Chapter 15

Chapter 15

The ISO at Hazmat Incidents

Objectives

• List the federal regulations that may have an impact on ISO functions at hazmat incidents

• Define the reporting structure for an ASO-HM at a hazmat tech-level incident

• Define the two overriding risks that the ISO must evaluate at hazmat incidents

Objectives (con’t.)

• List the four control zones that need to be established at tech-level hazmat incidents

• List the three hazmat rehab components that require close evaluation

• List the ten federal-level components of a hazmat response site safety plan and five hazmat ancillary plans that may require ISO-signoff

Objectives (con’t.)

• List five or more alarming hazards at a clandestine drug lab incident

• List and describe the three strategic goals for the safety section at a WMD/terrorist incident

Introduction• Hazmat incidents: most regulated of all

incidents to which fire departments respond– ISO assignment at a hazmat technician-level

incident is mandatory– ISO should be aware of CFRs regarding

hazmat incidents– If ISO does not have required technician

competencies (NFPA 472), an ASO-HM should be appointed

Introduction (con’t.)

• Assistant safety office-hazmat (ASO-HM)– Meets or exceeds NFPA 472 requirements for

Hazardous Materials Technician– Trained in ISO responsibilities as they relate to

hazmat response– Fulfills safety functions for technician-level

components of incident– Works with ISO, hazmat directors, technical

specialists, and industry representatives

Figure 15-1 The ASO-HM may actually be working with three or more persons.

ISO General Duties at the Hazmat Incident

• Be familiar with NFPA 471: Recommended Practices for Responding to Hazardous Materials Incidents

• Ensure initial zone and isolation efforts are in place upon arrival and assignment

• Take a strategic approach– Interface with other command staff members– Maintain position at command post

Monitoring Issues at Hazmat Incidents

• Risk– Liability: is hazmat team entry warranted?– Risk communication: established risk

guidelines

• Operational effectiveness– Rely on ASO-HM to evaluate technician

operations– Other ASOs evaluate support activities– Preplan action plan prior to operations

Personal Safety System Issues at Hazmat Incidents

• Accountability systems– Two systems: hazmat team and support

responders– Encourage cross-communication– ISO deals with strategic accountability– ASOs deal with tactical accountability

Personal Safety System Issues Hazmat Incidents (con’t.)

• Control zones– IDLH zone– No-entry zone (including collapse zone)– Support zone– Contamination reduction zone

• Decontamination takes place• Safe refuge area for contaminated persons who

have left the IDLH zone

Figure 15-3 Simple diagrams can help responders understand zone areas and travel paths.


• Control zones (con’t.)– Use simple diagrams that include travel

pathways and gateways between zones– ASO-HMs should verify appropriate level of

PPE in each zone– Personnel moving from one zone to another

should follow prescribed pathway– Check personnel before leaving contamination

zone


• Radio Transmissions– Multiple radio types and frequencies– Backup communication systems

• Hand signals• Message boards• Tag-line signals• Spontaneous system on-scene for specific needs


• Rehab– Medical monitoring

• Establish baseline before technician stabilization efforts

– Sanitation needs• Best hazard mitigation approach is separation

– Food service• Distance from working areas• Cleanliness (further decon)

Defining Other Needs at Hazmat Incidents

• Traffic– Roadway, railway, air, and waterway: basic

approach to traffic issues is to get rid of them– For people, define:

• Specific shuttle pathways• Escape zones• Zone transition gateways

Defining Other Needs at Hazmat Incidents (con’t.)

• Need for ISO assistance• ASO-HM• One or more ASOs• Technical specialists• Corporate risk managers• Process experts• Public health representatives• Department HSO or infection control officer

Applying the ISO Action Model at Hazmat Incidents

• Risk evaluation at the hazmat incident– ISO and ASO-HM must strive to agree on

overall risk profile– ISO may need to communicate an acceptable

risk profile to nonfire service personnel– Pace: slow, methodical, and intellectual

approach

Figure 15-4 A slow, methodical, and intellectual approach is the best pace for hazmat incidents.

Applying the ISO Action Model at Hazmat Incidents (con’t.)

• Recon evaluation at the hazmat incident– Confirm initial zoning and isolation upon arrival

and assignment– Verify that defined zones and gateways are

appropriate– ASO-HM should consult a technical reference

specialist as necessary


• Recon evaluation (con’t.)– Define the principal hazard

• Dictated by the chemical involved

– Define environmental integrity• Weather, infrastructure stability, container condition,

hazardous energy

– Define physical surroundings• Location defines impact of surroundings


• Recon evaluation (con’t.)– Crew exposure to hazards

• Physical hazards +- Chemical properties + Crew mitigation efforts = Crew hazard exposure

• ASO-HM in best position to evaluate tools, teams, and rapid withdrawal factors

• Rapid intervention is far from rapid at hazmat incidents: ensure clear direction for activation


• Resource evaluation at the hazmat incident– Time

• On-scene time may not be practical: manage impacts of time passage

• Reflex time for any unplanned event is delayed

– Personnel• Determine adequate training for task

– Equipment• May need on-the-spot training for specialized

equipment


• Report issues at the hazmat incident– Tech-level stabilization effort requires formal

delivery and development of• Written site safety plan• Safety briefings

– 15-minute rule for face-to-face communication is impractical

• Keep unit log for documentation• Hazmat documentation not subject to statute of

limitations


• Report issues (con’t.)– Federal requirements for site safety plan

include:• Safety, health, and hazard risk analysis• Site organization• Identification of PPE type required for task• Medical monitoring procedures• Environmental monitoring and sampling procedures• Site control measures


• Report issues (con’t.)– Federal requirements for site safety plan

(con’t):• Decontamination procedures• Predefined responder emergency plans• Confined space entry and escape procedures• Spill containment and handling procedures

– ISO/ASO-HM may also have to sign off on numerous other hazmat incident plans

Unique Considerations at the Hazmat Incident

• Clandestine drug labs– Hazards

• Poor ventilation• Flammable/toxic atmospheres• Incompatible chemicals• Chemical reactions in progress• Unidentified chemicals and/or containers• Unstable and/or leaking containers• Booby traps

Unique Considerations at the Hazmat Incident (con’t.)

• Weapons of mass destruction– Develop local WMD plan that addresses ISO

functions until IMT takes over – ISO initially coordinates:

• Quick in/quick out approach for immediate rescues• Adopt a back off posture after rescue• Isolation of victims and exposed firefighters• Staging out of sight as much as possible

Unique Considerations at the Hazmat Incident (con’t.)

• Weapons of mass destruction (con’t.)– Strategic goals of ISO and ASOs

• Gather RECON and threat information• Analyze options: lean towards the worst case• Develop a safety action plan across organizational

boundaries• Expand role into manageable parts• Address health and safety issues prior to IMT arrival

Figure 15-5 Expanding the ISO function into units can help at WMD incidents. ISO units are not currently NIMS compliant.

Summary

• Hazardous materials incidents require specialized training– ISO oversees and addresses general duties– ASO-HM focuses on technician-level issues

• Issues at hazmat incidents– Proper training– Communication to nonfire service responders– Control zones: contamination reduction zone

Summary (con’t.)• Issues at hazmat incidents (con’t.)

– Medical evaluation before operations– Separation of sanitation and food areas

• ISO action model at hazmat incidents– Reporting is a significant effort: federally

mandated site safety plan

• Unique hazmat considerations– Clandestine labs– WMD incidents

Technology

Chapter 15