11

Hazardous

MaterialsSection Five:

Scene Safety, PPE and Scene Control

Analyze

Plan

Implement

Evaluate

22

Scene Safety

Scene control, site management, and personnel accountability are critical

The course of a hazardous material incident is often determined in the first five to fifteen minutes

?

33

Exposure Limits

Threshold Limit Value/Short-Term Exposure Limit (TLV-STEL)

Threshold Limit Value/Time Weighted Average (TLV-TWA)

Threshold Limit Value/Ceiling (TLV-C) Threshold Limit Value/Skin (TLV-S) Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health

(IDLH)

44

TLV-STEL

Maximum concentration a person can be exposed to in 15-minute intervals, up to four times a day without damage Minimum one hour rest between exposures

Lower the TLV-STEL, the more toxic the substance

55

TLV/TWA

Maximum concentration a person could be exposed to 8 hours a day, 40 hours a week with no ill effects

The lower the TLV-TWA, the more toxic the substance

66

TLV-C (Ceiling)

Maximum concentration a worker should not be exposed to, even for an instant

The lower the TLV-C, the more toxic the substance

77

TLV-Skin

Possible and significant exposure by direct or airborne contact

Appropriate measures need to be taken so TLV/TWA is not exceeded

88

PEL/REL

Maximum, time-weighted concentration to which 95% of healthy adults can be exposed over a 40-hour workweek without damage

PEL set by OSHA (enforceable by Law) REL set by NIOSH (does not have the force

of Law)

99

IDLH

An atmospheric concentration of any toxic, corrosive, or asphyxiant that poses an immediate threat to life or could cause irreversible or delayed adverse health effects

The lower the number the higher the toxicity

1010

IDLH

Three types of IDLH atmospheres: Toxic Flammable Oxygen-deficient (<19.5%)

IDLH atmospheres require the use of SCBA or equivalent protection

1111

Determining Atmospheric Safety

Atmospheric monitoring requires specific training and equipment

Three types of atmospheres at a hazardous materials incident: Safe Unsafe Dangerous

1212

Hazard Levels

Safe atmosphere No harmful hazardous materials effects

Unsafe atmosphere Exposure will probably cause injury

Dangerous atmosphere Serious, irreversible injury or death may

occur

1313

Personal Protective Equipment

PPE is the clothing and protection that provides shielding or insulation from chemical, physical, and thermal hazards

Firefighter’s PPE should meet NPFA and OSHA Standards Must be properly maintained and used

1414

PPE Selection

PPE is selected based on the specific properties of the products involved

The IC should approve the level of PPE to be used on an incident

Firefighters should not use PPE they have not been trained to use

1515

Types of PPE

Street clothing and work uniforms Structural firefighting protective clothing High-temperature protective clothing Chemical protective clothing and equipment

1616

Specific PPE

Street clothing and work uniforms Offers least amount of protection

from hazardous materials Structural firefighting protective

clothing Offers no chemical protection Has some abrasion resistance

1717

High-temperature protective equipment: Offers protection from

high temperatures only (short exposure)

No chemical protection

Proximity/entry

Specific PPE

Fire Entry Suit

Proximity suit

1818

Specific PPE

Chemical Protective Clothing Designed to prevent chemicals from coming

in contact with the body May have varying degrees of resistance Chemical-resistant materials:

• Designed to inhibit or resist the passage of chemicals into and through the material by penetration, permeation, degradation

1919

Chemical Protective Clothing

No single material provides protection from all chemicals

Operations level trained personnel should not be operating in encapsulated suits

2020

Penetration

Movement of the chemical through closures Liquids/vapors most likely

to penetrate Some solids (i.e. asbestos)

may penetrate also

2121

Permeation

Process by which the chemical moves through the material on a molecular level.

2222

Degradation

Physical destruction/decomposition of material Visible signs such as:

charring/shrinking/ swelling/color change/ dissolution are evidence of degradation

2323

Garment Construction

Single-piece Multi-piece Material used in construction

Butyl rubber, Tyvek®, Saranex, PVC, Viton

2424

Liquid Splash-Protective Clothing

Protects skin and eyes Does not protect against

gases or vapors Should not be used for

incidents involving liquids that emit vapors

2525

Vapor-Protective Clothing

Must be used when hazardous vapors are present

Traps heat and perspiration

Must be used in conjunction with respiratory protection

2626

Respiratory Protection Devices

Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) Supplied air respirator (SAR) Air-purifying respirator (APR)

2727

SCBA

Prevents exposure through inhalation or ingestion

Should be mandatory for fire service personnel

Firefighters must know the limitations of SCBA

2828

Supplied Air Respirator(SAR)

User connected to external air source

Useful during extended operations

Hoseline may restrict movement

2929

Air Purifying Respirators (APRs)

Filter particulates and contaminants from the air

Should only be used when: Type and amount of

contaminants are known Atmosphere is not

oxygen-deficient

3030

APRs

Limitations: Filtering cartridges are contaminant-specific Atmosphere must be continuously monitored

3131

Chemical Protective Clothing Level A

Fully encapsulating suit Highest level of

protection Effective against vapors,

gases, mists, dusts Requires SCBA or SAR

3232

Chemical Protective Clothing Level B

Consists of chemical-protective clothing, boots, gloves, and SCBA

Used when high respiratory protection but less skin protection required

3333

Chemical Protective Clothing Level C

Standard work clothing plus chemical-protective clothing

Appropriate when: Type of airborne substance is

known Concentration is measured Criteria for using an APR is met Skin or eye exposure is unlikely

3434

Chemical Protective Clothing Level D

Lowest level of protection

Used when: Atmosphere contains no

known hazard Work functions preclude

splashes, immersion, or potential for inhalation

3535

Skin Contact Hazards

Toxicity, flammability, and reactivity Inadequately protected body Assume the worst and leave the largest

possible safety margin

3636

Skin Contact Hazards

Skin can absorb harmful toxins without any sensation to the skin itself

Some substances are lethal if only a few drops contact the skin

3737

Skin Contact Hazards

Skin absorption is enhanced by cuts, abrasions, heat, and moisture

Absorption rate depends on body part

3838

Skin Contact Hazards

Corrosives do not have to be absorbed to do damage-contact is sufficient Acids

• Have affinity for moisture• Can burn respiratory tract

Alkalis• Cause deep, destructive burns• Turns tissue to soapy liquid

3939

Safety Precautions

Standard safety precautions for firefighting apply to hazardous materials incidents Proper PPE & respiratory

protection In addition, special attention

must be paid to temperature and stress

4040

Excessive Heat Disorders

Dehydration Heat stress Heat exhaustion Heat stroke

4141

Dehydration

Pre-hydrate with 8 to 16 oz. of water before donning PPE

Rehydrate with 16 oz. of water for each SCBA tank used Leads to heat cramps &

heat stress if not treated

4242

Heat Exhaustion

Signs & symptoms: Rapid shallow breathing Weak pulse Clammy skin

Emergency action: Remove victim from the source of heat Rehydrate Provide cooling

4343

Heat Stroke

Signs and symptoms include: Reduction or cessation of sweating Body temperature at or above 105ºF Rapid pulse

4444

Heat Stroke

This is a true medical emergency requiring immediate transport to a medical facility

4545

Cooling Technologies

Passive systems Air, ice, or water cooled vests

Forced air cooling systems Limit mobility Fluid chilled systems Phase change cooling technology

• Pre-cooled vest wicks perspiration away from body

4646

Cold-Temperature Exposures

Materials related Liquefied gases and cryogenic materials expose

firefighters to the same low-temperature hazards as those created by cold-weather environments

Weather related Temperature and wind speed Still air is a poor conductor

4747

Cold-Temperature Exposures

Despite temperature, firefighters will sweat May lead to hypothermia

Prevention: Wear appropriate, layered clothing Keep layers next to skin dry Warm shelters should be available

4848

Response Safety Procedures

Isolate and deny entry Try to identify products Follow the DOT-ERG Follow SOPs Eliminate possible

ignition sources

4949

Control Zones

5050

Hot Zone

Area immediately around the incident site Contains personnel and equipment needed

to control the release Is contaminated zone Access is limited Entries and exits are

logged Entered by technicians/specialists

5151

Warm Zone

Staging area for entering and leaving the hot zone

Contains an access corridor and a decontamination corridor

Personnel must be in

appropriate PPE

5252

Cold Zone

Safe area where special protective clothing is not needed

Restricted area Operations include:

Personnel staging Command post Medical support area

5353

Isolation Techniques

Approach from uphill Resist the urge to rush in Establish a perimeter

Ensure perimeter control devices do not impede rapid evacuation

5454

Buddy System and Backup Personnel*

Ensure safety of emergency crews Decontamination team in place before

anyone enters the hot zone No one should enter the hot zone alone Always remain within sight, sound, or touch

of each other

*Only for those trained above the Operations Level; i.e., Haz-Mat Teams

5555

Summary

PPE is product-specific No such thing as generic chemical-protective suit PPE has limitations; firefighters must know them

Four recognized levels of protective clothing Level A provides the most protection Level D provides almost no protection

5656

Summary

Resist the urge to rush in Only firefighters trained

to the technician or specialist levels enter the hot zone

Use of respiratory protection is essential

5757