Hazardous Materials Incidents
by Chris Hawley
CHAPTER 5: Protective Actions
Chapter 5: Overview
• Introduction
• Incident management systems
• Hazardous materials management
processes
• Common incidents
• Decontamination
• Methods of decontamination
• Summary
Basic Concept
• Do not allow others to become part of the
incident (includes responders).
• Protect those already involved (rescue).
• Protect those who may become effected
by the incident if it progresses
(exposures).
Incident Management
• OSHA requires some form of incident
management.
• Three current systems
– Incident Command System (ICS)
– Incident Management System (IMS)
– Firescope
• All three have similarities
– Management system for emergencies
Incident Management
• Focused on span of control
– 4-6 people work for 1 supervisor
• Provides unity of command
• Provides chain of command
• Goal oriented
– Strategic goals
– Tactical objectives
– Tactical methods
Command Positions
• Incident commander
– Safety officer
– Public information
– Liaison officer
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Finance
Logistics
Operations
Planning
Incident Commander
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Runs the entire operation
Responsible for overall strategy
Delegates responsibility
Command staff assists
Unified command assists with decision
making
Finance
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Responsible for bill paying
Tracks expenses
Records overtime
Handles all financial aspects of the
incident
Logistics
• Responsible for obtaining and coordinating
equipment
• Tracks available resources
• Coordinates holding and storage of
resources
Operations
• Directs the people who have “hands on”
with the actual event
• Implements the tactical objectives
• Assigns the tactical methods used to
mitigate the incident
Planning
• Plans for future needs
• Must anticipate future logistical needs
• For long-term incidents
– Food
– Shelter
– Toilets
– Rehab facilities
Branch Positions (1 of 2)
• Under a management system, the span of
control dictates the addition of other
specified tasks.
• Under operations, the HAZMAT team will
fill a number of positions known as
branches.
Branch Positions (2 of 2)
• Entry – at least 2 people
• Backup – at least 2 people
• Decontamination – decon leader and crew
members
• Information and research
• Reconnaissance
• Resources (HAZMAT logistics)
HAZMAT Branch Leader
• Leads the HAZMAT team
– Runs tactical portion of the incident
– Reports to operations leader
• Assisted by HAZMAT safety officer
– Assists overall safety officer
– Looks for HAZMAT-specific concerns
Management Processes
• Used to organize HAZMAT-specific issues
• Provide framework to set up an incident
– 8 step process®
– GEDAPER©
– DECIDE process
8 Step Process®
• Site management and
control
• Identify the problem
• Hazard and risk
identification
• Select PPE
• Information
management and
resource coordination
• Implement response
objectives
• Decontamination
• Terminate the incident
GEDAPER©
• Gather information
• Estimate potential
course and harm
• Determine strategic
goals
• Assess tactical
options and resources
• Plan and implement
actions decided upon
• Evaluate
• Review
DECIDE
• Detect the presence
of hazardous
materials
• Estimate the likely
harm
• Choose a response
objective
• Identify the action
• Do the best that you
can
• Evaluate your
progress
Isolation
• When arriving at a suspected chemical release, isolate
the area from other persons who may inadvertently
wander into a hazardous environment.
Rescue (1 of 2)
• Emergency response work and rescue is
inherently risky.
• Our best hope is to use methods to identify that
risk and safely manage it.
Rescue (2 of 2)
• Use a simple
risk/benefit analysis
when rescuing victims.
A lot of risk is taken
when a lot is at stake.
No risk is taken when
the benefit is little.
• Always wear
protective clothing
which includes the use
of SCBA.
Top Ten Chemicals Released
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Sulfuric acid
Hydrochloric acid
Chlorine
Ammonia
Sodium hydroxide
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Gasoline
Natural gas
Propane
Oil
Methanol
Risk-Based Response
• Focuses on basic risk categories
– Fire
– Corrosive
– Toxic
– Radioactive
• Based on benefit
• Used to rescue live victims or protect
endangered persons
Site Management
• For success, establish isolation areas.
• Prevent movement of responders or
victims into hazard areas.
– Hazard areas are known as zones, sectors, or
other area designation.
Hazard Area Designations
• Hot zone = exclusion zone = contaminated
area= isolation area
• Warm zone = contamination reduction =
set up area
• Cold zone = support zone = incident
command area
Zones
Isolation Areas
• First responders need to establish the
area.
• To be wrong initially by being too large is
better than to be wrong by being too small.
– Use technical resources to assist with exact
size.
– Use air monitors to establish hazard areas.
– Adjust when resources are adequate.
Isolation Considerations
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Topography
Incoming resources
Weather conditions
Size of release
Type of material
Public exposure potential
Other exposures – water
sources
Evacuation and Sheltering
• Downwind and downhill at-risk areas
• Two response actions
– Evacuation
– Shelter in place
• Determined by type of release and risk
• Always use evacuation with large fires and
explosive risk.
Evacuation
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Time consuming
Mass notification difficult
Not always mandatory (state specific)
Difficult to evacuate large numbers of
people
– Road crowding
– Panic
– Shelter issues
Shelter in Place
• Usually preferred option
• Difficult to inform everyone
• Shut off HVAC system, windows, and
doors
• Notify and keep sheltered victims informed
• Best for short-term releases
Reasons to Not Shelter in Place
• Large, fast moving fire situation
• Explosion potential
• Long-term release where chemical
exposure could rise in the building
– Evacuation would result in lesser exposure
Types of Vapor Clouds
Types of Container Breaches
Common Incidents — Explosives
• The general rule with explosives is if the fire is near
or is affecting the explosives, then emergency
responders should isolate the area and back away.
• Life safety is the top priority.
Explosives Standoff Distances
Explosives
• All explosives should be handled by a
bomb technician.
• Bombs brought into the fire station should
only be handled by a bomb technician.
• Potentially explosive chemicals should
only be handled by a bomb technician.
• There is a theme running through
here………
Gases
• Natural gas
– Very flammable
– Rises quickly
– Easily ignited by static
• Propane
– Very flammable
– Sinks and stays low
– Easily ignited by static
Gas Cylinders
• BLEVE hazards
• Usually contain liquids
which are liquid by
pressurization
• Many cars, trucks, and
other vehicles are
powered by natural gas
or propane.
Alternate Fuel Source
Flammable and Combustible Liquids (1 of 2)
• Gasoline
– Leading chemical
causing fatalities
– Many are complacent
with gasoline
• Diesel fuel
Flammable and Combustible Liquids (2 of 2)
Flammable Solids
• Burn readily
• Burn quickly and with high heat
– Highway warning flares
Water Reactives (1 of 2)
• Can react with water or moisture in the air
• May react violently
– Sodium
– Lithium
• May have minor reaction
– Calcium carbide (acetylene)
– Heat
– Bubbling
– Off-gasing (flammable or toxic gases)
Water Reactives (2 of 2)
Spontaneously Combustible
• May be stored to prevent violent reaction
• White phosphorus stored in water is stable
– Exposed to air, violently reacts and ignites
Oxidizers
• Release oxygen
molecules
• Increases fire risk
• Most explosive
materials are
oxidizers
Organic Peroxides
• Can react to light,
heat, shock, and
contamination
• May polymerize
• Can be explosive
or violently
reactive
Poisons
• Pesticides
– Technical grade (almost pure)
– Household grade (very dilute)
• Inhalation poisons
• Environmental hazards
Radioactive Materials
• The key to safety is keeping the material
contained.
• Limit your time, keep your distance, and
wear some form of shielding when dealing
with radiation.
Corrosives
• Most common
– Sulfuric acid
– Hydrochloric acid
– Sodium hydroxide
– Ammonia
Other Incidents
• The absence of a vapor cloud or odor
does not mean that a potentially deadly
material is not present.
– Odorless
– Colorless
Decontamination
• Removal of a chemical or material from a
person, equipment, or environment
• May be performed by first responders
• Crucial to overall safety
• Chemical specific
Types of Decontamination
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Gross decontamination
Formal decontamination
Fine decontamination
Emergency
decontamination
– Mass decontamination
Emergency Decontamination
• Responders should always be prepared
for emergency decontamination.
• Runoff control is important, but do not
delay decontamination to establish runoff
control.
• Persons lives are always the priority.
Gross Decontamination
• Gets the majority of
the contamination off
– Gets the big chunks
• Usually the first wet
step in the decon
process
– May involve showers or
hose set ups
Formal Decontamination
• Scrubbing and rinsing
• Introduction of a decon
solution
– Soap and water are good
• Steps usually repeated
• Involves removal of PPE
• Done by decon team
members
Fine Decontamination
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Hospital-based
After formal decontamination
For the more intricate parts of the body
Hospital personnel need HAZMAT training
and equipment.
Mass Decontamination
• Most decon setups are for the HAZMAT
team.
• Mass decon is for large numbers of
people.
– More than 10 is usually mass numbers.
• It is usually water-based.
• Clothing removal provides more than 80%
removal of the contaminant.
Methods of Decontamination (1 of 4)
Methods of Decontamination (2 of 4)
Methods of Decontamination (3 of 4)
Methods of Decontamination (4 of 4)
Full Decontamination Process (1 of 3)
• Tool drop
• Gross
decontamination
• Formal
decontamination
• PPE removal
• SCBA removal
• Clothing removal
• Body wash
(emergency only)
• Dry off
• Medical evaluation
Full Decontamination Process (2 of 3)
Full Decontamination Process (3 of 3)
Methods of Decontamination (1 of 2)
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Absorption
Adsorption
Covering
Dilution
Disinfection
Disposal
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Emulsification
Neutralization
Overpacking
Removal
Solidification
Vacuuming
Vapor dispersion
Methods of Decontamination (2 of 2)
Summary
• Incident management systems
• Hazardous materials management
processes
• Common incidents
• Decontamination
• Methods of decontamination