Hazardous Materials Awareness - Chapter 30 PDF

Chapter 30 Recognizing and Identifying the Hazards  Objectives: Hazardous Materials Awareness Level Describe how to approach a scene size-up with potential hazardous materials involved. Identify and describe the types of containers that are often used to contain haz...

Chapter 30 Recognizing and Identifying the Hazards  Objectives: Hazardous Materials Awareness Level Describe how to approach a scene size-up with potential hazardous materials involved. Identify and describe the types of containers that are often used to contain hazardous materials.  Objectives: Hazardous Materials Awareness Level Describe the purpose and types of various transportation and facility markings for hazardous materials. Identify and describe the four routes of entry harmful substances take in the human body.  Introduction Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) – Databases on chemical information Chemical usage and storage – Warehouses – Bowling alleys – Hospitals – Home improvement – Laboratories centers – Industrial – Garden supply occupancies stores – Residential garages – Restaurants  Introduction Community response plan – Identify kinds and quantities of hazardous materials. – Develop plans for high-hazard occupancies. – Provide guidance on response procedures. – Locate key personnel.  Introduction Methods of identifying chemicals – Placards – Labels – Other signage – Detection devices – Eyewitness accounts – Visible indicators  Scene Size-Up Approach from a safe location and direction. Assess the scene. – Question anyone involved – Interpret other clues Plan for addressing the incident begins with SIN: – Safety – Isolate – Notify  Safety “Read” the scene. Interpret available clues. Make informed decisions. Operate safely. Stop and pay attention. Courtesy of Rob Schnepp.  Safety Initial first steps: – Stay upwind, uphill, and out of the problem. – Obtain briefing prior to acting. – Understand nature of the problem and factors influencing release. – Attempt to make positive identification of released substance.  Isolate Isolate and deny entry to scene. Establish hot zone. Separate people from problem. Refer to – Standard operating procedures (SOPs) – Emergency response plan – Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG)  Isolate Establish command post. Determine response objectives. Formulate basic incident action plan (IAP). Identify and remotely secure potential ignition sources.  Notify Decide whether to notify anyone else. Keep current and comprehensive contact list of local, state, and federal resources. Understand who key players are in your jurisdiction.  Notify Be familiar with – Communications equipment – Radio frequencies – Protocols for using authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) communications equipment  Indicators Indicators of a hazardous materials incident may include – Information from the initial dispatch or persons on the scene – Your own knowledge of the response area – Clues seen or heard  Detection Be guided by – Departmental SOPs – Your level of training – Your information gathering efforts at the scene Courtesy of Rob Schnepp. Use your senses carefully.  Containers Any vessel or receptacle that holds a material Type, size, and material provide important clues Usually no correlation between drum color and contents Courtesy of Rob Schnepp.  Containers Representative containers – Steel or polyethylene drums – Bags – High-pressure gas cylinders – Railroad tank cars – Plastic buckets – Storage tanks – Pipelines Courtesy of Rob Schnepp.  Containers Stainless steel containers may hold particularly dangerous chemicals. Dewar container – Used for storing cold liquids Look closely at container and form opinion about the materials inside. Courtesy of Rob Schnepp.  Drums Barrel-like containers used to store – Food-grade materials – Corrosives – Flammable liquids – Grease  Drums May be constructed of – Low-carbon steel – Polyethylene – Cardboard – Stainless steel – Nickel Nature of chemical dictates construction  Drums Closed-head drums – Permanently attached lid with one or more small openings (bungs) – Can only be removed with bung wrench © Jones & Bartlett Learning. Photographed by Glen E. Ellman.  Drums Open-head drum – Removable lid fastened to drum with ring Courtesy of Globalindustrial.com.  Carboys Glass, plastic, or steel container that holds 5 to 15 gal (19–57 L) of product Often placed in a protective wood, foam, fiberglass, or steel box to help prevent breakage Courtesy of EMD Chemicals, Inc.  Cylinders Uninsulated compressed gas cylinders – Store substances such as nitrogen, argon, helium, and oxygen – Range of sizes – Variable internal pressures Courtesy of Rob Schnepp.  Cylinders High pressures create potential for danger Courtesy of Rob Schnepp.  Cylinders Propane cylinder – Lower pressure – Contain liquefied gas – Subject to boiling Courtesy of Rob Schnepp. liquid expanding vapor explosion (BLEVE)  Cylinders Dewar container – Thermos-like vessel to hold cryogenic liquids – Typical cryogens Oxygen Helium Hydrogen Argon Nitrogen Courtesy of Cryofab, Inc.  Cylinders Cryogens pose a substantial threat if the Dewar container fails to maintain low temperature Containers usually have two pressure-relief devices – Pressure-relief valve – Frangible metal disk  Transportation and Facility Markings Enable responders to identify released chemicals – Indicate presence of hazardous material – Provide clues about substance  Safety Data Sheets Provide basic information about – Chemical make-up of a substance – Potential hazard it presents – Appropriate first aid in the event of exposure – Other pertinent safety information Courtesy of the U.S. Department of Transportation  Safety Data Sheets Typical contents – Name of chemical, including synonyms – Physical and chemical characteristics of material – Physical hazards of material – Health hazards of material – Signs and symptoms of exposure – Routes of entry  Safety Data Sheets Typical contents – Permissible exposure limits – Responsible party contact – Precautions for safe handling – Applicable control measures – Emergency and first-aid procedures – Appropriate waste disposal Courtesy of Tanner Industries, Inc., Southhampton, PA. Safety Data Sheets National Fire Protection Association 704 Marking System Characterized by set of diamonds found on – Outside of buildings – Doorways to chemical storage areas – Fixed storage tanks Designed for fixed-facility use National Fire Protection Association 704 Marking System Uses diamond- shaped symbol broken into four smaller diamonds Each diamond contains a numerical rating in the range of 0–4. © Jones & Bartlett Learning. Photograph by Glen E. Ellman. National Fire Protection Association 704 Marking System Blue diamond – Health hazard Red diamond – Flammability Yellow diamond – Instability White diamond © Jones & Bartlett Learning. – Special symbols National Fire Protection Association 704 Marking System Differs from U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) marking system – DOT system used when materials are being transported – NFPA 704 hazard identification system is for fixed-facility use  Hazardous Materials Information System Uses numerical hazard rating and colored horizontal columns Gives information to work safely around © Jones & Bartlett Learning. chemicals  Hazardous Materials Information System Includes training materials for workers Not required by law Provides guidance about PPE Differs from NFPA 704 marking system  Military Hazardous Materials/WMD Markings Hazardous materials divided into four categories Division 1 – Mass detonation hazards – Number 1 inside orange octagon © Jones & Bartlett Learning. Division 2 – Explosion-with-fragment hazards – Number 2 inside orange X  Military Hazardous Materials/WMD Markings Division 3 – Mass fire hazards – Number 3 inside inverted orange triangle Division 4 © Jones & Bartlett Learning. – Moderate fire hazards – Number 4 inside orange diamond  Military Hazardous Materials/WMD Markings Chemical hazards are depicted by colors. – Toxic agents: red – Harassing agents: yellow – White phosphorus: white  Military Hazardous Materials/WMD Markings Specific personal protective gear requirements are identified using pictograms. Military shipments containing hazardous materials/weapons of mass destruction(WMD) are not required to be placarded.  Shipping Papers Required when materials are transported Include names and address of shipper and receiver. Identify material being shipped. Specify quantity and weight of each part of shipment.  Shipping Papers Bill of lading or freight bill – Shipping papers for road and highway transportation – Located in cab of vehicle – Required by law – May provide additional information about a Courtesy of RSI Logistics, Inc. hazardous substance  Shipping Papers Packaging group designations – Packaging group I: high danger – Packaging group II: medium danger – Packaging group III: minor danger  Shipping Papers Waybills – Used for railroad transportation – List of contents in every car on the train – Conductor, engineer, or designated member of the train crew will have a copy Courtesy of private source.  Shipping Papers Dangerous cargo manifest – Used on marine vessels – Usually kept in a tube-like container in wheelhouse Courtesy of the U.S. Department of Defense.  Shipping Papers Air bill – Used for air transport – Kept in the cockpit, pilot’s responsibility Courtesy of Apperson Print Resources Inc.  Pipelines Length of pipe for conveying fluids and gases Pipeline incidents may present unique challenges and hazards. Often buried underground, but may be aboveground in remote areas Subject matter experts may be required to assist.  Pipelines Pipeline right-of-way – Area extending a certain number of feet on either side of the pipe – Company that owns the pipe maintains the right-of-way Warning signs at regular intervals  Pipelines Warning signs include – Warning symbol – Pipeline owner’s name – Emergency © Photodisc. contact number  Pipelines Vent pipes – Inverted J-shaped tubes – Provide pressure relief or natural venting – Clearly marked – Located approximately 3 ft (0.9 m) above ground  The Emergency Response Guidebook Information on several thousand chemicals Does not list all chemicals that could be shipped by land, sea, air, or rail Courtesy of the U.S. Department of Transportation.  The Emergency Response Guidebook In most cases, placards required only when shipment is over 1000 lb (453.6 kg) Some require labels or placards in any amount – Explosives – Poison gases – Water-reactive solids – High-level radioactive substances  The Emergency Response Guidebook Placards – Diamond-shaped indicators placed on all four sides of highway transport vehicles, railroad tank cars, etc. – Identify broad hazard Courtesy of Mark Winfrey/Shutterstock, Inc.. class  The Emergency Response Guidebook Labels – Smaller versions of placards – Placed on four sides of boxes and smaller packages – Relate only to potential hazard in package Four-digit UN number may be required The Emergency Response Guidebook Courtesy of the U.S. Department of Transportation.  Using the ERG Small spill – Leak from one small package – Small leak in large container Large spill – Large leak or spill from large container or package – Spill from a number of small packages – Any spill from a 1-ton (907-k) cylinder, tank truck, or railcar  Using the ERG Yellow section – Lists more than 4000 chemicals numerically by UN number Courtesy of the U.S. Department of Transportation. – Chemical name and emergency action guide number  Using the ERG Blue section – Lists chemicals alphabetically by name Courtesy of the U.S. Department of Transportation. – Emergency action number and identification number  Using the ERG Orange section – Organized by guide number – General hazard class – Fire/explosion hazards – Health hazards – Basic emergency actions  Using the ERG Courtesy of the U.S. Department of Transportation.  Using the ERG Green section – Organized numerically by UN/ID number – Provides initial isolation distances for certain materials – Includes chemicals highlighted in yellow and blue sections  Using the ERG Courtesy of the U.S. Department of Transportation.  Chemical Families and Divisions Recognized in the ERG DOT Class 1 – Explosives DOT Class 2 – Gases DOT Class 3 – Flammable liquids (and combustible liquids in the United States)  Chemical Families and Divisions Recognized in the ERG DOT Class 4 – Flammable solids – Spontaneously combustible materials – Dangerous-when-wet materials/water-reactive substances DOT Class 5 – Oxidizing substances and organic peroxides  Chemical Families and Divisions Recognized in the ERG DOT Class 6 – Toxic substances and infectious substances DOT Class 7 – Radioactive materials DOT Class 8 – Corrosive substances DOT Class 9 – Miscellaneous hazardous materials/products, substances, or organisms  Chemical Families and Divisions Recognized in the ERG “Dangerous” placard – Indicates more than one hazard class is contained in the same load Courtesy of Rob Schnepp  Harmful Substances’ Routes of Entry into the Human Body Characteristics affecting release parameters and potential health effects of exposure include – Concentration of material – Temperature of material at time of release – Pressure under which substance was released – Age, gender, genetics, and underlying medical conditions of exposed person  Rendering Medical Care Refer to NFPA 473, Standard for Competencies for EMS Personnel Responding to Hazardous Materials/Weapons of Mass Destruction Incidents Care usually performed in safe area (cold zone) away from the hazard, after decontamination  Rendering Medical Care Chemical substances can enter the human body in four ways – Inhalation – Absorption – Ingestion – Injection © Jones & Bartlett Learning.  Inhalation Harmful substances enter through respiratory system Transfer quickly through lungs to circulatory system Lungs cannot be decontaminated  Inhalation Respiratory system vulnerable to attack from wide range of substances Responders must wear appropriate respiratory protection Courtesy of Sperian Respiratory Protection.  Inhalation Determine appropriate type of respiratory protection; consider – Spore size for an anthrax incident – Infectious – Contagious – Particle size  Inhalation When airborne contamination is encountered – Understand the nature of the threat. – Evaluate the respiratory protection available. – Decide if it provides adequate protection.  Absorption Process by which substances travel through body tissues until they reach the bloodstream Skin, eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and intestinal tract Skin can be pierced by many chemicals  Absorption Responders must constantly evaluate the possibility of chemical contact. Consult the ERG or a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for response guidelines. Use chemical-protective clothing if PPE does not offer adequate protection.  Ingestion Absorption of chemicals through gastrointestinal tract Must wash up after rotating out of the building Contamination can spread from hands to food to gastrointestinal tract.  Injection Exposure through open cuts and abrasions Recognize when you work in a compromised state  Injection Address cuts or open wounds before reporting for duty. Open wounds provide direct portal to bloodstream.  Summary Approximately 83 million organic and inorganic substances are registered for use in commerce in the United States, with several thousand new ones being introduced each year. Identifying the kinds and quantities of hazardous materials used and stored by local facilities should be an integral part of any comprehensive community response plan.  Summary All responders must interpret visual clues effectively to improve their ability to safely operate at an incident. All responders should be able to recognize the various container profiles and understand the general classifications of materials that may be stored inside each type of container.  Summary All responders should be able to name, understand, and locate the various types of shipping papers on various modes of transportation. When used correctly, various marking systems indicate the presence of a hazardous material and provide clues about the substance. – The DOT, NFPA, Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), and military have all developed marking systems specific to their level of response.  Summary All responders should be able to demonstrate proficiency when using the Emergency Response Guidebook. It is important to know how to obtain SDS documentation from various sources, including one’s own department, the scene of the incident itself, and the manufacturer of the material.