Chapter 52
Hazardous Materials
Awareness
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Objectives
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Hazardous Materials
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Hazardous Materials
• According to the National Fire Protection
Association (NFPA), a hazardous material is:
A substance (solid, liquid, or gas) that,
when released, is capable of creating harm
to people, the environment, and property.
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Safety
• Safety is the primary concern
– Emergency Medical Technician and crew
– Patient
– Public
• Use standard operating procedures
• Dealing with hazardous materials requires
extensive training and proper equipment
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Chemical Protective Clothing
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Chemical Protective Clothing
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Chemical Protective Clothing
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Chemical Protective Clothing
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Scene Size-Up
• Park upwind and uphill from the incident
– Stage a minimum of 2000 feet from
incident
• Keep unnecessary people away from the
area
– Isolate the area
– Keep people out
• Do not enter unless you are properly trained
and fully protected
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Scene Size-Up
• If trained and equipped to do so, identify and
establish safety zones
• Initiate the National Incident Management
System (NIMS) plan
• Designate the Incident Commander
• Announce the location of the command post
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Identifying Hazardous Substances
• U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)
Emergency Response Guidebook
• United Nations (UN) classification numbers
• NFPA 704 placard system
• UN/DOT placards
• Shipping papers
• Material safety data sheets
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DOT Regulations
• U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)
regulates transporting of hazardous
materials in the United States
– Placard tells the class of the hazardous
material
– Four-digit number is keyed to the DOT’s
Emergency Response Guidebook
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NFPA’s Standard 704
• Blue quadrant – health hazard
• Red quadrant – flammability hazard
• Yellow quadrant – reactivity hazard
• White quadrant – specific hazard
– Radioactivity
– Water reactivity
– Biological hazard
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Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs)
• MSDSs provide detailed information about
the material
• Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) requires MSDSs to be
kept on site anywhere chemicals are used
• If MSDSs can be obtained safely, they may
be used to identify materials or products.
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Establishing Safety Zones
• Hot zone (exclusion zone)
– Contains the hazardous material
(contaminant)
– Dangerous area
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Establishing Safety Zones
• Warm zone (contamination reduction zone)
– Controlled area
– Used for entry into the hot zone and
decontamination after exiting the hot zone
– Must wear appropriate protective
equipment
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Establishing Safety Zones
• Cold zone (cold zone, support zone)
– Area safe from exposure
– Staging area for personnel and equipment
– Incident Command Post located here
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Approaching the Patient
• Ensure the scene is safe before approaching
the patient
• Do not approach unless you are trained and
equipped with appropriate PPE
• Remember to stay uphill and upwind as you
approach
• Address gross decontamination
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Decontamination
• Decontamination (decon) by physical and/or
chemical processes is done to reduce and
prevent the spread of contamination from
persons and equipment used at a hazardous
materials incident
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Questions?
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