Bexar County Sheriff's Office Policy Manual - HAZMAT Incidents PDF

BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE POLICY MANUAL Original Date Effective Date Chapter Number September 29, 2023 September 29, 2023 Thirty-Two Appendix B Subject Office Response to H...

BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE POLICY MANUAL Original Date Effective Date Chapter Number September 29, 2023 September 29, 2023 Thirty-Two Appendix B Subject Office Response to HAZMAT Incidents Special Operations /Patrol Div. References Enclosures None None Distribution Supersedes Reevaluation Date Pages All Sheriff’s Employees New Appendix September 29, 2024 4 Approved by: Javier Salazar, Bexar County Sheriff 32B.01 POLICY Hazardous material (HAZMAT) incidents present unique circumstances and require specialized instructions and training. Under normal circumstances the appropriate Bexar County Emergency Services District (ESD) has principal responsibility for determining the necessary course of action and the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) role consists of perimeter control, security, and support of ESD operations. 32B.02 PURPOSE This policy provides deputies with guidelines on HAZMAT incidents and the proper response to HAZMAT incidents. 32B.03 DEFINITIONS A. HAZMAT - Hazardous materials that by the nature of their existence present a danger to life or property (i.e., nuclear material, chemicals, explosives, liquid fuels, compressed gas, etc.) B. MANDATORY EVACUATION - The alerting and warning of personnel within a specific area that an imminent threat to life and property exists. Leaving the area is necessary furthermore, all law enforcement and rescue services will be terminated in the area. Personnel and/or residents within the affected area cannot be forced to evacuate; however, once anyone leaves the area they will not be permitted to return until the threat has ended. C. UNIFIED COMMAND - An organized team effort which allows all involved agencies with jurisdictional authority or functional responsibility for the incident to jointly provide management direction through a common set of objectives and strategies and a single Incident Action Plan (IAP). D. VOLUNTARY EVACUATION - The alerting and warning of personnel within a specific area that a threat to life and/or property exists, and we strongly encourage evacuating the area. 1 32B.04 PROCEDURE A. Deputies may encounter situations involving suspected hazardous materials, such as at the scene of a traffic collision, chemical spill, or fire. When deputies come into contact with a suspected hazardous material, they must take certain steps to protect themselves and other persons; B. Because hazardous material incidents are dynamic and could be linked to terrorism, incident command responsibility may rapidly transfer from one responding agency to another. What may initially appear as a hazardous material exposure could transition to a chemical, biological, or radiological weapon of mass destruction incident; C. Unified Command protocols should be implemented in any incident when a hazardous material is present in order to successfully plan, prepare, respond, recover, and repatriate an affected area when necessary; D. The area ESD is the agency trained and equipped to properly respond and mitigate most hazardous materials and biohazards; E. Deputies should not perform tasks or use equipment without proper training; F. A deputy entering the area may require decontamination before they are allowed to depart the scene and should be evaluated by appropriate medical professionals for signs of exposure; E. The following steps shall be considered at any scene involving suspected hazardous materials: 1. Make the initial assessment of a potential hazardous material from a safe distance; 2. Remain upwind, uphill, and at a safe distance, maintaining awareness of weather and environmental conditions, until the material is identified and a process for handling has been determined; 3. Wear personal protective equipment (PPE), being cognizant that some hazardous material may quickly volatilize into a form which is readily inhaled; 4. Identify the type of hazardous material from a safe distance using optical aids (binoculars/spotting scopes) if they are available. Identification can be determined by: a. Placards; b. Driver’s statements or shipping documents from the person transporting the material; and c. Information obtained from any involved person with knowledge regarding the hazardous material. 5. Obtain information from any involved party who has knowledge regarding the hazardous material: a. The identity of the material; b. How to secure and contain the material; and 2  c. Any other information to protect the safety of those present, the community and the environment. 6. Notify the appropriate ESD personnel. Provide weather conditions, wind direction, a suggested safe approach route, and any other information pertinent to deputy and ESD safety; 7. Provide first aid to injured parties if it can be done safely and without contamination; 8. Begin evacuation of the immediate and surrounding areas, dependent on the material. Voluntary evacuation should be considered. Depending on the material, mandatory evacuation may be necessary; 9. Make reasonable efforts to secure the scene to prevent access from unauthorized personnel; and 10. Establish a decontamination area, when needed. 32B.05 REPORTING EXPOSURE A. Deputies who believe they have been exposed to a hazardous material shall immediately report the exposure to a supervisor; B. Each exposure shall be documented by the deputy in an incident report, which shall be forwarded through the chain of command as soon as practicable. Should the affected deputy be unable to document the exposure for any reason, it shall be the responsibility of the notified supervisor to complete the incident report; C. Injury or illness caused or believed to be caused from exposure to hazardous materials shall be reported the same as any other on-duty injury or illness, in addition to an incident report. 32B.06 DECONTAMINATION All decontamination of personnel, equipment, and PPE kits will be processed according to the appropriate ESD’s established procedures and protocols. 32B.07 SUPERVISOR RESPONSIBILITIES A. When a supervisor has been informed that an deputy has been exposed to a hazardous material, they shall ensure that immediate medical treatment is obtained and appropriate action is taken to treat the exposure; B. Safety items and PPE not maintained by the BCSO will be obtained through the area ESD; C. All personnel/equipment must be accounted for; and 3 D. All personnel will prepare and present a detailed report of their activities, assignments, and actions during the incident. 4