1. Operational Level Lesson 4 Presentation
Hazardous Materials for First Responders, 3rd Ed.

2. Strategic Goals and Tactical Objectives
Strategic goals — Broad statements of what must be done to resolve the incident
Tactical objectives — Specific operations that must be done in order to accomplish goals
Operational Level

3. Standard Strategic Goals
Isolation
Notification
Identification
Protection
Spill control/confinement
Leak control/containment
Fire control
Recovery and termination
Operational Level

4. Scene Perimeters and Hazard Control Zones
Isolation perimeter — Outer boundary of an incident that is controlled to prevent entrance by the public or unauthorized persons
Initial isolation distance — Distance within which all persons should be considered for evacuation in all directions from the actual spill/leak source
(1 of 8)
Operational Level

5. Scene Perimeters and Hazard Control Zones
Initial-isolation zone — Circular zone (with a radius equivalent to the initial isolation distance) within which persons may be exposed to dangerous concentrations upwind of the source and may be exposed to life-threatening concentrations downwind of the source
(2 of 8)
Operational Level

6. Scene Perimeters and Hazard Control Zones
Protective action distance — Downwind distance for which protective actions should be considered
Protective-action zone — Area immediately adjacent to and downwind from the initial isolation zone, which is in imminent danger of being contaminated by airborne vapors within 30 minutes of material release
(3 of 8)
Operational Level

7. Scene Perimeters and Hazard Control Zones
(4 of 8)
Operational Level

8. Scene Perimeters and Hazard Control Zones
Hazard control zones — Zones dividing the levels of hazard of an incident (hot, warm, or cold), with the hot zone representing the highest degree of hazard; also called site work zones or scene-control zones
(5 of 8)
Operational Level

9. Scene Perimeters and Hazard Control Zones
Decontamination zone — Area located in the warm zone where contaminated clothing, people, and equipment can be cleaned or secured
Area of safe refuge — Primarily an area serving as a safe place to wait for evacuation assistance in the event of fire when building elevators are normally inaccessible; used in the haz mat world as a safe location (or locations) where evacuated persons are directed to gather while potential emergencies are assessed, decisions are made, and mitigating activities are begun
(6 of 8)
Operational Level

10. Scene Perimeters and Hazard Control Zones
Staging area — Area where personnel and equipment awaiting assignment to the incident are held (which keeps responders and equipment out of the way and safe until needed), minimizing confusion and freelancing at the scene; located at an isolated spot in the cold zone where occupants cannot interfere with ongoing operations
(7 of 8)
Operational Level

11. Scene Perimeters and Hazard Control Zones
Rehabilitation area (rehab area) — Safe location where emergency personnel can rest, sit or lie down, have food and drink, and have medical conditions evaluated; located in the cold zone
Triage/treatment area — Area where victims of an incident are brought for medical assessment (triage) and stabilization (treatment); located in the cold zone unless a patient is contaminated, then it would have to be the warm zone
(8 of 8)
Operational Level

12. Notifying Additional Help at a Haz Mat Incident
Consult SOPs, SOGs, OIs, and LERPs for detailed information.
Operational Level

13. Factors Affecting the Ability of Personnel to Perform a Rescue
Nature of the hazardous material and incident severity
Availability of appropriate PPE
Availability of monitoring equipment
Number of victims and their condition
Time needed (including a safety margin) to complete the rescue
Tools, equipment, and other devices needed to achieve the rescue
Operational Level

14. Rescue Risks Associated with DOT Hazard Classes
Class 1 — Thermal injury, due to heat generated by the detonation; mechanical injury from the shock, blast overpressure, fragmentation, shrapnel, or structural damage; chemical injuries from associated contamination; etiological harm from contact with blood or other bodily fluids; asphyxiation due to depletion of oxygen
(1 of 4)
Operational Level

15. Rescue Risks Associated with DOT Hazard Classes
Class 2 — Thermal, asphyxiant, chemical, or mechanical hazard due to violent rupture of pressurized containers; thermal harm due to extremely cold temperatures; asphyxiation due to chemical vapors in a confined space
Class 3 — Thermal hazards from forceful explosions, heat, and fire; chemical and mechanical injuries from explosions
(2 of 4)
Operational Level

16. Rescue Risks Associated with DOT Hazard Classes
Class 4 — Thermal harm from heat and flammability; mechanical harm from slip, trip, and fall hazards; chemical harm from water reactive, toxic, and/or corrosive materials
Class 5 — Thermal, chemical, and mechanical harm due to sensitivity to heat, shock, friction, and contamination
Class 6 — Chemical harm due to toxicity by inhalation, ingestion, and skin and eye contact; etiological harm from disease-causing organisms; thermal injuries due to flammability
(3 of 4)
Operational Level

17. Rescue Risks Associated with DOT Hazard Classes
Class 7 — Thermal and radiological harm from alpha, beta, and neutron particles, and gamma rays
Class 8 — Chemical and thermal hazards associated with the disintegration of contacted tissues; mechanical harm from corrosive chemicals, which can weaken structural elements
Class 9 — Could encompass a multitude of potential hazards
(4 of 4)
Operational Level

18. Operational-Level Rescue Actions
Conducting searches during reconnaissance or defensive activities
Conducting searches on the edge of the hot zone
Directing victims to the decontamination area
Assisting with decontamination while not coming into contact with the hazardous material itself
Assisting with the identification of victims
Giving instructions to a large number of people for mass decontamination
Operational Level

19. Sizing Up a Haz Mat Incident
Estimate the number and type of exposures involved.
Use the ERG and other sources to predict or attempt to predict where the hazardous material may be going.
After predicting the size of the endangered area, predict the potential exposures.
(1 of 2)
Operational Level

20. Sizing Up a Haz Mat Incident
Protect exposures.
People — Through evacuation or sheltering in place
Environment — Through confinement of released materials and runoff until environmental impact can be determined
Property — Action must be tailored to the material, its properties, and any reactions to the proposed protective medium
Note: Lives must not be risked and the environment must not be unduly compromised to safe property!
(2 of 2)
Operational Level

21. Evacuation
Definition — To move all people from a threatened area to a safer place
Factors — Must be enough time to warn people, for them to get ready, and for them to leave the area
Note: Evacuation plans for likely terrorist targets should be made in advance as part of the LERP
Steps
Evacuate nearby, downwind, or crosswind within the distance recommended by the ERG.
Send evacuees upwind/uphill/upstream of the incident.
Assign enough personnel to conduct the evacuation.
Operational Level

22. Sheltering-In-Place Protection
To direct people to go quickly inside a building and remain inside until the danger passes
When to use
The population is unable to initiate evacuation because of health care, detention, or educational occupancies
The material is spreading too rapidly to allow time for evacuation
The material is too toxic to risk any exposure
Vapors are heavier than air, and people are in a high-rise structure
Direct people to a building, instructing them to close all doors and windows and to shut off all HVAC systems
Operational Level

23. Confinement
Controlling the product that has already been released from its container
Function — Minimizes the amount of contact the product makes with people, property, and the environment
Tactics
Absorption
Adsorption
Blanketing/covering
Dam, dike, diversion, and retention
Vapor suppression
(1 of 2)
Operational Level

24. Confinement
(2 of 2)
Operational Level

25. Absorption
A physical and/or chemical event occurring during contact between materials that have an attraction for each other
One material is retained in the other
Procedure — The absorbent is spread directly onto the hazardous material or in a location where the material is expected to flow
Refer to Skill Sheet 4–1.
Note: After use, absorbents must be treated and disposed of as hazardous materials because they retain the properties of the materials they absorb
Operational Level

26. Adsorption and Blanketing/Covering
Adsorption — The molecules of the hazardous material physically adhere to the material
Blanketing/covering — Covering the surface of the spill to prevent dispersion of materials
Operational Level

27. Damming, Diking, Diversion, and Retention
A way to control the flow of liquid hazardous materials away from the point of discharge
Can be made by using earthen materials or materials carried on response vehicles
Procedure — Construct curbs that direct or divert the flow away from gutters, drains, storm sewers, flood-control channels, and outfalls
Refer to Skill Sheets 4–2 through 4–5.
Note: Any construction materials that contact the spilled material must be properly disposed of.
Operational Level

28. Vapor Suppression
The action taken to reduce the emission of vapors at a haz mat spill
Spills of flammable and combustible liquids may require fire-fighting foams.
Refer to Skill Sheet 4–6.
Operational Level

29. Using Foams Application methods
All fire-fighting foams (except fluoroprotein types) should not be plunged directly into the spill, but applied onto the ground at the edge of the spill and rolled gently onto the material.
Rainfall method — Spraying foam into the air over the target area in a fog pattern
Considerations
Water destroys and washes away foam blankets; do not use water streams in conjunction with the application of foam.
A material must be below its boiling point; foam cannot seal vapors of boiling liquids.
Operational Level

30. Other Spill-Control Tactics
Ventilation — Controlling the movement of air by natural or mechanical means
Vapor dispersion
The action taken to direct or influence the course of airborne hazardous materials
Procedure: Using pressurized streams of water from handlines or unmanned master streams; streams create turbulence, which increases the rate of mixing with air and reduces the concentration of the hazardous material
Refer to Skill Sheet 4–7.
(1 of 4)
Operational Level

31. Other Spill-Control Tactics
(2 of 4)
Operational Level

32. Other Spill-Control Tactics
Dispersion — The breaking up or dispersing of a hazardous material that has spilled on a solid or liquid surface
Dilution
The application of water to a water-soluble material to reduce the hazard
Is not typically used for spill control, but during decontamination operations
May be used when very small amounts of corrosive materials are involved
Refer to Skill Sheet 4–8.
(3 of 4)
Operational Level

33. Other Spill-Control Tactics
Dissolution — The process of dissolving a gas in water
Neutralization — The process of raising or lowering the pH of corrosive materials to render them netural
(4 of 4)
Operational Level

34. Leak Control/Containment Tactics
Remote shutoff activation
Cargo tank trucks — Locations vary depending on truck
Piping systems and pipelines
Uses — May be used to stop the flow of product to the incident area without entering into the hot zone
Locations — Contact onsite maintenance personnel or local utility workers
(1 of 2)
Operational Level

35. Leak Control/Containment Tactics
Patching/plugging
Overpacking
Product transfer
Crimping
Valve actuation
Vacuuming
Pressure isolation and reduction
Solidification
(2 of 2)
Operational Level

36. Typical Fire-Control Tactics
Controlled burn
Exposure protection
Withdrawal
Extinguishment
Operational Level

37. Foam
All foams must be proportioned and aerated before they can be used.
Proportioned — Mixed with water
Aerated — Mixed with air
Foam categories
For use on Class A fuels (ordinary combustibles)
For use on Class B fuels (flammable and combustible liquids)
Operational Level

38. Foam Methods
Separating — Creates a barrier between the fuel and burning vapors
Cooling — Lowers the temperature of the fuel and adjacent surfaces
Suppressing — Prevents the release of additional flammable vapors, access to oxygen in the atmosphere, and therefore reduces the possibility of ignition or reignition
Operational Level

39. Foam Terms
Foam concentrate — Liquid found in a foam storage container before the introduction of water, typically found as 1-, 3-, or 6-percent concentrates
Foam solution — Mixture in the proper ratio of foam concentrate and water before the introduction of air
Foam proportioner — Device that mixes foam concentrate in the proper ratio with water
Finished foam — Completed product after air is introduced into the foam solution and after it leaves the nozzle or aerator
Operational Level

40. Foam Proportioning
Class B foam concentrates are mixed in proportions from 1 to 6 percent (1:99 or 6:94 ratio of concentrate to water); proper proportion rates are listed on the outside of the foam concentrate container
Can be done via a fixed system, an apparatus-mounted system, or portable foam proportioning equipment
Can be applied with either standard fog nozzles or air-aspirating foam nozzles
Operational Level

41. Foam-Making Process
Operational Level

42. Regular Protein Foam Is virtually nonexistent in today’s fire service
Characteristics
Is available in 3- and 6-percent concentrations
Has excellent water-retention capabilities
Has high heat resistance
Its performance can be affected by freezing and thawing.
Stores at temperatures ranging from 35º to 120ºF (2ºC to 49ºC)
(1 of 2)
Operational Level

43. Regular Protein Foam Characteristics
Can be compounded for freeze protection using a nonflammable antifreeze solution
Is not compatible with dry-chemical extinguishing agents
Is only used on hydrocarbon fuels
(2 of 2)
Operational Level

44. Fluoroprotein Foam Is available in 3- and 6-percent concentrations
Stores at temperatures ranging from 35º to 120ºF (2ºC to 49ºC); however, can be freeze-protected with nonflammable antifreeze solution
Its performance is not affected by freezing and thawing.
Is premixable for short periods of time (based on the manufacturer’s recommendations)
(1 of 2)
Operational Level

45. Fluoroprotein Foam Maintains rather low viscosity at low temperatures
Is compatible with simultaneous application of dry-chemical extinguishing agents
Is delivered through air-aspirating equipment
Is suitable for use on gasoline that has been blended with oxygen additives
(2 of 2)
Operational Level

46. Fluoroprotein Foam for Subsurface Injection into Flammable Liquid Storage Tanks
Operational Level

47. Film Forming Fluoroprotein Foam
Is available in 3- and 6-percent concentrations
Stores at temperatures ranging from 35º to 120ºF (2ºC to 49ºC) with fair low-temperature viscosity
Stores premixed in portable fire extinguishers and fire apparatus water tanks
Is compatible with simultaneous application of dry-chemical fire-fighting agents
Its performance is not affected by freezing and thawing.
Uses either freshwater or saltwater
Operational Level

48. Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF)
Is available in 1-, 3-, and 6-percent concentrations for use with either freshwater or saltwater
Is premixable in portable fire extinguishers and apparatus water tanks
Stores at temperatures ranging from 25º to 120ºF (-5ºC to 49ºC) (Freezing and thawing do not adversely affect AFFF concentrates, but consult the manufacturer for details.)
Can be freeze-protective with nonflammable antifreeze solution
(1 of 3)
Operational Level

49. Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF)
Has good low-temperature viscosity
Is suitable for subsurface injection
Has fair penetrating capabilities in baled storage fuels or high surface-tension fuels such as treated wood
Is compatible with dry-chemical extinguishing agents
Is rather fast draining
(2 of 3)
Operational Level

50. Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF)
Its film-forming characteristics are adversely affected by fuels in excess of 140ºF (60ºC).
Oxygen additives (mandated by EPA) in blended gasoline can adversely affect film-forming characteristics; solvent-based performance additives in reformulated gasoline can also hamper AFFF’s performance.
(3 of 3)
Operational Level

51. Alcohol-Resistant AFFF
Is available in 3- or 6-percent concentrations
Stronger polar solvents require application rates that are higher than those required for weaker solvents or hydrocarbons.
Concentrates designed to be proportioned at 3 percent on hydrocarbon fuels and 6 percent on polar solvent fuels are called 3 by 6 concentrates.
Concentrates proportioned at 3 percent on both types of fuels are called 3 by 3 concentrates.
(1 of 2)
Operational Level

52. Alcohol-Resistant AFFF
Creates a membrane rather than a film over the fuel, separating the water in the foam blanket from the attack of the solvent
May be used in subsurface injection applications on certain light hydrocarbons such as gasoline, kerosene, and jet propulsion fuels
(2 of 2)
Operational Level

53. High-Expansion Foam Applications
Concealed spaces such as shipboard compartments, basements, coal mines, and other subterranean spaces
Fixed-extinguishing systems for specific industrial uses such as rolled or bulk paper storage
Class A fire applications (slow draining)
Operational Level

54. High-Expansion Foam Characteristics
Stores at temperatures ranging from 35º to 120ºF (2ºC to 49ºC)
Is not affected by freezing and thawing
Has poor heat resistance because air-to-water ratio is very high
Has expansion ratios of 200:1 to 1,000:1 for high-expansion uses and 20:1 to 200:1 for medium-expansion uses (Whether the finished foam is used in either a medium- or high-expansion capacity is determined by the type of application device.)
Operational Level

55. Major Goals of the Recovery Phase
Return the operational area to a safe condition.
Debrief personnel before they leave the scene.
Return the equipment and personnel of all involved agencies to the condition they were in before the incident.
Operational Level

56. Termination Phase Critiquing
Needs to occur as soon as possible after the incident
Needs to involve all responders, including law enforcement, public works, and EMS
Must be documented to identify those in attendance as well as any operational deficiencies that were identified
(1 of 2)
Operational Level

57. Termination Phase After-action analysis (following action reports)
Compiles the information obtained from debriefings and critiques
Recommendations for improvements can be made once trends have been identified.
(2 of 2)
Operational Level

58. Operational Level Lesson 4 Presentation
Hazardous Materials for First Responders, 3rd Ed.