1. Hazardous Materials Section Five: Scene Safety, PPE and Scene Control
Analyze
Plan
Implement
Evaluate
Objectives:
Describe hazardous materials personal protective equipment.
Identify the purpose, advantages, and limitations of:
Structural firefighting protective clothing, Chemical-protective clothing
High temperature-protective clothing, Liquid splash-protective clothing,
Vapor-protective clothing.
Discuss respiratory protection in a hazardous material incident.
Describe the levels of hazardous materials personal protective equipment.
Identify skin-contact hazards encountered at hazardous materials incidents.
Describe the safety precautions to be observed, including those for heat and cold stress, when approaching and working at hazardous materials incidents.
Describe the physical capabilities required and limitations of personnel working in personal protective equipment.
Describe techniques used to isolate hazard areas and deny entry.
Describe the importance of the buddy system and back-up personnel
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2. 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 ?
The proper use of PPE and proper scene control is important at
all emergencies.
At a hazardous materials incident, however, PPE, scene
control, site management, and personnel accountability are
critical issues that have a direct bearing on the life safety of all
responders charged.
The safe handling of hazardous materials incident is often
determined in the first 5 to 15 minutes, based on the actions of
the fire fighters who are the initial responders.
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3. 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)
The damage that a hazardous material will inflict on a human depends on the material’s threshold limit value (TLV®).
The point at which the material begins to affect a person.
May be defined in several ways.
The various definitions indicate the levels of protection that are required.
Threshold Limit Value (TLV®)
Definition:
Threshold Limit Values (TLV's®) are guidelines (not standards) prepared by the American Conference of Governmental industrial Hygienists, Inc (ACGIH) to assist industrial hygienists in making decisions regarding safe levels of exposure to various hazards found in the workplace. A TLV® reflects the level of exposure that the typical worker can experience without an unreasonable risk of disease or injury. TLVs® are not quantitative estimates of risk at different exposure levels or by different routes of exposure.
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4. 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
Maximum concentration that a person can be exposed to in 15-
minute intervals, up to four times a day, without experiencing
chronic or irreversible tissue damage.
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5. 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
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6. 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
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7. TLV-Skin
Possible and significant exposure by direct or airborne contact
Appropriate measures need to be taken so TLV/TWA is not exceeded
Indicates that direct or airborne contact could result in a possible and significant exposure by absorption through the skin, mucous membranes, and eyes.
This designation is intended to suggest that appropriate measures be taken to minimize skin absorption so that the TLV/TWA is not exceeded
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8. 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)
Also called the REL (Recommended Exposure Limit)
Comparable to the TLV-TWA
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9. 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
Below IDLH levels, most healthy individuals could escape the
atmosphere without respiratory protection without irreversible
damage to their health.
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10. IDLH Three types of IDLH atmospheres:
Toxic
Flammable
Oxygen-deficient (<19.5%)
IDLH atmospheres require the use of SCBA or equivalent protection
Individuals exposed to atmosphere concentrations at or above
IDLH levels must use positive pressure SCBA or equivalent
respiratory protection.
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11. Determining Atmospheric Safety
Atmospheric monitoring requires specific training and equipment
Three types of atmospheres at a hazardous materials incident:
Safe
Unsafe
Dangerous
Measuring atmospheric concentrations of chemicals requires
specific training and equipment.
Exposure guidelines are intended to minimize the possibility
that responders and the public will be exposed to hazardous
materials or atmospheres that will lead to harm.
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12. Hazard Levels Safe atmosphere Unsafe atmosphere Dangerous atmosphere
No harmful hazardous materials effects
Unsafe atmosphere
Exposure will probably cause injury
Dangerous atmosphere
Serious, irreversible injury or death may occur
Safe atmosphere: No hazardous materials effects exist; no
specialized PPE is needed.
Unsafe atmosphere: A hazardous material is present and
creates an unsafe condition or atmosphere; exposure could
result in acute or chronic injury.
Dangerous atmosphere: Exposure to the atmosphere will result
in serious, irreversible injury, or death.
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13. 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
Without the proper protective clothing and respiratory protection, fire fighters may be injured.
Adequate PPE should protect the fire fighter’s respiratory system, as well as the skin, eyes, face, hands, feet, head, body, and hearing.
When product-specific chemical suits are unavailable, fire fighters must know how much and what kind of protection their regular firefighting clothing provides.
Standard structural firefighting gear may be suitable for support operations at many hazardous materials incidents, but personnel who are involved in decontamination activities may require chemical-protective clothing because of the possibility of cross-contamination issues.
Structural firefighting clothing is not gas tight and will not prevent gases or vapors from reaching the skin. Therefore, gases such as ammonia or chlorine will pass through clothing materials. Moreover, many liquids produce vapors, depending on how volatile the chemicals are and the temperature to which they are exposed. The majority of these vapors will also reach the fire fighter’s skin if turnout clothing is worn.
It is important to determine if the chemicals involved are skin toxic. If any reference reports that significant health effects can occur through skin absorption, then the department can assume that unacceptable exposure will occur using turnout clothing. Most of the time, the responding units do not know the identity or concentration of hazardous substances they encounter. If there is any doubt, the department must assume that a response in turnout clothing places its members in danger unless otherwise demonstrated. The general SOP is to call the available HazMat team, isolate the area, and put together a response based on better information as it becomes available. Structural firefighting protective clothing does provide limited protection against chemicals, but this protection is subject to very specific considerations as described above. The direction of protective clothing development in requirements set by NFPA 1971 has taken into account the need for some hazardous material protection in many fireground emergencies, but turnout clothing will only provide this protection for some substances, under some circumstances. Departments that are able to recognize the limitations in turnout gear are in better position to ensure the health and safety of their members.
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14. 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
Selecting the appropriate PPE for a hazardous materials
incident is an important, even potentially life-saving decision.
The incident commander has the ultimate authority and
responsibility to approve the level of PPE required for a given
activity.
Firefighters should operate only at the incident level that
matches their knowledge, training, and equipment.
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15. Types of PPE Street clothing and work uniforms
Structural firefighting protective clothing
High-temperature protective clothing
Chemical protective clothing and equipment
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16. 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
Street clothing and work uniforms:
May prevent a non-caustic powder from coming into direct contact with the skin.
A one-piece flame-resistant or lightly flame- resistant coverall may enhance protection slightly.
Structural firefighting protective clothing:
Prevents direct skin contact.
Easily absorbs materials, breaks down when exposed to chemicals, and does not provide protection from harmful gases, vapors, liquid, or dusts that may be encountered.
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17. Specific PPE High-temperature protective equipment:
Offers protection from high temperatures only (short exposure)
No chemical protection
Proximity/entry
Protects the wearer during short-term exposures to high temperatures.
It allows the properly trained fire fighter to work in extreme fire conditions but is not designed to protect the fire fighter from hazardous materials.
Proximity suit
Fire Entry Suit
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18. 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
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19. Chemical Protective Clothing
No single material provides protection from all chemicals
Operations level trained personnel should not be operating in encapsulated suits
No single material provides protection from all chemicals
Material must be compatible with the chemical substances
Ensembles must be used according to manufacturer’s instructions
Operations level trained personnel should not be operating in encapsulated suits
Operational-level personnel can wear some non-encapsulated
chemical-protective clothing while providing support for those
entering the hazardous materials area, however they need to be
trained in its use.
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20. Penetration Movement of the chemical through closures
Liquids/vapors most likely to penetrate
Some solids (i.e. asbestos) may penetrate also
The flow or movement of a hazardous chemical through
closures, seams, porous materials, pinholes, or other
imperfections.
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21. Permeation
Process by which the chemical moves through the material on a molecular level.
Occurs through the material itself rather than through
openings in the material.
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22. Degradation Physical destruction/decomposition of material
Visible signs such as: charring/shrinking/ swelling/color change/ dissolution are evidence of degradation
The physical destruction or decomposition of a clothing
material owing to chemical exposure, general use, or ambient
conditions (e.g., sunlight).
Materials can also be tested for weight changes, loss of fabric
tensile strength, and other properties to measure degradation.
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23. Garment Construction Single-piece Multi-piece
Material used in construction
Butyl rubber, Tyvek®, Saranex, PVC, Viton
Single-piece
Completely encloses wearer
Known as an encapsulated suit or acid suit
Multi-piece
Works with the wearer’s respiratory protection, an attached or detachable hood, gloves, and boots
Material used in construction
Butyl rubber, Tyvek®, Saranex, PVC, Viton
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24. 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
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25. Vapor-Protective Clothing
Must be used when hazardous vapors are present
Traps heat and perspiration
Must be used in conjunction with respiratory protection
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26. Respiratory Protection Devices
Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA)
Supplied air respirator (SAR)
Air-purifying respirator (APR)
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27. SCBA Prevents exposure through inhalation or ingestion
Should be mandatory for fire service personnel
Firefighters must know the limitations of SCBA
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28. Supplied Air Respirator (SAR)
User connected to external air source
Useful during extended operations
Hoseline may restrict movement
User is connected to an external air source by a hoseline that connects to the facepiece
Useful during extended operations
Decontamination
Clean-up
Hoseline may restrict movement
Length limited by manufacturer/OSHA
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29. 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
Should be worn only in atmospheres where the type and
quantity of contaminants are known and where there is
sufficient oxygen for breathing.
APRs do not have a separate source of air.
Ambient atmosphere must contain a minimum of 19.5%
oxygen.
Continuous atmospheric monitoring is essential for safety.
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30. APRs Limitations: Filtering cartridges are contaminant-specific
Atmosphere must be continuously monitored
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31. Chemical Protective Clothing Level A
Fully encapsulating suit
Highest level of protection
Effective against vapors, gases, mists, dusts
Requires SCBA or SAR
Heavy, encapsulating suit that envelops both wearer and
SCBA.
Recommended PPE includes:
SCBA or SAR
Fully encapsulating chemical-resistant suit
Inner chemical-resistant gloves
Chemical-resistant safety boots/shoes
Two-way radio
Optional PPE includes:
Coveralls
Long cotton underwear
Hard hat
Disposable gloves and boot covers
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32. Chemical Protective Clothing Level B
Consists of chemical-protective clothing, boots, gloves, and SCBA
Used when high respiratory protection but less skin protection required
Wrists and ankles must be properly sealed to prevent splashed
liquids from contacting the skin.
Recommended PPE includes:
SCBA or SAR
Chemical-resistant clothing
Inner and outer chemical-resistant gloves
Chemical-resistant safety boots/shoes
Hard hat
Two-way radio
Optional PPE includes:
Coveralls
Long cotton underwear
Disposable gloves and boot covers
Type of gloves and boots worn depends on the chemical involved
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33. 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
Can be provided with a filter or cartridge mask or an APR
Head protection and goggles are also required
Recommended PPE includes:
Full-face APR
Chemical-resistant clothing
Inner and outer chemical-resistant gloves
Chemical-resistant safety boots/shoes
Two-way radio
Hard hat
Optional PPE includes:
Coveralls
Long cotton underwear
Disposable gloves and boot covers
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34. 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
Recommended PPE includes:
Coveralls
Safety boots/shoes
Safety glasses or chemical-splash goggles
Hard hat
Optional PPE includes:
Gloves
Face shield
Escape mask
Should be used for nuisance contamination only
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35. Skin Contact Hazards Toxicity, flammability, and reactivity
Inadequately protected body
Assume the worst and leave the largest possible safety margin
Principal dangers of hazardous materials are toxicity, flammability, and reactivity
Hazardous materials can harm the inadequately protected body
Assume the worst and leave the largest possible safety margin
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36. 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
Do not rely on pain or irritation as a warning of absorption
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37. Skin Contact Hazards
Skin absorption is enhanced by cuts, abrasions, heat, and moisture
Absorption rate depends on body part
Chemicals absorbed through the skin on the scalp much faster than through the forearm
Eyes have one of the fastest means of exposure
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38. 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
Acid injuries create a clot-like barrier that blocks deep skin
penetration of the chemical.
Alkali burns are often much deeper and more destructive than
acid burns. Bases burrow down into the skin layers.
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39. 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
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40. Excessive Heat Disorders
Dehydration
Heat stress
Heat exhaustion
Heat stroke
Firefighters operating in protective clothing should be aware of the signs and symptoms of heat related disorders
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41. 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
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42. Heat Exhaustion Signs & symptoms: Emergency action:
Rapid shallow breathing
Weak pulse
Clammy skin
Emergency action:
Remove victim from the source of heat
Rehydrate
Provide cooling
A mild form of shock that occurs when the circulatory system
begins to fail because the body is unable to dissipate excessive
heat and becomes overheated.
The body’s core temperature rises causing weakness and
profuse sweating.
The fire fighter may become weak or dizzy and have episodes of blurred vision.
Other signs and symptoms:
Rapid, shallow breathing
Weak pulse
Cold, clammy skin
Loss of consciousness
Emergency action:
Remove the victim from the source of the heat
Rehydrate with electrolyte solutions
Kept cool
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43. Heat Stroke Signs and symptoms include:
Reduction or cessation of sweating
Body temperature at or above 105ºF
Rapid pulse
A severe and potentially fatal condition resulting from the total
failure of the body’s temperature-regulation capacity.
Caused by exposure to the sun or high temperatures.
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44. Heat Stroke
This is a true medical emergency requiring immediate transport to a medical facility
More signs and symptoms:
Hot skin
Headache
Confusion
Unconsciousness
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45. Cooling Technologies Passive systems Forced air cooling 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
Forced air-cooling systems
Operate by forcing pre-chilled air through a system of hoses worn close to the body.
Typically these systems are lightweight and provide long-term cooling benefits.
Mobility is limited because the hose is attached to an external fixed compressor.
Fluid-chilled systems
Operate by pumping ice-chilled liquids from a reservoir through a series of tubes held within a vest-like garment.
Mobility may be limited with some varieties of this system as the pump may be located away from the garment.
Some units have a battery-operated unit worn on the hip, but the additional weight may increase the workload, which generates more heat, thereby defeating the purpose of the cooling vest.
Passive systems (ice or gel packed vests)
Commonly used due to low cost
Designed to be worn around the torso
Bulkier and heavier and may cause discomfort
The cold temperature near the skin may actually fool the body into thinking it is cold instead of hot, thereby retaining more heat.
Phase change cooling technology
Similar to passive systems
Chilled to 60 °F
Fabric of the vest is designed to wick perspiration away from the body.
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46. 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
Exposure to severe cold for even a short period may cause severe injury to body surfaces, particularly to the ears, nose, hands, and feet.
Two factors in particular influence the development of cold-related injuries: temperature and wind speed.
When low temperatures are combined with faster winds, wind chill occurs.
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47. 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
Wet clothing extracts heat from the body up to 240 times faster than dry clothing
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48. Response Safety Procedures
Isolate and deny entry
Try to identify products
Follow the DOT-ERG
Follow SOPs
Eliminate possible ignition sources
These basic protective actions should be taken immediately by first responders.
First responders can gather necessary scene information and identify the materials involved.
Electrical devices used in the immediate area of the hazard should be certified as safe by recognized organizations.
Some flammable vapors are heavier than air and, therefore, may travel along the ground to an ignition source.
The first step in gaining control of a hazardous materials incident is to isolate the problem and keep people away from it.
The IC cannot begin operations until the hazard area is identified and the perimeter is secured.
Fire fighters can help to isolate the area by stretching banner tape across roads to divert traffic away from a spill and by coordinating their efforts with those of police, EMS, and other agencies.
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49. Control Zones
Designated areas at a hazardous materials incident based upon
safety and the degree of hazard
Types:
Hot zone
Warm zone
Cold zone
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50. 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
All personnel and equipment in this zone must be
decontaminated when they leave the area.
Access into the hot zone must be limited to only those persons
necessary to control the incident.
Individuals must log in at the access control point, recording
their entry and exit times.
Only individuals trained to the hazardous materials technician
level should be permitted in the hot zone.
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51. 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
A.k.a. the contamination reduction zone
Only essential personnel allowed.
Personnel must be in appropriate PPE generally same or one level below what is used in the hot zone
Personnel trained to the operations level can work with
moderate supervision in the warm zone.
This zone does not become the warm zone until someone goes
into the hot zone; the decon corridor may be able to be set up in
a Level D ensemble.
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52. Cold Zone Safe area where special protective clothing is not needed
Restricted area
Operations include:
Personnel staging
Command post
Medical support area
There should also be an isolation area around the incident.
In Section 8 we will talk about an inner and outer perimeter,
which is specific to an explsoive/WMD event.
A separate media area should also be established outside this
perimeter and the cold zone.
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53. Isolation Techniques Approach from uphill Resist the urge to rush in
Establish a perimeter
Ensure perimeter control devices do not impede rapid evacuation
Do not attempt to help others until the situation has been assessed; you could become a victim, too.
Only those directly involved in emergency response operations should be permitted in the area, and even they must wait until control has been established and the situation assessed.
There are several ways to isolate the hazard and create the control zone.
The first step that should be taken is to identify the area verbally over the radio. Cordon off the area using standard traffic cones, police, or fire-line barrier tape to control access.
If the incident takes place inside a structure, the best place to control access is at the normal points of entry. Once the doors are secured, appropriately trained emergency response crews can begin to isolate areas above and below the hazard The same concept applies to outdoor incidents. Secure the entry points and the area around the hazard.
Police officers should assist fire fighters in this operation by diverting traffic at a safe distance outside the hazard area.
They should block off streets, close intersections, or use their vehicles to redirect traffic.
During a long-term incident, the highway department can set up traffic barriers Crowd-control devices can also be used to identify the hazard zones and restrict access Use PD assets to assist if possible.
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54. 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
The PASS device and the use of personal accountability and buddy systems are essential for fire fighter safety.
Backup personnel are used to ensure the safety of emergency crews.
They stand by at the scene, ready to remove personnel who are working in the hot zone if an emergency occurs.
All personnel must be fully briefed before they approach the hazard area or enter the hot zone.
The decontamination team must be in place before anyone enters the hot zone.
No one should enter the hot zone alone; at least two members should suit up and enter the hot zone together.
At least two additional team members should suit up and stand by to assist those who entered first.
Team members should always remain within sight, sound, or touch of each other.
Electronic communication devices sometimes fail.
The individual needing rescue may not be physically able to summon assistance.
Radios cannot replace visual or voice contact or be the only way to contact an individual working in the hot zone.
“ (q)(3)(vi) Back-up personnel shall be standing by with equipment ready to provide assistance or rescue. Qualified basic life support personnel, as a minimum, shall also be standing by with medical equipment and transportation capability.”
*Only for those trained above the Operations Level; i.e., Haz-Mat Teams
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55. 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
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56. 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
Only firefighters trained to the technician or specialist levels should enter the hot zone
Use of respiratory protection is essential at most hazardous materials incidents
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57. Section Five