Dearborn Fire Department

Response to Haz-Mat Incidents & How to Request the Haz-Mat Team.

Objectives

• To be able to respond to Hazardous Material Incident and have a general idea of how to handle the incident in a safe way.

• To be able to gather the needed information and request the Haz-Mat team.

• To learn what will be needed from the department’s firefighters and command once the Haz-Mat Team is on scene.

This Presentation will be broken down into 3 sections

• 1st Engine’s response to a Haz-Mat Incident.

• Proper way to request the Haz-Mat Team and the information needed when requesting the Team.

• What the Hazmat Team needs from YOU.

1st Engine’s response to a Haz-Mat Incident.

• Dispatch information• Arriving on scene• Information gathering• Initial Decisions• Difference between an Incident at a fixed

site versus a rail or over road incident.

Dispatch Information • Haz-Mat calls may not always come in

a Haz-Mat or WMD call.• Look for Red Flags that may indicate a

Haz-Mat run.• “DON’T RUSH IN”• If you think it might be a Haz-Mat or

WMD incident upon arrival take a cautious approach.

Dispatch Information

• Size up- check wind direction via dispatch or flag

• Apparatus positioning – if possible approach up wind, stream, and up hill.

• Keep a safe distance!

Arriving on scene

• Try to find out what happened, when it happened, and is the problem still happening.

Find out as much as you can before entering a hazardous area.

Arriving on scene

Arriving on scene

• Occupancy and/or location

• Container/vehicle shape (size and configuration)

• Markings and colors

• Placards and labels

• Papers (shipping papers, materials safety data sheets)

First Information to obtain and Initial Decisions

• What is the Chemical name

• Are there any special instructions about that chemical.

• Use your ERG ( Emergency Response Guidebook) to get the info needed to make your initial decisions on zones and scene safety

Where to find the Information you need

• Fixed sites – employees, MSDS’s, and NFPA 704 Hazard ID system

• Over the road or Rail – DOT Placarding and Rail & Road Trailer Identifification system.

• Shipping papers and Rail consist.

WMD Type Incidents

It could be a chemical or a bomb release or both. The release could be NERVE AGENTS , VESICANTS (blister agent), BLOOD AGENTS , CHOKING, IRRITANTS, or BIOLOGICAL.

Responder Actions on a WMD incident would include the

following – Notification– Security– Secondary device search**– Medical assistance– Decontamination– Documentation

• DO NOT ATTEMPT TO MOVE OR DISARM

Requesting the Hazmat Team

• What information to have before requesting.

• Who can request the Hazmat Team.

• What are the levels of response from the Hazmat Team.

• How to request the Hazmat Team.

What information to have before requesting.

• First there is no minimum amount of information needed before the Hazmat Team will respond.

• Get as much info as can be done safely and continue to get info while Team is responding.

• Information needed : Brief description of what happened, Staging area and direction to respond in from.

Who can request the Hazmat Team.

• The Engine company will notify the duty B.C. of a Incident that involves or could involve Hazardous Materials, Suspicious powder and/or WMD.

• The B.C. will respond and he will determine if the Hazmat Team will respond.

What are the levels of response from the Hazmat

Team.• A Consult

• A TAG response

• Full Team response

• The level of response can grow from a lesser level up to the level needed or can start Full Team response.

Hazmat Consult

• This is the first and minimum level response.

• With this level the B.C. can call HEMS request that they page out for a Hazmat Teamleader to call to answer questions.

• The B.C. will need to give a brief explanation of what is happening and a phone number he can be reached at.

• Example: Dearborn requesting a Consult for a White powder at a school. Call B.C ______ at 313-943-1234

Hazmat TAG Response

• The next level up in a response would be a TAG response.

• This type of response would a physical, but a limited response from the Hazmat team.

• The B.C. would do the same as for a consult but say TAG instead.

Hazmat FULL Team Response

• The last level of response would be a FULL TEAM response.

• This type of response is for a Major event that will be long in duration or large in scope.

What the Hazmat Team needs from YOU.

• Secure the Scene.

• Set up zones.

• Determine if there are any people exposed and/or contaminated.

• Gather as much information as can be done safely.

What the Hazmat Team needs from YOU.

• Occupancy and/or location

• Container/vehicle shape (size and configuration)

• Markings and colors

• Placards and labels

• Papers (shipping papers, materials safety data sheets)

Secure the Scene

• Restrict entry and exit.

• Secure any paperwork that would be relevant.

Set up zones

• Zones will be different for each incident.

• Zones can be changed as more information is obtained.

• First zones can be physical boundaries.

• Air monitoring can be used with Full PPE to assist in setting up zones.

Determine if there are any people exposed and/or contaminated

• Exposed – In the area where a release happened.

• Contaminated – Actually got the release on them.

Determine if there are any people exposed and/or contaminated

• For Contaminated victims – start thinking about DECON.

• For Exposed victims – confine them until it is determined if they are contaminated.

• If victims are in distress DECON per the information you have at hand then render aid.

Mass DECON problems

• Controlling large numbers of people.

• Using handlines for Mass DECON

• Clothing and shelter after Mass DECON

Gather as much information as can be done safely

• MSDS’s

• Paperwork of any type.

• Contact people and phone numbers

• Always when collecting information only collect what you can with the protection you have.

QUESTIONS