Module 6: Health and Safety Considerations for Ethanol-Blended Fuel Emergencies

2 Objective Upon the successful completion of this module, participants will be able to determine the proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for extinguishing and cleaning up blended fuel spills at specific locations.

3 Introduction  Ethanol develops bond with gasoline when blended: –Retains hydrocarbon / gasoline characteristics  Absorbents & booms pick up ethanol-blended fuel  Water introduced: –Forms water / ethanol solution that drains to bottom of fuel mix  Oil-type boom / absorbent will pick up gasoline leaving water / ethanol solution

4 Introduction  Water / Ethanol solution picked up with water absorbing boom / absorbent: –May be flammable –If foam used to contain ethanol-blended fuel vapor:  Portion of foam solution absorbs into ethanol-blended fuel

Detection and Monitoring  Normally performed by technician-level responders  Monitoring equipment crucial resource for responders during assessment & mitigation 5 Copyright 2009, IAFC

4 Gas Meter — PID and VOC  Photo Ionization Detector (PID)  Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) 6 Property of Steve Hergenreter, reprinted with permission

Detection and Monitoring  Help determine: –Concentration levels of hazardous materials –How best to protect everyone from effects of material –How far public should be removed from contaminated area 7 Copyright 2009, IAFC

Detection and Monitoring  Work zones: –Hot zone –Warm zone –Cold zone 8 Copyright 2009, IAFC

9 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)  Critical that all responders wear appropriate PPE  Components of generic PPE: –Helmet with face shield / eye protection meeting ANSI Z87.1 –Protective hood –Turnout coat –Turnout pants –Gloves –Boots –Respiratory protection

10 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)  Respiratory protection especially critical: –Respiratory system primary route of exposure into body for hazardous chemicals  3 types: –APR & PAPR –SAR –SCBA Copyright 2007, TEEX/ESTI

11 Activity 6.1 — Incident Procedures  Purpose: –To become familiar with the correct order of steps in the following procedures & the rationales behind them.

12 Summary  Procedures to ensure safe incident management for fire / spill  Knowing type of fuel spilled / burning essential to success of operation  Take steps to contain event & appropriately distribute proper foam