill or leak (HM team members)

• Offensive role; confine the spill/leak

• Training requirements include:– HM Team Operations I and II (TEMA)– Radiological Monitor (TEMA)

HM Specialist

• Provide support to HM Technicians (HM team leaders)

• More specific knowledge of detection and tactics

• Training requirements include:– Chemistry of HM (NFA)– HM Operating Site Practices (NFA)– Radiological Response Team (TEMA)

HM Incident Manager

• Specialized management of the HM incident (HM team officers)

• Most be higher trained than HM - Operations level

• 24 additional hours of training in HM incident management

Planning Requirements

“If you fail to plan,

plan to fail…”

“Know before you Go!”

• Occupancy Pre-plans

• Specialized (chemical specific) Pre-plans

• Emergency Operations Plans (EOP)

• Operational Guidelines/SOP’s

Incident Management

• Major components of HM incident management include:– HM incident management format– scene control– response safety– medical support

Incident Management Model

• Isolation

• Notification

• Identification

• Protection

• Spill and Leak Control

• Fire Control

• Recovery and Termination

Isolation

is Scene Control!!!

Scene Control

• Scene control is accomplished by:– scene security

• isolation via PD

– control zones• hot, warm, and cold zones

– safe response practices• environmental health and safety• medical control and surveillance

Where to Park?

• Where you park impacts on your safety!– Uphill– Upwind

• Isolate the incident (use your vehicle!)• Consider the need for water for

decontamination• Don’t walk a mile, but stay out of the

product!

Control Zones

• Hot Zone = Exclusion zone

• Warm Zone = Contamination Reduction Zone

• Cold Zone = Support Zone

Hot Zone

• determined by air monitoring, meteorological conditions, geography, and HM product characteristics

• One way in - one way out• Work area only in required PPE• No eating, drinking, chewing, or “carrying

on”• “Get in, then get out!”

Warm Zone

– decontamination occurs here

– PPE is required here

– PPE level is generally one level below level required in the Hot Zone

Cold Zone

• The Command Post, the Incident Manager, support staff, and media are here

• No PPE required!

• If it is, MOVE!!!

Notification

Who you gonna call?

Notification Contacts

• Williamson County Emergency Management Agency– your “one stop shop!”– they will notify TEMA and others, if needed

• We can call the shipper, carrier, or CHEMTREC if we need to!!!

Identification

What is that stuff?

On Scene Indicators

– Occupancy/location

– Container shape

– Markings/colors

– Placards/labels

– Shipping papers

– Senses

Protection

• Your safety is increased by using:– the incident management system– an accountability system– “Two In-Two Out”– standardized procedures and techniques– effective decontamination– medical support and surveillance

Incident Manager

• Senior responding officer is the Incident Manager

• Coordinates all emergency responders and communications

• Assisted by:– HM Branch Officer – Incident Safety Officer– HM Safety Officer

HM Branch Officer

• Works closely with the IM and HM Safety Officer to determine the best and safest method to contain and confine the spill or leak with minimal impact on the public, response personnel, and the environment.

• Should be a HM Technician

• Most likely is the HM Team Leader

Incident Safety Officer

• Overall safety for incident• Has the authority to alter, suspend, and/or

terminate unsafe operations• Works closely with the Incident Manager• Works with the HM Safety Officer to

determine best use of personal protective equipment and engineering controls

HM Safety Officer

• Knowledgeable in HM response operations

• Should be a HM Technician

• Technical advisor to the ISO and the IM for HM safety issues

• May be the ISO at some incidents

HM Response Safety

• Remember “Two In - Two Out”– Same as RIT for fires

• Have EMS standing by– pre-entry medical check– post-entry medical check– emergency medical treatment

• Have decon ready before entry• Have rehab ready before entry

Safety Triad

• Administrative controls– SOP/policies

• Engineering controls– guarding/relief valves

• Personal Protective Clothing– SCBA/PPE

• IF YOU DEVIATE FROM THESE, YOU CAN DIE!

Safety Briefing

• Held before all entry activities• Includes all personnel• Covers the Site Safety Plan, to include:

– expected hazards– signs and symptoms of exposure– work plan– communications and emergency signals– evacuation routes

Medical Support

• EMS/FD-MD can help in this area• Includes medical monitoring and

treatment– pre-entry check

• baseline vitals

– post-entry check• signs of chemical exposure

• signs of heat stress– pulse best indication of heat stress

Medical Surveillance

• 29 CFR 1910.134 - Respiratory Standard

• 29 CFR 1910.120 - HAZWOPER Standard

• NFPA 1582 - Medical Requirements

• Annually, extended to biennial if approved by physician

Medical Surveillance

• Physicals should include a work and medical history, including:– previous chemical exposures– PPE/SCBA considerations

• Records of medical surveillance must be kept for length of employment plus 30 years!

Incident Termination

• Decontamination complete

• Personnel debriefing

• Disposal of product, decontamination solutions, and equipment

• Reports/documentation

Remember!

The most important sense is COMMON SENSE!