Hazardous Materials Initial Incident Response PDF - Chesapeake Fire Department

Procedure 502 Chesapeake Fire Department Fire Procedure Manual Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/03/25, All Rights Reserved.Published with permission by Chesapeake Fire Department Hazardous Materials Initial Incident Response - 1 Hazardous Materials Initial Incident Response 502.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE...

Procedure 502 Chesapeake Fire Department Fire Procedure Manual Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/03/25, All Rights Reserved.Published with permission by Chesapeake Fire Department Hazardous Materials Initial Incident Response - 1 Hazardous Materials Initial Incident Response 502.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE This document provides on-scene procedures for Chesapeake Fire Department units operating at incidents involving hazardous materials. Corresponding Policies: 319 Hazardous Materials Response 605 Hazardous Materials Training 300 Incident Management 502.2 DEFINITIONS Hazardous Materials Operational Zones: Exclusion zone (hot zone) - The area with actual or potential contamination and the highest potential for exposure to hazardous substances. Contamination reduction zone (warm zone) - The transition area between the exclusion and support zones. This area is where responders enter and exit the exclusion zone and where decontamination activities should take place. Support zone (cold zone) - The area that is free from contamination that should be safely used as a planning and staging area. 502.3 FIRST FIVE MINUTES Whenever practicable, the first arriving Chesapeake Fire Department unit should approach the scene from upwind and uphill and stage at a location estimated to be in the cold zone. Contact the Emergency Communications Center and provide the following information: • Unit on-scene • Initial scene size-up • Unit assuming incident command (IC) The IC should: #Attempt to identify the hazardous material(s) involved in the incident through: • Any available location pre-plan • Material Safety Data Sheets • Information from site representatives or vehicle operator • Visible placards or signs • The shape of tanks or other holding areas • Reference to Emergency Response Guidebook that should be on all apparatus Chesapeake Fire Department Fire Procedure Manual Hazardous Materials Initial Incident Response Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/03/25, All Rights Reserved.Published with permission by Chesapeake Fire DepartmentHazardous Materials Initial Incident Response - 2 #Perform or direct another member to perform a 360 assessment and report the results to the IC. Whenever available, personnel should use air monitors, such as four-gas monitors, to assist in determining levels of contamination. For hazardous materials response, the 360 assessment report should include, but not be limited to: • Any leaking of liquids • Any venting of gases or vapors • Identification of the hazardous material • Possible victims #Contact the Emergency Communications Center and request additional resources necessary to contain and isolate the hazardous material, including any specialized resources such as hazardous materials response units available to the department from neighboring jurisdictions and county, state or federal agencies. #Begin developing the initial incident action plan (IAP), taking into consideration: • Incident name, agency or unified command and command post location. • Information for responding units on the best route of travel, staging locations and minimum isolation distances to maintain the safety of responding members. • The information available on the products involved or an indication that the products are not yet known. • The incident control objectives and goals, including confinement and containment measures. • An incident site safety plan and designation of an Incident Safety Officer. • A communications plan, including radio frequencies and contact telephone numbers 502.4 PROCEDURES 502.4.1 RESOURCE DEPLOYMENT (a) Apparatus 1. Apparatus should be positioned in the cold zone and, whenever practicable, upwind, uphill and upstream of any vapor cloud or spill. (b) Personnel 1. Personnel should be wearing PPE appropriate for the hazard. 2. Personnel should engage only in operations in relation to their level of training and only when wearing PPE appropriate to the level of the incident. 502.4.2 OPERATIONS (a) The primary objectives of a hazardous materials response include, but may not be limited to: Chesapeake Fire Department Fire Procedure Manual Hazardous Materials Initial Incident Response Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/03/25, All Rights Reserved.Published with permission by Chesapeake Fire DepartmentHazardous Materials Initial Incident Response - 3 1. Isolating, confining and containing the hazardous material. 2. Evacuating the contaminated area. 3. Denying entry to the contaminated area. (b) Personnel should assume that any unknown or unidentified substance is a hazardous material until confirmed otherwise. (c) As soon as it is practicable, the IC should confirm operational hot, warm and cold zones and relocate staging locations, the command post and personnel accordingly. (d) When available, personnel should use air monitors, such as four-gas monitors, to continually read the scene contamination levels. (e) Whenever practicable, the IC should have at least one advance life support ambulance on-scene and available for treatment and transport before personnel enter the hot zone. (f) The IC should evaluate responding personnel’s level of training in relation to the hazard. Hazardous materials mitigation activities should not exceed the level of training and PPE required to contain and/or mitigate the hazard. (g) The IC should determine the hazard Level of the incident as soon as possible to aid in developing the IAP, determining operations and additional required resources, and performing a risk vs. benefit analysis for any rescue, fire suppression or mitigation and containment activities. Hazard levels are: 1. Level I - These incidents are relatively small and can usually be handled using defensive actions by initial responding personnel wearing structural firefighting PPE. These incidents have no environmental impact and pose little threat to the public. Examples of Level I incidents include, but are not limited to: • Fuel spills of less than 20 gallons that have not entered or threatened to enter storm drains or waterways that can be contained by use of dikes, diversion and collection. • Natural gas or propane leak at a single-family residence with no explosion, fire or injuries that can be mitigated by shutting off the gas supply and venting the residence or through use of controlled tank venting or plugs. • Requests for investigation of an unknown odor that finds no hazardous materials present. • Carbon monoxide calls. 2. Level II - These incidents should be considered as more complex than Level I incidents and may require offensive or defensive actions and evacuation. These incidents can pose a significant threat to the environment and public health and may require trained HAZMAT teams with specialized equipment and PPE. Examples of Level II incidents include, but are not limited to: • Fuel spills or leaks of more than 20 gallons entering or threatening to enter storm drains or waterways. These incidents may require immediate Chesapeake Fire Department Fire Procedure Manual Hazardous Materials Initial Incident Response Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/03/25, All Rights Reserved.Published with permission by Chesapeake Fire DepartmentHazardous Materials Initial Incident Response - 4 containment measures and monitoring the spread of the hazard to determine downstream contamination or hazards. • A release of hazardous materials with the potential for explosion. • Any natural gas or propane leak from a vehicle-mounted propane delivery tank or in a building larger than a single-family residence. • Any incident where the hazard is not identified. • Leaks from outside natural gas lines. 3. Level III - These incidents are extremely complex and pose an extreme and immediate threat to the environment and/or public health. These incidents generally exceed the capabilities of local, regional and state resources, and often require widespread evacuation. Examples of Level III incidents include, but are not limited to: • Structure fires involving hazardous material production, processing or storage facilities. • Train derailment involving the release of one or more hazardous materials. • Terror attack involving hazardous materials. 502.5 PROCEDURE DECISION TREE Chesapeake Fire Department Fire Procedure Manual Hazardous Materials Initial Incident Response Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/03/25, All Rights Reserved.Published with permission by Chesapeake Fire DepartmentHazardous Materials Initial Incident Response - 5