Estimating Potential Harm and Planning a Response

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Objectives (1 of 5)

• Estimate the potential harm or severity of a hazardous materials/WMD incident.

• Use resources to determine the size of and incident.

• Describe exposure protection.

• Report the size and scope of an incident.

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Objectives (2 of 5)

• Use available resources to determine the concentration of a hazardous material.

• Identify skin contact hazards.

• Know how to plan an initial response.

• Describe the potential for secondary attacks/devices.

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Objectives (3 of 5)

• Select appropriate PPE for hazardous materials/WMD incidents.

• Identify purpose, advantages, and limitations of:– Street clothing and work uniforms– Structural firefighting protective clothing– High temperature–protective clothing and

equipment– Chemical-protective clothing and equipment

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Objectives (4 of 5)

• Discuss respiratory protection needs.

• Discuss the levels of hazardous materials/WMD PPE.

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• Describe physical capabilities required and limitations of personnel working in PPE.

• Describe the importance of having a plan in place to decontaminate a victim.

Objectives (5 of 5)

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Responder’s Priorities at a Hazardous Materials/WMD Incident1. Ensure your own safety at scene

2. Address potential life safety of those persons affected by the incident

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Estimating Potential Harm or Severity of Incident (1 of 4)

• Threshold limit value (TLV)

• Permissible exposure limit (PEL)

• Threshold limit value/short-term exposure limit (TLV/STEL)

• Threshold limit value/time-weighted average (TLV/TWA)

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Estimating Potential Harm or Severity of Incident (2 of 4)

• Threshold limit value/ceiling (TLV/C)

• Threshold limit value/skin

• Recommended exposure level (REL)

• Immediately dangerous to life and health (IDLH)– Requires use of self-contained breathing

apparatus (SCBA)

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Estimating Potential Harm or Severity of Incident (3 of 4)

• Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG)– Gives evacuation distances– Gives basic action plans

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Estimating Potential Harm or Severity of Incident (4 of 4)

Instructions and example pages from the Initial Isolation Protective Action Distances table found in the ERG.

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Exposures (1 of 3)

• Isolation of hazard area

• Denial of entry

• Evacuation

• Sheltering-in-place

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Exposures (2 of 3)

• Report size and scope of incident– Thermal imaging cameras “see inside”

containers.

• Determine concentration and pH (litmus paper) of released hazardous material

• Determine skin contact hazards.

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Exposures (3 of 3)

Litmus paper (pH strips) is used to determine the hazardous material’s pH.

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Approach Hazardous Materials Incident Cautiously

Approach a hazardous materials incident cautiously.

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Response Depends on Material State

The response to a spill of a solid hazardous material will differ from the response to a liquid-release or vapor-release incident.

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Response Objectives

• Measurable

• Flexible

• Time sensitive

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Secondary Attacks and Devices (1 of 2)

• Must be acknowledged in response objectives

• Evaluate scene for likely placement areas

• Check operating areas before providing patient care.

• Avoid touching or moving anything.

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Secondary Attacks and Devices (2 of 2)

• Designate and enforce scene control zones.

• Evacuate victims, other responders, and nonessential personnel.

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Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) (1 of 3)

• Selection based on:– Hazardous material involved– Specific hazards present– Physical state of material

• Consult OSHA HAZWOPER, 29 CFR 1910.120 for guidance.

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Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) (2 of 3)

• Chemical-protective clothing

• Respiratory protection also important

• Not a suit of armor

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Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) (3 of 3)

• Specific types:– Street clothing and work uniforms– Structural firefighting protective clothing– High temperature–protective clothing and

equipment– Chemical-protective clothing and equipment– Respiratory protection

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Street Clothing and Work Uniforms (1 of 2)

• Least amount of protection

• Worn only away from contaminated areas

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Street Clothing and Work Uniforms (2 of 2)

A Nomex jumpsuit.

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Structural Firefighting Protective Clothing (1 of 2)

• Not chemical-protective

• Suitable for support functions

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Structural Firefighting Protective Clothing (2 of 2)

Standard structural firefighting gear.

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High Temperature–Protective Clothing and Equipment (1 of 2)

• A level above structural firefighting gear

• Affords short-term high-temperature protection

• No protection from hazardous materials/WMD

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High Temperature–Protective Clothing and Equipment (2 of 2)

High temperature–protective equipment protects the wearer from high temperatures during a short exposure.

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Chemical-Protective Clothing and Equipment

• No garment protects from everything.

• Chemical-resistant materials designed to resist passage of chemicals– Permeation– Penetration– Degradation

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Vapor-Protective Clothing (1 of 2)

• Full body protection

• Requires supplied-air respiratory protection devices

• Increases possibility of heat-related emergencies

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Vapor-Protective Clothing (2 of 2)

Vapor-protective clothing retains body heat and increases the possibility of heat-related emergencies.

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Liquid Splash–Protective Clothing (1 of 2)

• Protects from chemical splashes

• No protection from gases or vapors

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Liquid Splash–Protective Clothing (2 of 2)

Liquid splash–protective clothing must be worn when there is the danger of chemical splashes.

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Chemical-Protective Clothing Ratings

• Level A (highest)

• Level B

• Level C

• Level D (lowest)

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Level A Ensemble (1 of 2)

• Fully encapsulating garment

• SCBA or SAR

• Vapor-protective chemical-resistant suit

• Chemical-resistant gloves

• Chemical-resistant safety boots/shoes

• Two-way radio

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Level A Ensemble (2 of 2)

Level A ensemble envelops the wearer in a totally encapsulating suit.

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Level B Ensemble (1 of 2)

• Chemical-protective:– Clothing– Boots– Gloves

• SCBA or SAR

• Two-way radio

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Level B Ensemble (2 of 2)

A Level B ensemble provides a high level of respiratory protection but less skin protection.

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Level C Ensemble (1 of 2)

• Full-face APR

• Chemical-resistant:– Clothing– Gloves– Boots/shoes

• Two-way radio

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Level C Ensemble (2 of 2)

A Level C ensemble includes chemical-protective clothing and gloves as well as respiratory protection.

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Level D Ensemble (1 of 2)

• Minimal protection

• Includes:– Coveralls– Safety boots/shoes– Safety or chemical-splash goggles– Hard hat

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Level D Ensemble (2 of 2)

The Level D ensemble is primarily a work uniform that includes coveralls and provides minimal protection.

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Respiratory Protection

• Physical capability requirements

– Medical surveillance once or twice/year

– Medical monitoring on the scene

• Positive-Pressure Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA)

• Supplied-air respirators (SARs)

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Positive-Pressure Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (1 of 2)

• Closed-circuit SCBA

• Air-purifying respirators (APRs)

• Powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs)

• Commonly provided by SCBA– Prevents both inhalation and ingestion

exposures

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Positive-Pressure Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (2 of 2)

SCBA carries its own air supply, a factor that limits the amount of air and time the user has to complete the job.

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Supplied-Air Respirators (SARs) (1 of 2)

• External air source

• Connected by hose to face piece

• Provides air for about 5 minutes

• Length of hose limits movement

• Hazardous material may damage hose

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Supplied-Air Respirators (SARs) (2 of 2)

A supplied-air respirator is less bulky than an SCBA but is limited by the length and structural integrity of the air hose.

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Closed-Circuit Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA)

• Commonly called “rebreather”

• Exhaled air is:– Scrubbed free of carbon dioxide– Supplemented with oxygen– Rebreathed

• Used for long work periods

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Air-Purifying Respirators (APRs) (1 of 2)

• Filter particulates, vapors, and contaminants

• Must be sufficient oxygen in atmosphere

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Air-Purifying Respirators (APRs) (2 of 2)

Air-purifying respirators can be used only where there is sufficient oxygen in the atmosphere.

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Powered Air-Purifying Respirators (PAPRs)

• Like APRs, but include small fan

• Diminish work of breathing

• Reduce fogging in the mask

• Provide flow of cool air across face

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Decontamination

• Emergency decontamination

• Secondary contamination

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Emergency Decontamination (1 of 2)

• Rapid removal of bulk of contaminants

• Without formal establishment of decontamination corridor

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Emergency Decontamination (2 of 2)

Emergency decontamination involves the immediate removal of contaminated clothing.

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Secondary Contamination

• Also called cross-contamination

• Caused by contact with:– Contaminated victim– Contaminated object

• Establishing control zones helps prevent

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Summary (1 of 3)

• Ensure your own safety.

• Response priorities based on need to protect lives, property, critical systems, and the environment

• Gather information to obtain a clear picture of the incident.

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• Immediate protective actions: Denial of entry, evacuation, and sheltering-in-place

• Tactical control objectives: Prevent further injury, control/contain spread of release

• Response objectives: Measurable, flexible, time sensitive, based on chosen strategy

Summary (2 of 3)

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• Defensive actions: Dike, dam, absorb or adsorb, stop remotely (valve, shut-off), dilute or divert, suppress or disperse

• Use risk-benefit analysis during response

• PPE required is specific to incident

• Respiratory protection is key PPE element

Summary (3 of 3)

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