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Questions and Answers
What is the first priority in the defensive tactical strategy for hazardous materials incidents?
What is the first priority in the defensive tactical strategy for hazardous materials incidents?
Which of the following incidents requires Harris County Haz Mat to be notified?
Which of the following incidents requires Harris County Haz Mat to be notified?
What should the first arriving apparatus officer do before approaching the incident?
What should the first arriving apparatus officer do before approaching the incident?
What is one of the responsibilities of the Incident Commander?
What is one of the responsibilities of the Incident Commander?
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When should the first arriving officer avoid inhaling fumes, smoke, or vapors?
When should the first arriving officer avoid inhaling fumes, smoke, or vapors?
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What should be done when a hazardous material spill occurs?
What should be done when a hazardous material spill occurs?
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In what way should the first arriving apparatus officer approach the incident?
In what way should the first arriving apparatus officer approach the incident?
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Which resource should be consulted for guidance during a hazardous materials incident?
Which resource should be consulted for guidance during a hazardous materials incident?
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What is the primary responsibility of the Company Officers in an incident?
What is the primary responsibility of the Company Officers in an incident?
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What action should be taken when unsafe acts are observed?
What action should be taken when unsafe acts are observed?
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Which officer is responsible for overseeing safety inside the Hot Zone?
Which officer is responsible for overseeing safety inside the Hot Zone?
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What information should be obtained prior to allowing entry into a hazardous site?
What information should be obtained prior to allowing entry into a hazardous site?
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What is the first step to take at a hazardous materials incident?
What is the first step to take at a hazardous materials incident?
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What does the Hazardous Materials Team Officer assist the Incident Commander with?
What does the Hazardous Materials Team Officer assist the Incident Commander with?
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What is necessary before personnel enter the incident area?
What is necessary before personnel enter the incident area?
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What is emphasized regarding personnel affected during an incident?
What is emphasized regarding personnel affected during an incident?
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Which of the following describes the boundaries of the Hot, Warm, and Cold Zones?
Which of the following describes the boundaries of the Hot, Warm, and Cold Zones?
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What action should be taken if an area beyond the incident site is threatened?
What action should be taken if an area beyond the incident site is threatened?
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Who is responsible for directing and coordinating activities in their assigned division?
Who is responsible for directing and coordinating activities in their assigned division?
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Which of the following statements about personal protective equipment is correct?
Which of the following statements about personal protective equipment is correct?
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What is a critical step to perform before entry according to safety procedures?
What is a critical step to perform before entry according to safety procedures?
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How should evacuation notifications be communicated at a hazardous materials incident?
How should evacuation notifications be communicated at a hazardous materials incident?
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What should be done after identifying the hazardous material involved?
What should be done after identifying the hazardous material involved?
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What is a key factor when analyzing an incident to determine the magnitude of the problem?
What is a key factor when analyzing an incident to determine the magnitude of the problem?
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Who is responsible for tracking all resources assigned to the incident scene during a HAZMAT incident?
Who is responsible for tracking all resources assigned to the incident scene during a HAZMAT incident?
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What tool does the IC use to track incident resources?
What tool does the IC use to track incident resources?
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How should task level units that are already working report their progress to a group supervisor?
How should task level units that are already working report their progress to a group supervisor?
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What action should group supervisors take when they are assigned to a unit at staging?
What action should group supervisors take when they are assigned to a unit at staging?
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In what type of environment is the work/rest cycle improved?
In what type of environment is the work/rest cycle improved?
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What system must be followed for all hot zone entries?
What system must be followed for all hot zone entries?
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Who is responsible for tracking the ins and outs of resources assigned to a HAZMAT branch?
Who is responsible for tracking the ins and outs of resources assigned to a HAZMAT branch?
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What should task level units that are assigned to a group with an existing supervisor do upon arrival?
What should task level units that are assigned to a group with an existing supervisor do upon arrival?
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What should be done if a chemical's hazards are not known?
What should be done if a chemical's hazards are not known?
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Who is allowed to engage in offensive operations at a hazardous materials incident?
Who is allowed to engage in offensive operations at a hazardous materials incident?
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What is a responsibility of personnel trained at the Awareness Level?
What is a responsibility of personnel trained at the Awareness Level?
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What role does a railroad official play in incidents at railroad yards?
What role does a railroad official play in incidents at railroad yards?
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What must happen before any work is performed in the HOT ZONE?
What must happen before any work is performed in the HOT ZONE?
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Who must be notified in the case of environmentally threatened incidents?
Who must be notified in the case of environmentally threatened incidents?
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What level of training is required for all Spring Fire Department personnel responding to hazardous materials incidents?
What level of training is required for all Spring Fire Department personnel responding to hazardous materials incidents?
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Which activity is NOT permitted for personnel trained only to the Awareness Level?
Which activity is NOT permitted for personnel trained only to the Awareness Level?
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Study Notes
Hazardous Materials Operations
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Harris County Haz Mat will be notified for: chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, or explosive incidents; narcotics or drug labs; whenever hazardous materials are present and additional expertise is needed; and for hazardous materials spills and releases.
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Defensive Strategy is the initial response for all known HAZMAT incidents
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Defensive Tactical Priorities are:
- Defining the Hazard Zone
- Isolating the hazard zone
- Searching and evacuating exposures
- Protecting exposures
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Defensive Tactical Priorities are:
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The first arriving apparatus officer is responsible for establishing a safe operation and will:
- Assume command
- Approach the incident from an uphill/upwind direction
- Stop and assess the incident from a distance and identify the product, container type, quantity, and extent of release or potential release.
- Avoid entering or driving near vapor clouds or spills.
- Avoid contact with spilled materials.
- Avoid inhaling fumes, smoke, or vapors.
- Isolate the site and prevent unauthorized personnel access.
- Provide relevant information to incoming resources for planning and response.
- Consult the DOT Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG) and follow its guidance.
- Assess on-scene capabilities and request additional resources as needed, including obtaining Safety Data Sheets (SDS).
- Contain product when safe to do so.
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The Incident Commander is responsible for the overall operational plan to ensure a successful emergency outcome.
- Key duties include:
- Establishing a command post.
- Identifying hazardous materials and conditions.
- Developing and implementing an Incident Action Plan for incident stabilization and appropriate emergency operations.
- Communicating with the Hazardous Materials Team officer to develop the Incident Action Plan.
- Implementing a response that will favorably change the outcome of an incident.
- Directing and coordinating all emergency services and agencies at a hazardous materials incident.
- Ensuring that personal protective equipment is always worn during emergency operations involving exposure to hazardous materials.
- Ensuring the availability of qualified emergency medical personnel with necessary equipment and transportation capabilities.
- Providing emergency evacuation of personnel within the Hot Zone, which is signaled by a 30-second continuous sounding of apparatus air horns or by dispatch.
- Defining Hot, Warm, and Cold Zones and limiting working personnel within them (minimum of two per group).
- Analysing the incident to determine the problem's magnitude, which includes collecting and interpreting hazard and response information and estimating potential outcomes within the endangered area.
- Determining if areas beyond the incident site are threatened and deciding on the protection method desired: shelter-in-place or evacuation.
- Defining the perimeter of the threatened area.
- Identifying hazardous situations associated with the incident pertaining to site safety.
- Ensuring a separate person is assigned to oversee Hot Zone safety.
- Correcting, suspending, or terminating unsafe acts or conditions through the chain of command or immediately when required.
- Emphasizing exposure reporting of all affected personnel.
- Key duties include:
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Company Officers are responsible for directing their companies according to this procedure and the Incident Commander's direction.
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The Hazardous Materials Team Officer assists the Incident Commander in stabilizing the incident, containing released materials, and mitigating dangers.
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Division Officers direct and coordinate activities within their assigned divisions in accordance with this procedure and the Incident Commander's directions.
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Pre-Entry information to be obtained for allowing entry into a hazardous environment include:
- Location and approximate size of the site.
- Description of the response activity or job task.
- Duration of planned activity.
- Hazardous substances, health hazards, and chemical and physical properties involved.
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Groups can be established with officer assignments based on the incident magnitude.
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General HAZMAT accountability guidelines:
- The IC will use a tactical worksheet to track incident resources.
- Group supervisors can use tactical worksheets or passports to manage accountability within their assigned group.
- Task level units present and working when a group supervisor is assigned report to the supervisor face to face and provide an update on work progress and needs.
- Task level units assigned to a group with a supervisor in place must report to their supervisor upon arrival at the work location.
- Group supervisors should contact their units at their staging location and advise them of needed equipment.
- The work/rest cycle is improved/lengthened in a non-IDLH environment.
- All Hot Zone entries follow structural firefighting passport accountability.
- If there is a HAZMAT Branch, the IC tracks branch resources, while the Branch Director tracks resource in and out of the branch.
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General Procedure/Policy/Notes:
- Actions are only taken to favorably change the outcome of the incident.
- Actions should be avoided until the chemical is identified and its hazards are known. This information is conveyed in a SAFETY BRIEFING held before HOT ZONE work.
- Fire apparatus will not enter railroad yards without a railroad official escort.
- Firefighters operating at a hazardous materials incident should not operate beyond their level of training.
- All Spring Fire Department Personnel are trained to the Awareness Level to respond to Hazardous Materials Incidents.
- Awareness Level personnel cannot engage in offensive activities.
- Operations Level personnel can only operate defensively.
- They can dam, dike, or contain the spill and establish exclusion zones (cold, warm, hot) as well as evacuate/notify citizens and perform air monitoring.
- Only HazMat Technicians can participate in offensive operations (coordinated with the Hazmat Team), which includes addressing the actual leak and attempting to stop the leak by plugging or squeezing the gas line.
- The Texas Commission on Environmental Equality will be notified in the event of environmentally threatened incidents.
- Harris County Haz Mat will be requested.
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Description
Test your knowledge on the protocols and procedures for hazardous materials operations. This quiz covers defensive strategies, tactical priorities, and the responsibilities of the first arriving officer at HAZMAT incidents. Ensure you're prepared for emergencies involving chemical, biological, or radiological hazards.
