11

Hazardous Materials

Section 6:

Response Priorities and Actions

Analyze

Plan

Implement

Evaluate

22

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

33

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

44

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

55

Evacuation

Determine a safe and suitable shelter

Temporary evacuation areas Transportation must be

arranged

66

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

77

Shelter-in-Place

Safeguarding people Doors and windows stay

closed Ventilation systems shut

88

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

99

Atmospheric Monitoring

1010

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

1111

Atmospheric Monitoring

Lower Flammable Limit increase

Carbon monoxide increase Oxygen level increase or

decrease Hydrogen sulfide increase

1212

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

1313

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

1414

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

1515

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

1616

Meter Specifics

First and most important operational check: THE BATTERY THE BATTERY

Many units have dual power options Temperature affects battery life

1717

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

1818

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

1919

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

2020

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

2121

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

2222

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)

2323

Meter Specifics

Pay attention to battery life during operations Exit area prior to meter shutting downExit area prior to meter shutting down

2424

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

2525

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

2727

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

2828

Meter Specifics Action Levels

Flammable atmospheres The meter measures up to 10%

of the calibration gas LEL

2929

Search and Rescue

Protection of life is always first priority Search and rescue in a fire environment

is different from a hazardous materials incident

3030

Search and Rescue

Identification of hazards IC must determine search

and rescue Proper PPE must be worn Victims are

decontaminated in warm zone

3131

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

3232

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

3333

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

3434

Fire Extinguishment

Flammable liquid fires can be extinguished by foam agents

Types of foam: AFFFAFFF FluoroproteinFluoroprotein ProteinProtein High expansionHigh expansion

3535

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

3636

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

3737

Pressurized Gas Cylinder Emergencies

Some action options may include: EvacuationEvacuation RescueRescue Firefighting actionFirefighting action DecontaminationDecontamination

3838

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

3939

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

4040

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

4141

Diking, Damming, Diversion, and Retention

Diking—barrier Damming—stopping flow Diversion—redirecting flow Retention—hold released

material

4242

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)

4343

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

4444

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

4545

Vapor Suppression

Technique of controlling fumes The use of foam agents Reducing the temperature of

hazardous material

4646

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

4747

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

4848

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

4949

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

5050

Summary

Options for mitigating a hazardous materials incident include: EvacuationEvacuation ConfinementConfinement ContainmentContainment AbsorptionAbsorption DilutionDilution DispersionDispersion

5151

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

5252