G-HAZC HazMat Incident Operations Part 2

Hot Zone Sector Officer (HZSO)

• The HZSO is appointed by the Incident Commander from a responding Haz Mat Team and must be a TFS Haz Mat qualified Officer.
• Other Haz Mat Officers assist the HZSO during the operation.
• The HZSO determines the level of personnel protective equipment required in consultation with TFS Hazmat Technicians and the Incident Commander.

HZSO Responsibilities

• Manages all personnel and activities in the Hot Zone.
• Gathers data on the emergency, including location, materials involved, equipment required, and course of action.
• Ensures a Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) is established and prepared to enter the Hot Zone with the same level of protection as the Entry Team.
• Ensures an Emergency Decontamination line is established as soon as possible.
• Ensures the Decontamination Sector is ready and operational prior to the Hot Zone Entry Team entering the Hot Zone.
• Briefs the Hot Zone Entry Team and RIT together prior to entering the Hot Zone.
• Monitors the Hot Zone Entry Team's air pressure and updates them as new data becomes available.

Emergency Signals

• The HZSO reviews emergency hand signals and Air Horn Evacuation Signals with all persons before they enter the Hot Zone.

Hot Zone Entry Teams

• Consist of a minimum of two members.
• Do not enter the Hot Zone until a RIT is equipped with comparable level of protection and poised for rapid entry.
• Enter and exit the Hot Zone together.
• Use full one-hour SCBA cylinders to allow enough time to decontaminate.
• Hydrate prior to entering the Hot Zone (drinking water only).
• Advise the HZSO when beginning to use cylinder air and initial pressure on SCBA gauges.

Communications

• Each member of an Entry and RIT Team is assigned a portable radio.
• Communications between the Hot Zone Entry Team and HZSO take place on a dedicated channel separate from the incident.
• The Second/Back Up Hot Zone Entry or RIT and the Decontamination Sector Officer monitor the assigned frequency and do not use it for communication until entering the Hot Zone.

Status Reports

• Hot Zone Entry Teams provide status reports related to their activities and air pressure to the HZSO at a minimum of every five minutes or as a change in activity occurs.
• The HZSO provides regular status reports to the Incident Commander.
• The Hot Zone Entry Team reports all observations to the HZSO.

Hot Zone Entry Team Relief

• The HZSO advises the backup Hot Zone Entry or RIT to prepare to enter the Hot Zone if the task may not be completed within the maximum time period.
• A backup RIT is immediately assembled if the RIT becomes the Hot Zone Entry Team.