Hoffman Estates Fire Department Hazardous Materials Guidelines PDF

HOFFMAN ESTATES FIRE DEPARTMENT STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINES SOG Category & Identification Number: EFFECTIVE DATE: SPECIALIZED OPERATION – 002 January 1, 2022 NIMS COMPLIANT SOG T...

HOFFMAN ESTATES FIRE DEPARTMENT STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINES SOG Category & Identification Number: EFFECTIVE DATE: SPECIALIZED OPERATION – 002 January 1, 2022 NIMS COMPLIANT SOG Title: Hazardous Materials Guidelines Revision: 2 APPROVED BY: NUMBER OF PAGES: Re-evaluation Date: Alan Wax January 1, 2025 Fire Chief 10 PURPOSE POLICY The handling of hazardous material emergencies may have both short and long term effects on civilians, Fire Department members, and the environment. For example, many of the chemicals used today are known or suspected cancer-producing materials and improper exposure to their effects may not be seen for many years. For this reason alone, the Fire Department personnel must use extreme care when responding to and dealing with potential hazardous material situations. The bottom line is that it's better to be overly cautious, than to err and expose personnel to dangerous chemicals and their negative health effects. The Fire Department's role in hazardous material situations relates to determination of the materials involved, life-safety of civilians and fire personnel, evacuation of affected civilians, and containment and confinement of the involved chemicals in order to protect humans and the environment. The recovery and removal of the involved materials is not a Fire Department function and should be handled by another government agency or a private sector group. Fire Department personnel or equipment must not be used for removal or disposal of hazardous chemicals. A. SCENE OBJECTIVES FIRST ARRIVING COMPANY Action taken by the first arriving fire company will largely dictate the operation's overall success. The failure of the first-in company to recognize the hazards present can cause the incident to escalate, or result in increased exposure to the emergency responder and the community. As the first arriving officer, your primary concerns involve hazard identification, developing an initial action plan, and establishing appropriate safety zones. 1 INITIAL SIZE-UP The most critical aspect of response to a hazmat incident is the initial size-up of the situation. This is the responsibility of the first arriving officer and includes:  detection and identification of hazardous materials  assessment of fire, explosion, and health hazards  immediate action plan  immediate follow-up actions In size-up, as well as all other actions, personnel safety is the officer's primary responsibility. The risks of exposing personnel to danger must be weighed against the benefits. Do not risk the lives of firefighters in vain attempts to recover dead bodies or to mitigate chemical emergencies that are out of control, or that you are not properly equipped or trained to handle. DETECTING HAZARDOUS MATERIALS The presence of hazardous materials may be detected and identified in a number of ways. Every Department vehicle has access to the Department of Transportation Emergency Response Guidebook (DOTERG). Additional sources of information may include:  pre-planning  noting container shape  reading standard placards attached to a vehicle or container  reading vehicle or container marks or labels  reading shipping papers  observing the physical properties of the material Early recognition of hazardous materials will reduce the risk to emergency personnel and allow for the initiation of proper actions to mitigate the incident. GENERAL STRATEGIC CONSIDERATIONS WHEN DEVELOPING YOUR ACTION PLAN FOR ANY HAZARDOUS MATERIALS EMERGENCY INCLUDE:  Approach from uphill and upwind.  Attempt to identify the product.  Allow yourself and your equipment an escape route; park headed away from the emergency, if necessary. 2   Call for Hazardous Materials Mutual Aid Response Team, if needed.  Establish site control.  Define the level of incident, if possible.  Identify the need for and type of survey instruments required.  Monitor the atmosphere for CO, O2, flammability, etc. in relation to the hazard class.  Appoint a Safety Officer as soon as possible.  Notify the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, if needed, at 217/782-7860. WHAT ARE THE INCIDENT PRIORITIES? 1. Life Safety (Emergency Personnel Safety) * Anyone trapped? * Can you safely approach the scene? * Should traffic be diverted? * Will evacuation be necessary? 2. Incident Stabilization * Will your actions help stabilize the incident or make it worse? * What resources will be needed to stabilize the emergency? * Should you attack or withdraw? This decision is based upon a number of factors and is a most critical decision. The immediate factors to consider are: * The magnitude of the incident. * The availability of the proper type and amounts of extinguishing agents and other resources. *The conviction that the outcome can be favorably altered by the actions you take. * Proper protective gear and training. * Risk versus Benefit. 3. Property/Environmental Concerns * Can rescue, protection of endangered buildings and vehicle be accomplished with minimum risk to firefighters? * Are waterways, storm sewers or sanitary sewers affected? * Is contaminated run-off a concern? * Is airborne contamination a problem? B. SAFETY ZONES Site control is critical to effective management of a haz-mat incident. Safety zones can be expanded or reduced depending on the situation. Each zone should be clearly marked. A site control system needs to be established early, and should be used to some degree in every haz-mat incident. 1. Restricted Zone The restricted zone is sometimes referred to as the hot, red, or exclusionary zone. 3  This area represents danger to life or health and should be approached with extreme caution. Depending on the material involved, appropriate protective clothing and equipment is necessary to enter this zone. Establishing the size of the restricted zone depends on the amount and properties of the chemical involved and location of the incident. To determine safe distances for specific materials, refer to the DOT Emergency Handbook or to one of the computer database systems available in the apparatus iPad. 2. Limited Access Zone The limited access zone, also referred to as the warm, yellow, or contamination zone, is the area for site control directly outside the restricted area. It provides the forward access point to the restricted zone for the necessary support personnel and equipment, escape routes, and decontamination stations. Too often this site becomes the walk-through area for administrative personnel, media, and personnel stationed in the support zone. The limited access zone should be restricted to essential personnel and equipment only. All others should be kept out of the limited access zone unless they are needed for restricted zone support. It is easier to evacuate or reposition the limited access zone when it is not congested. 3. Support Zone The support zone, sometimes referred to as the cold or green zone, is the area for site control directly outside the limited access zone. This is the safe area for the incident commander, outside agencies involved in the incident, media, Red Cross, and medical personnel. C. HAZARD CLASSES Each of the eight primary hazard classes present unique challenges to the emergency responder. As already stressed, identification of the chemicals involved in the incident is paramount. Once the nature of the problem is identified, utilize the response guidelines for the specific chemical found in the Department of Transportation’s Emergency Response Guidebook. NOTE: The IEMA notification number is the best source for general information, contacts with appropriate government agencies, and emergency field assistance. IEMA is also THE contact for resource needs that escalate beyond the Hazardous Material Mutual Aid Response Team. D. DECONTAMINATION Decontamination (decon) is the process of making personnel, equipment, and supplies safe by eliminating harmful substances. Proper decon is essential to ensure the safety of personnel and property. The extent of its success depends on how seriously your personnel perceive the necessary decontamination and how well the Incident Commander can control 4 on-scene personnel and operations. Safety and health hazards of the contaminants at any incident define how complex the decon operations will be. A minimal hazard, such as a lightly contaminated oil, can be partially decontaminated by simply flushing it from protective clothing. In contrast, a major hazard, such as a poisonous material may require a detailed guideline including several intermediate cleaning steps. Before initiating decontamination, the IC and the Decon Officer must decide 1) how much and what type of decon is necessary and 2) to what extent it will be accomplished in the field. This decision should be based on the answers to the following questions: 1. Can decontamination be conducted safely? Dilution, for example, may be impractical due to cold weather or because it presents an unacceptable risk to emergency personnel. 2. Are existing resources immediately available to decon personnel and equipment? If not, where can they be obtained, and how long will it take to get them? 3. Can the equipment used be decontaminated? The toxicity of some materials may render certain equipment unsafe for further use. In these cases, disposal may be the only safe alternative. Selection of a decon site should be based on access to the incident by hard-surfaced roads, water supplies, and proximity to environmentally sensitive areas such as streams and ponds. The ideal decon site is upwind, uphill from the incident and remote from drains, manholes and waterways yet close enough to limit the spread of contaminants. Unfortunately, it is often not possible to actually choose such a site. Shifting winds and dispersing gases further complicate your choice. Such real-life problems may force the movement of the decon area once it has been in operation if the site planning has been hasty. Once a decon area has been designated, an isolation perimeter should be quickly established. This site can be easily marked with fence stakes and fire line tape. Signs marked "DANGER - DO NOT ENTER" should be placed well in advance of the hazard zone. This warning advises everyone involved of the hazard and identifies where contaminated personnel should report for decontamination. Whenever decontamination is required, a Decon officer, should be established. The officer can assign specific duties, monitor overall operations, coordinate equipment and supplies, and, when necessary, confer with specialists such as chemists and industrial hygienists to determine the three decon questions stated at the beginning of this section. The typical hazmat incident does not require an extensive or elaborate decon guideline. The following nine-step decon guideline assumes a worse case scenario and is only one way of addressing the problem. Variations are often necessary to solve the problems at hand. Creative thinking and good judgement concerning personnel safety and health should be the guideposts. 5  DECON GUIDELINES STEP 1: ESTABLISH ENTRY POINT An "entry point" should be established and clearly marked in order to guide contaminated personnel into the decon area. Make sure the entrance can be easily seen and quickly accessed even by a team member inside a chemical encapsulating suit. Any tools which may be needed by other team members in the Hot Zone should be left here. (See Step 3). STEP 2: PRIMARY DECONTAMINATION Remove as much solid or liquid as possible from contaminated personnel by leaving protective clothing and SCBA on while showering. For tough contaminants, several intermediate cleaning steps may be necessary. Minimize overspray and splashing by using low water pressure. Divert runoff water to a safer area for treatment and/or disposal. At a minimum, keep the runoff clear of streams and ponds. Diking all runoff is an excellent goal, but it is rarely possible. Place as much distance as possible between those contaminated and the decon crew. When deconning high-risk hazmats (e.g., Class B poisons), all Step 2 crews should be in SCBA and be wearing level B protection. Note that all decon crew members must also be deconned when their tasks are complete. Usually, the last person cleans himself. STEP 3: SCBA REMOVAL Highly contaminated SCBA should be removed and isolated for complete decontamination at a later time. These units should be placed in individual plastic bags or placed on a tarp for later bagging. Again, this operation becomes crucial when faced with poisons. However, when workers are only stopping for air changeovers and must immediately re- enter the Hot Zone during low-risk hazmat operations, it may be acceptable to simply replace their SCBA cylinder. High-risk exposures that present respiratory hazards may require a complete SCBA change to a clean, serviced unit. This can be accomplished by the decon crew passing the clean SCBA across the isolation line to the contaminated workers. The contaminated cylinders or SCBA units are then moved to the contaminated side. Changing the entire SCBA, rather than just the cylinders, ensures a higher safety level for the team. STEP 4: REMOVAL AND ISOLATION OF PROTECTIVE CLOTHING Outside clothing removal is especially important when structural firefighting clothing is worn as it is porous and can absorb most materials. Keep in mind that most contaminants cannot be seen or smelled by those working in the area. Contaminated coats, helmets, and other specialized chemical protective clothing should be 6 placed in containers to isolate any contaminants. Plastic garbage bags usually provide sufficient temporary protection from most materials. They should be sealed with tape and transported elsewhere for laundering. When disposal is required, the bags should be placed inside a properly marked recovery drum. At this writing there are no practical detoxification techniques for many pesticides. Incineration or burial at an approved landfill is often the only solution. Note: Steps 3 and 4 may be reversed depending on the location of the SCBA (inside or outside the CPC). Steps 5 through 9 may be completed at another location (typically Station #2 or the hospital). When off-site decontamination is being performed, extra precautions must be taken to prevent contamination of the off-site location. STEP 5: REMOVAL OF PERSONAL CLOTHING In certain extremely hazardous scenarios, complete removal of personal clothing will also be dictated. This may include all outer clothing, undergarments and personal property. Provisions should be made to bag clothing individually in the event uncontaminated clothing can be salvaged. Prior to entering highly toxic areas, all personal items such as rings, watches, wallets, and jewelry should be removed to prevent contamination. It is a good idea to automatically remove all such items whenever a Hot Zone is established. Make sure that their security and identification have been provided for. Step 5 may have to be conducted at remote locations when faced with extreme weather conditions. Below freezing temperatures, high winds and dust storms are examples. Alternatives to off-site decon are the use of temporary structures such as tents, portable showers, and designated decon vehicles. Several types are available commercially. Some organizations routinely decontaminate off-site. However, from a safety standpoint, Steps 1 through 5 will be more effective if done on-site. STEP 6: DECON THE BODY Body washing should take place at Step 6. An overhead shower produces much better results than a hose line. Ample soap should be applied to all areas of the body, especially the head and groin. Assistance will be provided upon request. Liquid surgical soaps placed in plastic squeeze bottles give the best results. Small brushes and sponges should be used for body surface scrubbing. Prepackaged cleaning kits are available through local hospitals. All cleaning items used should be bagged and marked for disposal. Likewise, the runoff should be controlled whenever possible. At this point, anyone wearing contact lenses should be re-evaluated. If any discomfort or irritation is noted, remove the lens and flush the eyes to remove any contaminants collected 7 under the lens. Of course, any emergency eye treatment would have been initiated immediately at Step 2. When the exposure does not present an acute hazard, showers can be utilized at a more suitable location. Fire stations, school gyms, and even indoor car washes can be used, assuming previous arrangements have been made. If permanent structures are selected for routine decontamination, drainage systems should be checked by the responsible jurisdiction. STEP 7: DRYING OFF AND PROVIDING CLEAN CLOTHING Towels or sheets should be used to dry off. Each towel is used once and placed in bags on the contaminated side for disposal. Plastic garbage bags lined with plastic are good storage containers. Clean clothes are next. Disposable coveralls, hospital gowns and slippers, such as beach thongs, are inexpensive and easy to use. They can be prepackaged according to size and stored for easy access. STEP 8: MEDICAL EVALUATION Once personnel are thoroughly decontaminated, they should proceed to an EMS station for evaluation by paramedics or other trained medical personnel. Those manning the triage area should be familiar with correct guidelines for treating chemical injuries and have a communications link with other advanced care specialists, including a medical command facility and poison control center. Medical staff should have access to baseline physical data for hazmat personnel. Vital signs should be noted for each person leaving decon and compared to baseline data. They should be regularly monitored and recorded throughout the incident for later evaluation. Any open wounds or breaks in skin surface should be immediately reported to the medical control. Unless advised otherwise by the medical command physician, all open wounds should be cleaned on the scene. Obviously, the EMS Sector must be alerted immediately of possible contaminant hazards as soon as they are documented by the IC. STEP 9: REASSIGNMENT In Step 9, personnel are either sent to Rehab, reassigned, or sent for further medical evaluation. When high-risk contaminants are involved, contaminated personnel should be transported to the appropriate hospital for further evaluation and monitoring. This will include the appropriate medical evaluation. Each person decontaminated should be recorded along with the method used. Documentation should be included in the termination activity report. When personal showering is not completed in the field, Step 9 will become the loading area for those requiring further cleaning. The selection of a transport vehicle should be based on 8 its ability to move everyone at one time, in one vehicle. More than one vehicle complicates the decon process and increases the eventual costs of the operation. Good transport vehicles include school buses, which are relatively indestructible and easy to clean and utility (shuttle) buses. Reserve ambulances for truly life-threatening problems. Lengthy cleaning requirements and limited passenger capacity make them impractical. Regardless of the vehicles chosen, make arrangements before the incident for their use with the agency having jurisdiction. GENERAL CLEAN-UP Equipment and apparatus decon can be difficult and very expensive. Liquids can soak into wood and flow into metal cracks and seams or under bolts. Begin decon by consulting the chemical manufacturer for clean-up recommendations. A ranking officer or other person with authority should command this phase to ensure that proper planning and coordination with local officials takes place. Generally speaking, the IC has two options: 1) wait until clean-up is completed by an authorized contractor or 2) decon with ERP following instructions of an outside agency. Outside agencies who should be consulted in the development of equipment decon plans include:  Water/Sewage Treatment Facilities - Prior arrangements will be necessary before large quantities of waste water can be flushed into storm/sewer systems via drains connected to the street or facilities such as fire stations, gyms, etc. As a general rule, all waste should be contained on-site until the authority having jurisdiction grants permission for disposal.  Pollution Control (Environmental Protection Agency or U.S. Coast Guard) - The Incident Commander's authority to create a "runoff" situation during an emergency involving life-threatening materials is well established. Adding to this runoff with decontamination equipment is certainly questionable in most cases. Failure to isolate the runoff could easily result in a citation from regulatory agencies and result in bad publicity.  Product Specialists - They may be able to provide decon recommendations based on practical knowledge. Some chemical manufacturers are trained and experienced in equipment decon and can be invaluable when their information is correct and very damaging when wrong. While decontaminating, avoid direct contact with contaminated equipment. Brooms, sponge mops, shovels, and pitchforks can be used to apply cleaning agents or move equipment. Protective clothing and SCBA must be worn unless proven to be unnecessary by technical specialists who have conducted an appropriate analysis of the contaminants. Fire hose should be cleaned following manufacturers' recommendations. Normally, 9  detergent will do the job. It should then be thoroughly rinsed to prevent any fiber weakening. The hose should then be marked and pressure tested before being placed back in service. There may be certain cases where it is not economical or practical to decon certain types of hose, and it will have to be completely discarded. Fire, police, or EMS vehicles exposed to hazmat should be completely washed several times with detergent and rinsed. Make sure that the wheel wells and chassis are thoroughly scrubbed. Engines exposed to toxic dusts or vapors should have their air filters replaced. They should be correctly disposed. When a vehicle is exposed to corrosive atmospheres, it should be inspected by a mechanic for possible motor damage. Equipment sprayed with acids should be flushed or washed with a neutralizing agent such as baking soda and then again flushed with rinse water. When the decon process has been completed, the site should remain secure until the isolated clothing and equipment can be removed for proper cleaning or disposal. If the contaminated materials will remain at the site for any length of time, appropriate warning signs or labels should be posted or attached to containers. Police support and lighting may be necessary when the materials remain overnight. Always secure hazardous waste and ensure a chain of custody is maintained. PROCEDURE DEFINITIONS ADDITIONAL EXCEPTIONS Where MABAS Illinois Policies and Procedures current online reference or MABAS 1 Operating Guidelines/Policy Statements are in conflict with HEFD Standard Operating Guidelines, HEFD Standard Operating Guidelines will take precedence. REFERENCES MABAS Illinois Policies and Procedures current online reference MABAS 1 Operating Guidelines/Policy Statements End of Document 10