Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Awareness Level Training

This Course is Brought to You By: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Native American Fish and Wildlife Society Alabama Fire College/WST

Objective of the Course Awareness Level Response –Recognize hazardous materials emergencies –Protect yourself and others –Isolate and secure the scene –Make proper notifications

Are We Prepared?

FEDERAL REGULATIONS THE HAZARDOUS MATERIALS RESPONSE

WHY DO WE NEED REGULATIONS? DO THESE NAMES SOUND FAMILIAR? –Texas City, TX –Kansas City, MO –Waverly, TN –Bhopal, India GOAL: KEEP THIS LIST FROM GROWING

Policies Governing Response Procedures Response policies in the United States are a complex mixture of: Governmental laws Regulations Codes Ordinances And precedence combined with research & industrial consensus standards.

Federal Laws: Four basic categories of federal law that address regulations for response: Environmental Transportation Health and Safety Security …Many Others

Federal Laws: Regulations for Haz-Mat Response Environmental –National Oil & Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP) 1968 –Clean Water Act (CWA) as amended by Oil Pollution Act (OPA) of 1990 –Clean Air Act (CAA) as amended 1990 –Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) 1976 –Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) 1980 –Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) 1986 (Titles I-V)

Federal Laws: Regulations for Haz-Mat Response Transportation –Hazardous Materials Transportation Act (HMTA) 1975 –Hazardous Materials Transportation Uniform Safety Act (HMTUSA) 1990

Federal Laws: Regulations for Haz-Mat Response Health & Safety –Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act) CFR (q) CFR

Federal Laws: Regulations for Haz-Mat Response Security –Homeland Security Act (HSA) 2002 Homeland Security Presidential Directive 5 – 2003 National Response Plan (NRP) 2004

Superfund Amendment and Reauthorization Act (SARA Title III) A. Community Planning –Required state governors to develop State Emergency Response Commissions (SERCs) –SERCs were tasked with defining Local Emergency Planning Districts (LEP Districts) –Within each LEP District, district or regional government and industry were required to develop Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPCs) –LEPCs consist of different groups, including local business –The LEPCs developed Local Emergency Response Plans around possible releases of Extremely Hazardous Substances (EHSs) and their Threshold Planning Quantities (TPQs) listed by EPA

Superfund Amendment and Reauthorization Act (SARA Title III) –Emergency Release Notification In the event of release of an EHS or CERCLA Hazardous Substance (HS), in excess of their Reportable Quantity (RQ), the release must be reported to the LEPC, the National Response Center (NRC), & SERC If the quantity is not known, or potentially in excess of the RQ, the notification process should begin regardless See next slide for an example …

Superfund Amendment and Reauthorization Act (SARA Title III) Example 1: –XYZ Chem. Co. has an accidental release of Benzene to the environment in excess of its RQ (10 lbs/1 gal) XYZ Chem Co will notify the following agencies: –Jeff. Co. Public Health Dept –LEPC (Jeff. Co. EMA) –SERC (ADEM) –NRC (1800/ ) Example 2: –XYZ Freight Co. has an accidental release of Benzene to the environment in excess of its RQ (10 lbs/1 gal) Process can be initiated by calling 911 Fire Dept. arrives on- scene If driver has not called LEPC, SERC, & NRC, the Fire Dept should do so The responsibility for making notification lies with the owner/operator, but EPA does allow for emergency services to initiate the process!!!

Superfund Amendment and Reauthorization Act (SARA Title III) B. Community Right-To-Know –MSDS must be developed for all listed chemicals and made available to planners –Locations, amounts, and effects of EHSs must be reported to the LEPC, SERC, and fire department –Other non-specified chemicals may apply if deemed extremely hazardous for reasons other than just physical & chemical properties –Reporting requirements of toxic chemical releases due to normal operations Companies must report routine releases of 320 toxic chemicals into environment Info compiled into annual TRI by EPA

Superfund Amendment and Reauthorization Act (SARA Title III) C. Legal Authorizations/Enforcement –Addressed other considerations such as trade secrets, health care provider rights, public notice requirement, civil action, etc. SARA Title III also required the Secretary of the Dept. of Labor/OSHA to develop a standard to protect the health & safety of workers who work to clean-up, dispose of, and respond to hazardous substances, chemicals, materials, etc. … And thus OSHA Standard 29 CFR a.k.a. HAZWOPER

OSHA’s Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response Standard (HAZWOPER) 29 CFR Purpose: Protects workers involved in: –Hazardous waste site cleanup (Superfund Sites) –Treating, storing and disposing of hazardous waste (TSDFs) –Responding to hazmat emergencies (paragraph q) –Emergency Response doesn’t include Incidental releases that can be absorbed, neutralized, etc. at the time of release by employees in immediate area or maintenance personnel Responses to hazardous substance with no potential safety or health hazard (no chance of fire, explosion, or chemical exposure)

OSHA’s HAZWOPER Standard 29 CFR Topics Covered by Paragraph “q” –Emergency Response Plans –Chain of Command & Personnel Roles –Emergency Response Procedures –Training –Medical Surveillance –Personal Protective Equipment –Post Emergency Response Operations EPA incorporates OSHA requirements “by reference” –40 CFR 311

Five Levels of Haz-Mat Training Awareness Operation Technician Specialist Incident Commander * Annual Refreshers are required

Awareness Training First Responder Awareness –Recognition, Identification, Protect Self & Others, & Make Proper Notifications – “no further action” –Response industry typically recognizes 8 hrs

Operations Training First Responder Operations –The responsibilities of the Awareness level responder PLUS additional training allowing them to “respond in a defensive fashion” –At least 8hrs. of training or sufficient experience to demonstrate competencies required of awareness & operations –Response industry typically recognizes 24 hrs.

Technician Training Hazardous Materials Technician –The responsibilities of Awareness & Operations, PLUS they may assume a more aggressive role by approaching the release and stopping it at the source –“at least 24 hours of training equal to the first responder operations level and in addition” competencies listed sub- paragraph (6) Typically hours

Specialist Training Hazmat Specialist –Individuals that respond with & support HazMat Techs, but their duties or specific knowledge is more “specialized” –Can act as site liaison with government officials with regards to site activities –“have at least 24 hours of training equal to the tech level and in addition have competency” in areas listed in sub-paragraph (6)(iv)

Incident Commander On Scene Incident Commander –Will assume control of incident –“shall receive at least 24 hours of training equal to the first responder operations level and in addition have competency” in areas listed in sub-paragraph (6)(v)

Haz-Mat Training: Competencies National Fire Protection Association standards that apply: –NFPA 471: Recommended Practice for Responding to Hazardous Materials Incidents –NFPA 472: Standard for Professional Competence of Responders to Hazardous Materials Incidents

First Responder Awareness Level DO: Recognize hazardous materials; identify them if possible Protect yourself and others Isolate and secure the area Notify  DO NOT:  Enter the hazard zone  Contact the chemical  Approach the leak  Clean up the spill  Use protective equipment unless trained to do so

OSHA’S Hazard Communication Standard 29 CFR Gives workers the “Right-to-Know” about chemical hazards in their workplace Players –Chemical manufacturers –Companies who purchase chemicals to make a consumer product –Employees that worker for companies using HazMat Information provided through –MSDSs –Container labels –Training

2 Types of Emergency Planning Emergency Action Plan –29 CFR –Employees evacuate –Outside agency or contractor responds Emergency Response Plan –29 CFR (q)(1) & (2) –Onsite response team –Trained and equipped to handle whole response

Emergency Action Plans / Emergency Response Plans Both Kinds of Plans should: –In writing –Available to workers –Drills and practices –Contain all elements listed in OSHA standards Not the same as an EPA Contingency Plan - These plans must address safety of workers

Case Study 1 : Dursban Fire

Case Study 2: Fertilizer Plant Fire

Case Study 3: White Mountain Apache Fire Many acres burned Eleven homes lost Four (4) command posts

EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN Evacuation Protection Notification Call someone else to handle the problem

EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN Pre-emergency planning and coordination with other players Personnel roles and training Communications Emergency recognition and prevention

Elements of an Emergency Response Plan Evacuation routes and procedures Safe distances and places of refuge Site security and control Decontamination Emergency medical treatment and first aid

Elements of an Emergency Response Plan Emergency alerting and response Personal protective equipment Other equipment Standard operating procedures Post-emergency critique and follow-up

WHO SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN PLANNING? Representative from: Fire service Law enforcement Emergency management Emergency medicine Tribal financial people Groups providing food/shelter/support Industry Someone from every group that may be involved !!