APIE Hazardous Materials Incident Response Process

APIE is a problem solving process that can be used at any incident. 1. Analyze the incident - Attempt to understand the current situation 2. Plan the initial response - Determine what actions need to be taken 3. Implement the response - Perform the planned tasks 4. Evalu...

APIE is a problem solving process that can be used at any incident. 1. Analyze the incident - Attempt to understand the current situation 2. Plan the initial response - Determine what actions need to be taken 3. Implement the response - Perform the planned tasks 4. Evaluate progress - Monitor progress throughout Responders with different levels of training have different responsibilities in each of the APIE steps. - Awareness Level personnel and Operations Level responders have limited responsibilities at hazmat incidents - Not all aspects of APIE are addressed in the Awareness and Operations Levels - As responsibilities increase, so do the components of APIE - Technicians have responsibilities in all four steps Awareness Level personnel serve an important function at hazmat incidents. - In the course of their normal duties, they may be first to arrive or witness incident - Their initial actions can affect the course of the incident for better or worse Awareness Level personnel should follow the APIE process. - Must be able to recognize that hazardous materials may be involved in an incident - Can use seven clues to detect presence of hazardous materials - Some can be used from a distance, others must be up close - The closer responders are, the greater the chance of exposure These are the seven clues to the presence of hazardous materials. 1. Preincident surveys, occupancy types, and locations - Can help first responders identify businesses, industries, and other occupancies that store, manufacture, use, and/or ship hazardous material before an incident occurs 2. Container shapes - A wide variety of storage and shipping containers may contain solid, liquid, gaseous, and cryogenic hazardous materials 3. Transportation placards, labels, and markings - Required by Canada, the U.S., and Mexico - Based on the UN hazard class system to identify transported hazardous materials 4. Other markings and colors (non-transportation) - Include the NFPA 704 system, common hazardous communication labels, ISO safety symbols, pipeline markings, and others 5. Written resources - Fixed facilities should have safety data sheets, inventory records, and other facility documents - At transportation incidents, the current *Emergency Response Guidebook* and shipping papers can provide written information 6. Senses - Vision is the safest sense to use to detect hazardous materials - Other senses such as smell, hearing, touch, and taste can provide input - Incident witnesses and victims can provide useful first-hand information 7. Monitoring and detection devices - Require specialized skills and training beyond Awareness Level Awareness Level personnel are not responsible for planning the response. - SOPs may allow personnel to perform initial actions - May be authorized to use *ERG* to determinate isolation distances Awareness Level personnel are expected to assume certain responsibilities at an incident. - Implementing the response - Recognize the presence or potential presence of a hazardous material - Initiate protective actions for themselves and others - Transmit information to an appropriate authority and call for appropriate assistance - Establish scene control by isolating the hazardous area and denying entry - Evaluating progress - Not expected to evaluate, but should pass along pertinent information Operations Level responders engage primarily in defensive operations. - Respond to hazmat releases as part of their normal duties - Expected to protect individuals, the environment, and property from the effects of the release Operations Level responders have additional responsibilities to those of the Awareness Level. - Responsibilities include - Identify the potential hazards involved in an incident if possible - Identify response options - Implement the planned response to mitigate or control a release from a safe distance by performing assigned tasks to lessen the harmful incident and keep it from spreading - Evaluate the progress of the actions taken to ensure that response objectives are safely met Operations Level responders identify potential hazards at incidents. - Includes - Type of container involved - Hazardous material involved - Hazards presented by the material - Potential behavior of the material - Also expected to - Analyze the surrounding conditions - Determine the location and amount of any release, if possible - Begin planning appropriate response Operations Level responders must be able to identify response options. - Not responsible for planning actual response - Must understand tasks asked to perform and why - Must be aware of safety precautions, PPE, and emergency decontamination needs Response options are the tactics used to meet these objectives. - Response objectives include - Isolation - Notification - Identification - Protection (life safety) - Rescue - Spill/leak control and confinement - Crime scene and evidence preservation - Fire control - Recovery/ termination Operations Level responders must implement the response. - Implementing the response - Work within IMS framework - Establish scene control - Implement protective actions - Perform emergency decontamination - Follow safety precautions - Use PPE in the proper manner - Avoid hazards - Complete assignments - Identify and preserve evidence Operations Level responders must also evaluate progress. - Evaluating progress - Report progress on assigned tasks to supervisor Operations Mission Specific level responders are trained above Operations-Core competencies. - Not a prerequisite for Technician - Optional proficiencies to meet needs of AHJ - Understood to be working under watchful eye of Technician There are many Mission Specific competencies. - Personal protective equipment - Mass decontamination - Technical decontamination - Evidence preservation and sampling - Product control - Air monitoring and sampling - Victim rescue and recovery - Response to illicit laboratory incidents Hazmat technician competencies build upon previous training. - Expected to respond and work in an offensive mode - Core competencies are outlined in NFPA 1072, *Standard for Hazardous Materials/Weapons of Mass Destruction Emergency Response Personnel Professional Qualifications* (2016) - No mission-specific competencies, only specialties Hazmat technician training must come in phases. - Must be competent at the Awareness and Operations levels first - Can move on to the next level as knowledge and skills are gained Hazmat technician training must come in phases. - **Responders in the U.S. must be trained to U.S. OSHA standards** - **NFPA standards may also apply** - **AHJ requirements take priority** - **Are the final authority and** - **May exceed minimum standards established by law** OSHA outlines training requirements for employees who work with chemicals. - OSHA - Part of the Department of Labor - Establishes standards - Has the ability to legally enforce these standards - HAZWOPER - 29 *CFR* 1910.120, the Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) standard - Is broken down into seventeen paragraphs - Addresses subjects such as medical monitoring and health and safety plans - Paragraph q of the standard refers to emergency response Paragraph q has a direct influence on emergency response and consists of several components. - **Paragraph q components** - Development of an emergency response plan - Procedures for handling emergency response - Skilled support personnel - Specialist employees - Training - Trainers - Refresher training - Medical surveillance - Chemical protective clothing - Postemergency response operations The NFPA's hazardous materials requirements are detailed in the\ following standards. - NFPA 1072, *Standard for Hazardous Materials/Weapons of Mass Destruction Emergency Response Personnel Professional Qualifications (2016)* - NFPA 472, *Standard for Professional Competence of Responders to Hazardous Materials/Weapons of Mass Destruction Incidents (2008)* - NFPA 473, *Standard for Competencies for EMS Personnel Responding to Hazardous Materials/Weapons of Mass Destruction Incidents (2008)* NFPA 1072 and NFPA 472 outline different requirements and specialties. - NFPA 1072 - Outlines the professional qualifications for response at the Awareness, Operations, Technician, and Incident Commander Levels - NFPA 472 - Cargo Tank Specialty - Intermodal Tank Specialty - Marine Tank Vessel Specialty - Tank Car Specialty The hazardous materials technician should not be satisfied with simply meeting minimum training standards. - Numerous training opportunities are available that can help increase skills and competencies - Federal agencies such as the CDC offer training for the hazardous materials responder The hazardous materials technician should not be satisfied with simply meeting minimum training standards. - CDC training topics include - Emergency response - Disaster management - Terrorism response - Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) - Chemical hazards Other public agencies can be of assistance in training. - State and local health departments - Can offer a variety of training options - Can be a great resource for training and information in chemical and biological topics - Disaster management and NIMS training - State and local emergency management departments along with the DHS and FEMA's Emergency Management Institute and National Fire Academy can offer assistance Your AHJ may have specialized training requirements. - Local jurisdictions - May require specialized training for hazards common to community or area - Local emergency response leaders may dictate specialized training to address critical needs The hazardous materials technician must consider many variables when analyzing an incident. - Must have in-depth knowledge of containers - Must have general understanding of chemistry along with chemical and physical properties - Must be able to use metering devices and interpret relevant data in order to make intelligent, informed decisions One of the most critical aspects of a hazmat response is product identification. - Knowing exactly what product or products are involved is important for safe mitigation - Once a product is identified, the next step is to identify the properties of that chemical - Information allows tech to make informed decisions - May be required to research the product to gain the information needed - A variety of references and resource materials are available to assist in chemical research Hazmat technicians may need to use basic detection, monitoring, and sampling tools and equipment. - Helps to identify, quantify, and classify the materials involved in an incident - Use devices according to manufacturers' specifications - Must correctly interpret the data provided and apply this information to ensure a safe response - Must maintain and service tools and equipment to keep them working properly Technicians must be able to estimate container damage. - Must have a general knowledge of containers, their potential contents, and the associated hazards to estimate container damage - Based on need, a container may be transported or located at a fixed facility - Container may hold a solid, liquid, or gas and may contain a great amount of pressure - Should be able to identify a container, its construction features, and its typical contents - Should be able to estimate the container's capacity and any common leak points Technicians must be able to predict the likely behavior of a product. - Must understand the chemical and physical properties of substances to assist in predicting the likely behavior of a product - Will help the technician not only analyze a situation, but safely mitigate an incident Once the likely behavior of a product is predicted, the scope of the incident must be estimated. - Understanding the chemical and physical properties of a product can assist in estimating the scope - Chemical reference manuals and databases - Assist in estimating the scope - Provide pertinent information The technician should have a general knowledge of chemistry and the associated properties of substances. - Understanding chemistry - Helps a technician predict likely behavior of a product - Can be helpful in both product control and decontamination The technician must use the gathered information to plan the response. - Think through the situation and develop a solid strategy with realistic response objectives - Answer all of the following questions before initiating a response - What response option will be used? - Will the mitigation be done offensively or defensively? - What equipment and PPE will be needed to support the chosen option? - What decontamination process will be used? Response to a hazardous materials incident is different from other responses. - Incidents such as structure fires and emergency medical responses - Require quick decisions and quick actions - Are time sensitive, and quick intervention will usually help those in need - Hazardous materials response - Quick response and quick intervention may be counterproductive and have deadly consequences - Must be organized and methodical - Many factors will affect the outcome Consider a risk-based response model to analyze problems and to make appropriate decisions. - Risk-based approach should be taken with regards to considering - Protective clothing options - Control measures - Decontamination options - There are a variety of risk-based models to choose from You must select appropriate PPE during responses. - Operations Level - Know what PPE is available - Understand limits of that PPE - Technician Level - PPE selection becomes critical because the responder will be working in an offensive capacity - Must be familiar with PPE options from both a respiratory and chemical protective clothing (CPC) standpoint A duty of the Technician Level responder is to select appropriate\ decontamination procedures. - May include Operations Level response personnel - Must be proficient in establishing and implementing mass and technical decon operations for ambulatory and nonambulatory victims and responders An IAP must be developed before a response plan can be implemented. - All responders must understand - What issues are going to be dealt with - What products are involved - What actions will be taken to safely mitigate the incident - Some IAP components are common to emergency responses - However, the majority of the components must be developed with the unique incident and hazards in mind - Today, emergency responders have the assistance of NIMS to help guide them through the development of an IAP An organized and controlled response methodology is needed to safely mitigate a hazardous materials incident. - Awareness and Operations Levels - Responder keeps his or her distance from the actual product - With the exception of Mission Specific competencies, response will always be in a defensive mode - Technician Level - Are expected to move forward and take an offensive posture and be "hands-on" in their work - Requires these individuals to have an in-depth background in all facets of the Technician Level response Hazmat technicians take offensive actions when they can do so safely. The hazmat tech will perform assigned ICS/IMS duties. - Duties may be diverse based on the - Chosen response model - Area of responsibility technician assigned - Must work within the structure of the - Incident Command System and - Incident Management System - Must have understanding of roles and responsibilities whether - In a command role or - Within a hazardous materials group or branch Response personnel at this level must be proficient in using specialized PPE. - Must be fully aware of all safety procedures - When working in - Chemical protective clothing - Vapor-protective clothing - Actions necessary when - Loss of air supply - Loss of suit integrity - Responder down in the hot zone The primary objective of a hazmat technician is to control release of product from a variety of containers. - Must be able to select and utilize the proper tools, equipment, and materials to successfully control the release of a hazardous material from bulk and nonbulk containers - Must also be able to overpack a variety of nonbulk containers including such things as drums and radioactive materials packaging The hazmat technician will choose the correct level and method of decontamination. - In any given hazardous materials incident, the hazmat tech will enter a contaminated area and perform work that may put the responder in close proximity to a dangerous chemical or hazardous substance - Decontamination is needed to clean the responder, victims, and equipment when leaving the hazard area The last phase of the APIE process is evaluation. - The plan must be evaluated to ensure that - Progress is being made - The desired outcome will be achieved - If findings reveal that the incident is not improving or the situation is escalating - The plan must be reevaluated - May be necessary to transition activities If evaluation determines that the expected outcome may not be realized, the IC must begin APIE again. - Must reanalyze incident to determine if responders achieve their expected outcome - If new information is gathered, it will be necessary to perform another planning session to determine a proper course of action - This cyclical process will continue until the incident is considered stable The hazmat tech must also evaluate the effectiveness of decontamination. - Cross contamination is a significant concern - Decon process must be adequate in removing all contaminants An incident does not truly conclude until all necessary paperwork has been completed. - There are requirements that must be met to formally terminate an incident - While the documentation may be viewed as an administrative requirement, there is much to be learned from each and every incident Debriefing is a critical component of the termination phase. - Command team must provide valuable information to responders - Some critical aspects of the incident must be relayed to all response personnel - Some of the components include relevant observations, actions taken, and a timeline of the incident In the U.S., the hazard communication briefing is required by OSHA. - Debriefing process must be thoroughly documented - Each person must receive and understand the instructions and sign a document stating those facts - Information provided includes - Identity of material involved - Potential adverse effects of exposure to the material - Actions to be taken for further decontamination - Signs and symptoms of an exposure - Mechanism by which a responder can obtain medical evaluation and treatment - Exposure documentation procedures Documentation will serve as a timeline of the actions taken and a permanent record of the events that transpired. - Some documents and reports that may be required - Incident reports - Debriefing records - Critique records - Reimbursement logs A postincident critique must be performed during the termination process. - OSHA Title 29 *CFR* 1910.120 requires that incidents be critiqued for the purpose of identifying operational deficiencies and learning from mistakes - Hazmat incident critiques need to occur as soon as possible after the incident and involve all responders, including law enforcement, public works, and EMS responders - Critique is documented to identify those in attendance as well as any operational deficiencies that were identified