Introduction to Hazardous Materials Firefighter II

Introduction to Hazardous MaterialsFirefighter II

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Distinguish Between Hazmat Incidents and Other Emergencies

• Hazmat incidents– Involve a substance that poses an unreasonable risk to

people, the environment, and/or property– May involve a hazardous substance that has been or

may be released from a container– May involve a hazardous substance that is on fire– Are more complex than a routine emergency incident– May be the result of a deliberate or accidental attack

• Other emergencies – do not involve the release of a hazardous substance


Training Requirements for Awareness-Level (Hazmat) First Responders

• The Occupational Safety and Health Association (OSHA) and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) require responders to meet specific training requirements

• The US Department of Justice (DOJ) requires first responders to have training to prepare them for terrorist incidents involving weapons of mass destruction (WMD)


Training Requirements for Awareness-Level (Hazmat) First Responders (continued)

• National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) Standards– NFPA 471: Recommended Practice for

Responding to Hazardous Materials Incidents– NFPA 472: Standard for Professional Competence

of Responders to Hazardous Materials Incidents– NFPA 473: Standard for Competencies for

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Personnel Responding to Hazardous Materials Incidents


Primary Responsibilities of an Awareness-Level Responder at a Hazmat Incident

• Recognize the presence or potential presence of hazmat• Recognize the container type and identify the material

in it, if possible• Transmit information to the appropriate authority and

call for assistance• Identify actions to protect oneself and others from the

hazards• Establish control of the scene by isolating the

hazardous area and denying entry


Primary Agencies That Regulate Hazmat

• Department of Transportation (DOT)– Issues transportation regulations for air space,

highways, pipelines, railways, and waterways– Enforces regulations at the federal, state, and local

levels– Defines when a material is considered hazardous– Requires the use of placards during the

transportation of hazmat


Primary Agencies That Regulate Hazmat (continued)

• Department of Transportation (DOT) (continued)– Placards – diamond-shaped signs attached to hazmat

transportation vehicles that identify the following:• Explosive (orange)• Flammable or non-flammable gas (green or red)• Flammable combustible liquids (red)• Flammable solids (red candy-stripe or blue)• Oxidizers (yellow)• Poison (white)• Radioactive (yellow and white)• Corrosives (black and white)



• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)– Researches and sets national standards for

environmental programs– Delegates the responsibility for issuing permits,

monitoring, and enforcing the standards compliance of states and tribes

–Works with industries and government agencies for pollution prevention and energy conservation



• Department of Labor (DOL)– Includes OSHA– Is responsible for overseeing US labor laws

• Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)– Regulates US commercial nuclear power plants

and the civilian use of nuclear materials– Regulates the possession, use, storage, and transfer

of radioactive materials


Four Products Most Often Involved in Hazmat Incidents

• Flammable/combustible liquids– Petroleum products– Paint products– Resins– Adhesives

• Corrosives– Sulfuric Acid– Hydrochloric acid– Sodium hydroxide

• Anhydrous ammonia• Chlorine


Hazard-Control Zones

• Provide scene control to – Protect first responders from interference by

unauthorized persons– Help regulate the movement of first responders

within the zones–Minimize contamination


Hazard-Control Zones (continued)

• Primary zone designations– Hot zone

• The area of greatest hazard at a hazmat incident site• No person should enter unless in approved PPE

– Warm zone• The area between the hot zone and the cold zone where danger exists

but risk is limited• Responders may put on PPE and clean materials, if needed, but

civilians and media are not allowed in this zone

– Cold zone• The outermost area of a hazmat incident site, which is considered

uncontaminated• Special protective clothing measures are unnecessary in this zone


General Information about Hazmat

• Hazmat– May be elements, compounds, or mixtures found in

gaseous, liquid, or solid states, or a combination of these states

– May present a direct threat to health or be considered dangerous because of their physical hazards

– Range in severity from negligible to extremely dangerous• Non-flammable to extremely flammable• Non-reactive to highly reactive (i.e. detonate easily or

unexpectedly)• Short-lived to multi-generational radioactive and biochemical

effects


General Information about Hazmat (continued)

• Types of exposures– Acute (single occurrence)– Chronic (reoccurring)

• Types of health effects– Acute – short-term effects that appear within hours

or days (e.g. vomiting or diarrhea)– Chronic – long-term effects that may take years to

appear (e.g. cancer)


General Information about Hazmat (continued)

• Behaviors of hazmat– Depend upon a material’s

• Physical state• Flammability• Boiling point• Chemical reactivity• Other properties

– Determine the type and amount of harm caused– Influence the effects it has on containers, people, living

organisms, other chemicals/materials, and the environment


Potential Ignition Sources at a Hazmat Scene

• Open flames• Static electricity• Pilot lights• Electrical sources• Internal combustion engines• Radiant heat• Cigarettes• Cameras• Road flares


Categories of Health and Physical Hazards

• Thermal hazards– Are related to temperature extremes– Are caused by various factors such as• Hazmat (e.g. elevated-temperature materials or

cryogenic liquids)• Conditions on the scene (e.g. extreme ambient air

temperature)


Categories of Health and Physical Hazards (continued)

• Radiological hazards– Exist in many forms, but ionizing radiation is the greatest

concern for firefighters– Usually exist for firefighters during incidents at specific

types of locations, but they might also be used in terrorist attacks• Medical centers• Industrial operations• Nuclear power plants• Research facilities

– Usually pose minimal risks for firefighters if proper precautions, such as wearing PPE, are taken



• Asphyxiation hazards– Asphyxiants – substances that interfere with the

oxygenation of the body and cause suffocation if untreated

– Two classes of asphyxiants• Simple asphyxiant – gases that dilute or displace the

oxygen needed for breathing• Chemical asphyxiant – substances that prohibit the body

from using oxygen



• Chemical hazards–May produce a wide range of effects whose

likelihood and severity are contingent on the following factors• Chemical’s toxicity• Route of exposure• Nature and extent of exposure• Susceptibility of the exposed person



• Chemical hazards (continued)– Are classified as follows• Poisons/Toxic chemicals• Corrosives• Irritants• Convulsants• Carcinogens• Sensitizers/Allergens



• Etiological/Biological hazards– Are microorganisms that may cause severe

disabling disease or illness, including• Viral agents• Bacterial agents• Rickettsias• Biological toxins



• Mechanical hazards– Can cause trauma as a result of direct contact with

an object, usually striking or friction– Can be mild, moderate, or severe– Can result from a single event


Routes of Entry for Human Exposure to Hazmat

• Inhalation – breathing through the nose or mouth (e.g. smoke)

• Ingestion – consuming through the mouth by a process other than inhalation (e.g. pill)

• Injection – forcing through the skin by a puncture or break (e.g. syringe)

• Absorption – assimilating through mucous membranes or areas of the body where skin is the thinnest (e.g. eyes)

• Contact – occurs when a material touches skin or an exposed surface of the body (e.g. acid)


Resources

• 0879393890, Hazardous Materials for First Responders. Oklahoma State University Fire Protection Pub; 4th edition. 2010

• 0879392568, Awareness Level Training for Hazardous Materials. Intl Fire Service Training Assn; 2nd edition. 2005

• 0135151112, Essentials of Firefighting and Fire Department Operations (5th Edition), International Fire Service Training Association (IFSTA), 2008.

• http://hazmatplacards.net/

http://hazmatplacards.net/

Documents

Introduction to Hazardous Materials Firefighter II