National
Hazardous
Materials Fusion
Center
Training Package Chlorine Release
Instructor Guide
v. 5.13.09
NATIONAL HAZARDOUS
MATERIALS FUSION CENTER:
TRAINING PACKAGE CHLORINE
RELEASE
INSTRUCTOR GUIDE
Instructor Guide
Copyright Information
Instructor Guide
First Edition 2008.
Revised: September 2008 v. 5.13.09
Printed in the United States of America
The safety statements, procedures, and guidelines contained in this guide are current as of the
publication date. Prior to using the safety statements, procedures, and guidelines contained in the
guide, it is advised that you confirm the currency of these statements, procedures, and guidelines
with the appropriate controlling authorities.
The development of this training program was supported by a grant awarded to the International
Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) by the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT).
The IAFC wishes to thank the USDOT for its ongoing commitment to the health and safety of
hazardous materials first responders.
Pictures on the cover are the property of the Texas Engineering Extension Service/Emergency
Services Training Institute (TEEX/ESTI).
National Hazardous Materials
Fusion Center Chlorine Release
Table of Contents
Module 0: Introduction ................................................................................................................... 1
Course Goal ................................................................................................................................. 1
National Hazardous Materials Fusion Center ............................................................................. 1
Conducting National Hazardous Materials Fusion Center Training Courses .......................... 2
Administrative Information ........................................................................................................ 2
Module 1: The Incident ................................................................................................................... 3
Initial Dispatch Information ........................................................................................................ 3
Initial Incident Size Up ................................................................................................................ 4
Additional Scene Information ..................................................................................................... 5
Module 2: Incident Response ......................................................................................................... 7
Response Narrative ..................................................................................................................... 7
Hazardous Material Behavior ................................................................................................... 12
Incident Response ..................................................................................................................... 13
Module 3: Lessons Learned .......................................................................................................... 15
Lessons Learned ........................................................................................................................ 15
Best Practices ............................................................................................................................ 17
Response Considerations .......................................................................................................... 18
Hazardous Material Information .............................................................................................. 21
Chlorine Gas .......................................................................................................................... 21
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Course Goal | International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)
Instructor Guide
National Hazardous Materials
Fusion Center Chlorine Release
Planning Activity ....................................................................................................................... 23
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Course Goal | International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)
Instructor Guide
Chlorine Release
National Hazardous Materials
Fusion Center Module 0: Introduction
Module 0: Introduction
Module Time: 5–10 minutes
Course Goal
This training course is designed to enhance Hazardous Materials (HazMat) responder safety and
improve decision making for the prevention and mitigation of HazMat incidents. This course has
been developed as part of the National Hazardous Materials Fusion Center.
National Hazardous Materials Fusion Center
The National Hazardous Materials Fusion Center (Fusion Center) is the focus of a cooperative
agreement between the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) and the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC).
The Fusion Center is a secure, web-based portal that serves as a data and information network
for HazMat teams; first responders; federal, state, and local agencies; and the private sector.
Through this portal, they will share critical information to enhance HazMat responder safety
and improve decision making for the prevention and mitigation of HazMat incidents. The Fusion
Center will provide a systematic approach to:
•
information and data collection,
•
information and data analysis, and
•
information and data dissemination.
Regional Incident Survey Teams (RIST) gather the information for the Fusion Center. RISTs are
composed of individuals from around the country who are skilled and experienced in HazMat
response or experienced in the HazMat industry. RIST members will be part of a team invited by
a local jurisdiction or state authority to respond to significant HazMat incidents for information
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Course Goal | International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)
Instructor Guide
Chlorine Release
National Hazardous Materials
Fusion Center Module 0: Introduction
gathering. The information will be analyzed in order to develop safe HazMat response
techniques, lessons learned, and best practices that will be shared with HazMat teams and
emergency responders. In no case will the data be used to criticize or condemn response
actions.
For more information on the Fusion Center visit: http://www.hazmatfc.com/
Or send an e-mail: hazmatfusion@iafc.org
Conducting National Hazardous Materials Fusion Center Training Courses
All of the information contained in this course is from an actual HazMat event. A RIST gathered
all the information.
This training activity can be conducted using a large class discussion or by dividing the
participants into three to four small groups. The benefit of using small groups is to allow greater
participant interaction and to draw out differences in opinion for discussion. The instructor
should decide which method will work best for the number and type of participants in the class.
This course is designed to be taught as it is in approximately 2 hours; however we encourage
you to use this in a manner that best suits your training needs. For example, this material can
be covered and expanded on in a single, longer session or over the course of several training
sessions.
Administrative Information
Before conducting the class ensure that participants know the location of exits and any
emergency procedures unique to the training area. Remind participants that this information is
presented to enhance future response efforts and is not to be used to criticize or condemn
response actions contained herein.
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Administrative Information | International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)
Instructor Guide
Chlorine Release
National Hazardous Materials
Fusion Center Module 1: The Incident
Module 1: The Incident
Module Time: 10–15 minutes
Note: All pictures in this course are copyrighted and are used with permission.
Initial Dispatch Information
Instructor Note:
1. Have participants read the initial dispatch information.
2. Ask participants what they would expect to find if they were en route to this scene in regard to:
•
Location (business, people, and traffic)
•
Presence of hazardous materials
•
Any unique response considerations
•
A work crew is doing boring operations nearby to lay fiber optic cable, hit something
hard, and began to smell a “chemical odor”
•
The location is a busy strip shopping center near a very heavily travelled intersection on
a weekday afternoon.
•
The engine company is staffed with two firefighters who were dispatched to the scene
at 1814 hours.
•
One of the firefighters is trained to the Hazardous Materials (HazMat) technician level
and works part time for a regional HazMat response team.
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Initial Dispatch Information | International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)
Instructor Guide
Chlorine Release
National Hazardous Materials
Fusion Center Module 1: The Incident
Initial Incident Size Up
Instructor Note:
1. Have participants read the initial size-up information.
2. Ask participants if this additional information is significantly different from what they were expecting
based on the initial dispatch information.
3. Based only on the information given, ask participants to discuss response considerations including:
•
Conditions
•
Location
•
Time of day
• Initial reports and information
4. Ask, what (if any) type of hazardous material might be present.
5. Ask, if a hazardous material is present at this time what type of preparations would these responders
most likely be making?
This is the scene as the original responders found it upon their initial arrival and before any
actions took place.
•
Initial reports from witnesses reported the boring machine hitting something hard
shortly into the bore. The impact was hard enough to shake the ground and stall the
machine.
•
Shortly afterwards a strong odor of chlorine was detected. The odor of chlorine was
evident in the area; however, the responding firefighters could not locate the source.
•
The boring crew believed they hit a chlorine pipeline. No such pipeline existed in the
area.
•
One of the initial responders reported finding a propane cylinder behind a privacy wall
at a nearby shopping center.
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Initial Incident Size Up | International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)
Instructor Guide
Chlorine Release
National Hazardous Materials
Fusion Center Module 1: The Incident
•
Conditions:
o Summer afternoon
o Clear to partly cloudy skies
o 98°F, 75 percent relative humidity
o Wind SE at 3–5 miles per hour
o Flat terrain
o Moderate sunlight
Additional Scene Information
•
After further investigation, it was determined that the suspected propane cylinder was
in fact an abandoned chlorine cylinder.
•
As it turned out, the incident of the boring machine hitting something hard and the
abandoned chlorine cylinder were not related at all.
•
At 1835 hours the Incident Commander (IC) issued a request for a regional HazMat
response team to respond to the location.
Instructor Note:
1. Ask participants if this additional information changes the scene.
2. If so, how and why?
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Additional Scene Information | International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)
Instructor Guide
Chlorine Release
National Hazardous Materials
Fusion Center Module 1: The Incident
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Additional Scene Information | International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)
Instructor Guide
Chlorine Release
National Hazardous Materials
Fusion Center Module 2: Incident Response
Module 2: Incident Response
Module Time: 30 minutes
Response Narrative
Instructor Note:
1. Allow participants time to read the narrative of the response.
2. After participants have read the narrative, conduct a discussion based on the items in the
“Hazardous Materials Behavior” and “Incident Response” sections. The “Hazardous Materials
Behavior” section focuses on the hazardous material itself, while the “Incident Response” section
focuses on responders, strategies, and tactics.
3. The PowerPoint slides for this module contain all of the pictures that go along with the narrative.
After participants have read the narrative you should show each of the slides so they can see the
pictures in greater detail and discuss any elements of interest in more depth.
This is the full account of the response narrative compiled from the Regional Incident Survey
Team (RIST) interviews of the responders involved.
On a mid-summer afternoon, a construction crew was laying fiber optic cable with a boring
machine. The local site conditions were as follows: clear to partly cloudy skies, 98°F, 75 percent
relative humidity, and wind SE at 3–5 miles per hour. During the boring operation, the crew hit
“something hard” and continued to bore through it. Almost immediately the crew detected a
chemical odor and alerted authorities. At 1814 hours, 9-1-1 was contacted, who in turn
dispatched an engine company from a local Volunteer Fire Department (VFD) to a gas leak. An
engine company staffed with two firefighters arrived on scene and assumed command. One of
the firefighters was trained to the Hazardous Materials (HazMat) technician level and worked
part time for a regional HazMat response team. Initial reports from witnesses reported the
boring machine hitting something hard shortly into the bore. The impact was hard enough to
shake the ground and stall the machine. Shortly afterwards a strong odor of chlorine was
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Response Narrative | International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)
Instructor Guide
Chlorine Release
National Hazardous Materials
Fusion Center Module 2: Incident Response
detected. The odor of chlorine was evident in the area; however, the responding firefighters
could not locate the source. The boring crew believed they hit a chlorine pipeline. No such
pipeline existed in the area. One of the initial responders mistakenly reported finding a propane
cylinder behind a privacy wall at a nearby shopping center. After further investigation, it was
determined that the suspected propane cylinder was in fact an abandoned chlorine cylinder.
This changed the entire complexion of the incident. As it turned out, the incident of the boring
machine hitting something hard and the abandoned chlorine cylinder were not related at all.
The Incident Commander (IC) issued a request for a regional HazMat response team to respond
to the location.
At 1835 hours, the regional HazMat response team was dispatched to assist the local volunteer
fire department with a chlorine leak. While en route, the HazMat team contacted the IC via cell
phone who stated that an underground boring company possibly hit a Chlorine line. There was
a strong odor of chlorine gas in the air, but no one could locate the source and no visible vapor
cloud was present. The IC reported that one employee had been decontaminated, treated, and
transported to a nearby hospital for inhalation injuries. Two more employees had also been
transported by Privately Owned Vehicle (POV) prior to his arrival. Routing instructions were
given to the HazMat team, however the IC failed to take the release into consideration and
subsequently sent the HazMat team through the release upon their arrival. The HazMat team
reported a strong odor as they passed directly downwind of the scene.
The engine company officer, who was HazMat trained, was able to locate an abandoned
chlorine cylinder behind a privacy wall at a nearby strip shopping center. He was able to take
two pictures of the cylinder with his camera phone prior to exiting the area.
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Response Narrative | International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)
Instructor Guide
Chlorine Release
National Hazardous Materials
Fusion Center Module 2: Incident Response
Figure 1 Abandoned Cylinder
This information proved to be very valuable
to the HazMat team upon their arrival at
1910 hours. The pictures revealed a single
150-pound chlorine cylinder lying on its side
next to a concrete privacy wall and behind
two dumpsters. The cylinder was leaking
and had severe corrosion damage to the
valve assembly.
Figure 2 Cylinder with Valve Damage and Frost
There was a visible frost line on the cylinder
due to the auto-refrigeration generated by
the release.
The accurate reconnaissance and photos
taken by the engine company officer
allowed the HazMat team to formulate an
effective entry action plan. The local VFD,
which was trained to the awareness level,
was tasked to set up and staff a
decontamination station and to provide two firefighters for a Rapid Intervention Team (RIT).
The first responder resources were communicating on a different radio system than the
HazMat team. To manage this challenge, the engine company officer and the HazMat team
officer were trying to remain together for face-to-face coordination.
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Response Narrative | International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)
Instructor Guide
Chlorine Release
National Hazardous Materials
Fusion Center Module 2: Incident Response
The HazMat team deployed two AreaRae monitors to auto record ambient air readings in the
area, and two HazMat technicians were
assigned to make entry in Level A protection
and 1-hour Self-Contained Breathing
Apparatus (SCBA) with the mission to
upright the cylinder and apply a Chlorine A
Kit to stop the release.
Figure 3 Technicians in Level A Make Entry
At 1944 hours two technicians made entry
with the two first responders as backup
personnel. The cylinder was located and
placed in an upright position.
While moving the cylinder in its upright position, the amount of release increased momentarily
which resulted in increased readings on the instruments. This alarmed the HazMat officer who
in turn, asked for a Personnel Accountability Report (PAR) from his entry team. The entry team
was unable to answer the PAR due to the fact that they were occupied with moving the cylinder
to its upright position. The entry person engaged in handling the cylinder was the only
individual with a working radio; the partner’s radio was reportedly not working for unknown
reasons. The HazMat officer was considering deploying the RIT; however, shortly after
completing the initial task, the entry team transmitted a PAR which was received. There was no
line-of-sight supervision or monitoring of the entry members, leaving radio as the only means
of conveying information and status.
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Response Narrative | International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)
Instructor Guide
Chlorine Release
National Hazardous Materials
Fusion Center Module 2: Incident Response
The entry team applied the Chlorine A Kit and reported the leak
contained at 2003 hours.
Figure 4 Cylinder with Chlorine Kit A
The entry was made after nightfall and lighting consisted of
flashlights held by entry members. This further complicated the
task; however, due to the recent training conducted by the
HazMat team specifically on the application of chlorine kits and
also due to their good technique of laying out all kit components
in their work area before engaging with the leaking cylinder, they were able to stop the leak
with a total entry time of 19 minutes.
At this time the entry team exited the area and proceeded to decontamination. Upon their
arrival at decontamination, it was discovered that the decontamination area was not staffed or
ready to process the entry team. The entry team had been on air for approximately 25 minutes.
The decontamination crew was immediately sent to staff decontamination and completed the
process without further incident.
The attention was now turned to maintaining site safety and control, cleaning up the residue,
identifying the responsible party, and removing the abandoned cylinder.
Officials were not able to identify or locate a responsible party, so the HazMat officer issued a
request for assistance from a local Chlorine Emergency Plan (CHLOREP) team. The CHLOREP
leader gave guidance on how to neutralize the hydrochloric acid residue developed as a result
of the chlorine liquid interacting with the moisture in the air and dispatched a two-member
CHLOREP response.
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Response Narrative | International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)
Instructor Guide
Chlorine Release
National Hazardous Materials
Fusion Center Module 2: Incident Response
A second HazMat entry was mounted to go in and apply soda ash to the residue, which was
accomplished without further incident.
Figure 5 Application of Soda Ash
The CHLOREP team arrived around 2330
hours and proceeded to place the damaged
cylinder into a cylinder casket; however, for
some unknown reason, a briefing was never
held to discuss how this would be
accomplished and what should be expected
during this operation. It is valuable to know
that in order to place a cylinder into the
casket, the Chlorine A Kit must be removed.
This in turn will result in another short-duration release of product. This was never conveyed to
the IC or HazMat officer. As the CHLOREP team completed the task, the unanticipated release
caught responders off guard. The release was of short duration and caused no injuries or
impact due to good site control downwind. The casket operation was completed and the
operation was drawn to a conclusion without further incident.
Hazardous Material Behavior
Instructor Note:
1. Conduct a discussion based on the items in the “Hazardous Materials Behavior” section.
2. This section focuses on the hazardous material in this incident, so keep the discussion centered on
the hazardous material and its container.
1. Did the hazardous material(s) involved behave as expected in this situation? Why or why
not?
2. Did the hazardous material(s) and container(s) behave as predicted?
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Hazardous Material Behavior | International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)
Instructor Guide
Chlorine Release
National Hazardous Materials
Fusion Center Module 2: Incident Response
3. Are the behaviors happening out of the predicted order?
4. Are the behaviors happening differently than anticipated?
5. What were the initial response objectives? Were they appropriate? Why or why not?
6. Was there anything else significant about the material or container involved in this
incident?
Incident Response
Instructor Note:
1. Conduct a discussion based on the items in the “Incident Response” section.
2. This section focuses on the response efforts, so keep the discussion centered on the responders,
strategies, and tactics.
1. Were the strategies and tactics appropriate? Why or why not?
2. Were there any unforeseen issues that played a part in this incident or response (weather,
unexpected material behavior, bystanders)?
3. Were there any injuries to responders? If so, what were the causative factors? Could this
have been avoided? If so, how?
4. Was there an impact to the environment? If so, what were the causative factors? Could this
have been avoided? If so, how?
5. Was there any significant equipment damaged? If so, what were the causative factors?
Could this have been avoided? If so, how?
6. Discuss the risks versus benefits in this incident.
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Incident Response | International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)
Instructor Guide
Chlorine Release
National Hazardous Materials
Fusion Center Module 2: Incident Response
7. List any response issues related to:
•
Response time
•
Personnel
•
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
•
Established control zones
•
Safety measures
•
Mutual aid
•
Communications
•
Resources
•
Decontamination
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Incident Response | International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)
Instructor Guide
Chlorine Release
National Hazardous Materials
Fusion Center Module 3: Lessons Learned
Module 3: Lessons Learned
Module Time: 15 minutes
Lessons Learned
These are the lessons learned as stated by the responders to the incident.
Instructor Note:
1. Have participants read through the list of lessons learned.
2. Ask them to pick out two or three and discuss those that are unique, innovative, potentially
dangerous, or most relevant to them and their jurisdictions.
•
It is important for the first responder to properly identify types of containers. Some
containers look a lot alike and should not be identified by the color of the container. If
the first responder is at all uncertain about the container he/she has responded to, that
should be communicated to the Hazardous Materials (HazMat) team en route and the
first responders should utilize the Emergency Response Guidebook’s (ERG) Guide 111
for unknown material.
•
The coordination with the local law enforcement is vital for the safety of the responders
as well as the public at large. If at all possible set up “command” with a law enforcement
liaison or a “unified command.”
•
Communications between companies at the scene and responding “specialty”
companies, such as the HazMat technicians, should be clear and accurate. If there are
any questions to what the situation is, such as the container identification, that should
be communicated to the responders so appropriate actions can be taken regarding
reconnaissance and identification.
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Lessons Learned | International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)
Instructor Guide
Chlorine Release
National Hazardous Materials
Fusion Center Module 3: Lessons Learned
•
It is important to work with surrounding jurisdictions. Mutual aid and automatic aid is
becoming more accepted by most jurisdictions because they know they may need
additional help. By training together, each jurisdiction can improve their capabilities as
well as know the capabilities of the responding mutual aid companies.
•
Prior to entering the hot zone, a decontamination zone must be set up and adequate
personnel staged for decontamination actions. An emergency decontamination zone
can be set up quickly for rescue activities, but a full decontamination zone should be set
up as soon as possible.
•
Once the “emergency” is controlled and a cleanup crew is called in, the jurisdiction
having authority (which is usually the same jurisdiction the HazMat crew is from) needs
to make sure the cleanup crew has the proper credentials to address the problem. If the
HazMat crew remains on the scene, they need to know what the cleanup crew’s process
is so they are prepared should anything happen.
•
The crew went in for a visual reconnaissance to determine the nature of the incident
and to identify the equipment needed to address the problem.
•
The crew had recently trained with the Chlorine A Kit, so when it came time to use the
equipment the personnel were familiar with the tools. This made the placement of the
kit on the bottle seem like a routine evolution.
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Lessons Learned | International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)
Instructor Guide
Chlorine Release
National Hazardous Materials
Fusion Center Module 3: Lessons Learned
Best Practices
These are the best practices recommended by the Regional Incident Survey Team (RIST)
following analysis of the incident.
Instructor Note:
1. Have participants read through the list of best practices.
2. Ask them to pick out two or three and discuss those that are unique, innovative, or most relevant to
them and their jurisdictions.
•
The minimum level of HazMat technicians needed to conduct safe, efficient, and
sustainable entry operations in Level A is generally considered to be six personnel
(HazMat group supervisor, HazMat safety officer, two entry members, and two backup
members). Ensure an adequate level of trained HazMat technicians is assembled at the
incident through several options such as:
o early request for mutual aid,
o early callback of off-duty personnel, and
o increased level of on-duty staffing.
•
Conduct a comprehensive risk versus benefit analysis following your assessment of the
hazards presented. Keep in mind the priorities of life (including responders),
environment, and then property.
o Be cognizant of external influences that may drive your tactical planning and any
adverse effect this may have on responder safety.
•
Level A entry requires significant supportive elements to ensure safety and efficiency,
including but not limited to the following considerations:
o Ensure reliable and common communications between entry team members and
with their supervisor and backup team.
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Best Practices | International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)
Instructor Guide
Chlorine Release
National Hazardous Materials
Fusion Center Module 3: Lessons Learned
o The backup team should be wearing the same level of chemical protective
clothing as the entry team. A backup team is not necessarily the same thing as a
Rapid Intervention Team (RIT), which typically wears a structural fire fighting
protective ensemble including a Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA). A
RIT may be established in addition to, but should not be in lieu of, the backup
team.
o Pre- and post-entry medical monitoring should be employed. This is not limited
to the concern for potential heat stress.
o Maintain line-of-sight observation of the entry team, if possible. If not feasible,
consider wireless video feed.
o Provide hands-free illumination of the work site. This lighting should not be
directed into the eyes of the entry members and is enhanced if provided by
more than one source from different angles.
o Confirm that decontamination is staffed and operational before entry is initiated.
o Consider staffing a protective hoseline proximate to the work site, particularly if
the decontamination corridor must be set up some distance away.
o Site safety planning should include contingencies; the pre-entry brief should
include Plan B in the event that Plan A fails. This should include escape routes
and safety zones.
Response Considerations
This section contains information compiled by the RIST survey and is specific to this response.
This information is designed to provide information that jurisdictions might consider for similar
responses in the future.
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Response Considerations | International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)
Instructor Guide
Chlorine Release
National Hazardous Materials
Fusion Center Module 3: Lessons Learned
Instructor Note:
1. Have participants read through the list of response considerations.
2. Ask them to pick out two or three and discuss those that are most relevant to them and their
jurisdictions.
•
If possible, lay out all components of the chlorine kit before initiating application (most
feasible for 150-pound or 1-ton cylinder scenarios). Organize components in a logical
order and have your partner be ready to provide the next component as you progress
through the operation.
•
Utilize positive pressure ventilation to control and/or change the atmosphere of the
immediate work environment. This will help reduce concentrations of the release and
the exposure to your chemical protective clothing and will improve visibility. It can also
serve to direct the release in a preferred direction and prevent hazardous
concentrations from accumulating in low areas (for high Vapor Density [VD]
gases/vapors).
•
Auto-refrigeration will occur during the release of chlorine. This is likely to result in a
cyclic slowing or complete stoppage due to the formation of an ice patch (depending on
the humidity conditions present). Some HazMat teams may assume they will never
encounter a 150-pound cylinder that has not emptied before they are able to control
it—not a good assumption.
•
A Thermal Imaging Camera (TIC) is very useful:
o to visualize small residual leaks and direct fine adjustments to stop them;
o to visualize contents of the cylinder, revealing the liquid level remaining; and
o taking a photo of the display screen provides scene documentation.
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Response Considerations | International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)
Instructor Guide
Chlorine Release
National Hazardous Materials
Fusion Center Module 3: Lessons Learned
Figure 6 Chlorine Cylinder from TIC
Figure 7
Chlorine
Cylinder
from TIC
•
Cleanup companies (or assisting specialists) should
be vetted in advance for proper training, procedures, and work practices. Get to know
the contractors in your area, their capabilities, reputation in the industry, response time,
and essential other factors.
•
Review the work plan of any cleanup companies (or assisting specialists) prior to their
commencing operations. Identify the potential for a “new incident” to occur resulting
from their actions and either require modification to the plan or prepare to deal with
the consequences should it happen. If necessary, maintain the established work zones
and controlled access points until the potential of subsequent releases or other
consequences has passed.
•
If chemical protective clothing is exposed to liquefied chlorine, this exceeds the test
criterion for certification (gaseous chlorine); degraded performance may occur earlier
than expected.
•
Training is the key component to any successful tactical operational undertaking.
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Response Considerations | International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)
Instructor Guide
Chlorine Release
National Hazardous Materials
Fusion Center Module 3: Lessons Learned
Hazardous Material Information
This section is provided to give responders a very brief overview of information about the
hazardous material involved in this incident. This section is not comprehensive but points out
some of the more notable hazards and chemical characteristics.
Chlorine Gas
•
Chlorine is a yellowish-green gas with a sharp, burning odor. It is used widely in chemical
manufacturing, bleaching, drinking-water, swimming-pool disinfecting, and cleaning
agents.
•
Chlorine is irritating and corrosive and to the eyes, skin, and mucous membranes.
•
Chlorine is an oxidizer and may explode or accelerate combustion if in contact with
reducing agents.
•
If chlorine is spilled into water or onto soil or if it is released from a tank into the air, the
chlorine will evaporate very quickly forming a greenish-yellow cloud that is heavier than
air and can be carried by the wind several miles from the source. Persons exposed only
to chlorine gas pose little risk of secondary contamination to others; however, clothing
or skin soaked with chlorine in similar solutions may be corrosive to rescuers.
•
At room temperature, chlorine is a yellow-green gas with a pungent, irritating odor.
Under increased pressure or at temperatures below -300°F, it is a clear, amber-colored
liquid.
•
It is generally shipped in steel cylinders as a compressed liquid.
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Hazardous Material Information | International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)
Instructor Guide
Chlorine Release
National Hazardous Materials
Fusion Center Module 3: Lessons Learned
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Hazardous Material Information | International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)
Instructor Guide
Chlorine Release
National Hazardous Materials
Fusion Center Module 4: Moving Forward/Planning Ahead
Module 4: Moving Forward/Planning
Ahead
Module Time: 30 minutes
Planning Activity
Instructor Note:
1. The planning worksheet is designed to take the information the participants have discussed about
the specific Hazardous Materials (HazMat) incident and allow them to think of ways to incorporate
knowledge and lessons learned in terms of their own jurisdiction and response efforts.
2. Try to have participants focus on what they have learned from this incident and how they might
respond in similar incidents.
3. Some of the areas below might not be applicable in all cases.
4. Allow the participants about 15 minutes to make notes on the worksheet either individually or in
their groups.
5. Call time and hold a class discussion covering the items on the worksheet.
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Planning Activity | International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)
Instructor Guide
Chlorine Release
National Hazardous Materials
Fusion Center Module 4: Moving Forward/Planning Ahead
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Planning Activity | International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)
Instructor Guide
Chlorine Release
National Hazardous Materials
Fusion Center Module 4: Moving Forward/Planning Ahead
Planning Worksheet
How can we incorporate what we have learned from this specific Hazardous Materials (HazMat)
incident to improve our future responses? In particular the areas of:
Surveying the incident: ___________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
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Container identification/markings: _________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
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Monitoring equipment: __________________________________________________________
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Planning Activity | International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)
Instructor Guide
Chlorine Release
National Hazardous Materials
Fusion Center Module 4: Moving Forward/Planning Ahead
Response objectives: ____________________________________________________________
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Incident command: ______________________________________________________________
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Communication: ________________________________________________________________
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Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): _______________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
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______________________________________________________________________________
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Planning Activity | International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)
Instructor Guide
Chlorine Release
National Hazardous Materials
Fusion Center Module 4: Moving Forward/Planning Ahead
Decontamination: _______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
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Policies and procedures: _________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
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Mutual aid: ____________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
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Training: ______________________________________________________________________
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27
Planning Activity | International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)
Instructor Guide
Chlorine Release
National Hazardous Materials
Fusion Center Module 4: Moving Forward/Planning Ahead
Resources: ____________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
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______________________________________________________________________________
Risk versus benefit analysis: _______________________________________________________
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______________________________________________________________________________
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What are some best practices we can take away from this incident? ______________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
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28
Planning Activity | International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)
Instructor Guide