1. Hazardous Materials: Scene Safety and Control

2. 31
Objectives (1 of 4)
Describe hazardous materials personal protective equipment.
Identify the purpose, advantages, and limitations of structural firefighting protective clothing, high temperature-protective clothing, chemical-protective clothing, liquid splash-protective clothing, and vapor-protective clothing.

3. 31
Objectives (2 of 4)
Discuss respiratory protection in a hazardous material incident.
Describe the levels of hazardous materials personal protective equipment.

4. 31
Objectives (3 of 4)
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.

5. 31
Objectives (4 of 4)
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.

6. 31
Introduction
Scene control, site management, and personal accountability are critical.
Safe handling of hazardous materials incident determined in the first five minutes

7. 31
Levels of Damage
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)

8. 31
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.

9. 31
TLV-TWA
Maximum concentration a person could be exposed to 8 hours a day, 40 hours a week without damage
The lower the TLV-TWA, the more toxic the substance.

10. 31
TLV-C
Maximum concentration a person could be exposed to, even for an instant.
The lower the TLV-C, the more toxic the substance.

11. 31
TLV-S
Indicates that direct or airborne contact could result in a possible and significant exposure by absorption through the skin, mucous membranes, and eyes
Take appropriate measures to minimize contact with the skin.

12. 31
PEL
Maximum, time-weighted concentration to which 95% of healthy adults can be exposed over a 40-hour workweek without damage
Also called the REL (Recommended Exposure Level)
Comparable to the TLV-TWA

13. 31
IDLH (1 of 3)
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

14. IDLH (2 of 3) Three types of IDLH atmospheres:31
IDLH (2 of 3)
Three types of IDLH atmospheres:
Toxic
Flammable
Oxygen-deficient
IDLH atmospheres require the use of SCBA or equivalent protection.

15. 31
IDLH (3 of 3)
Below IDLH levels, most healthy individuals could escape the atmosphere without respiratory protection without irreversible damage to their health.

16. Determining Atmospheric Safety31
Determining Atmospheric Safety
Atmospheric monitoring requires specific training and equipment.
Three types of atmospheres at a hazardous materials incident:
Safe
Unsafe
Dangerous

17. Selection of Proper PPE31
Selection of Proper PPE
Turnout gear will not protect against many hazardous materials.
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.
Fire fighters should not use PPE they have not been trained to use.

18. Types of PPE Clothing and Work Uniforms31
Types of PPE
Clothing and Work Uniforms
Structural Firefighting Protective Clothing
High-Temperature Protective Clothing
Chemical Protective Clothing and Equipment

19. Hazardous Materials Protection (1 of 2)31
Hazardous Materials Protection (1 of 2)
Clothing and Work Uniforms
Offers no protection from hazardous materials
Structural Firefighting Protective Clothing
Offers almost no chemical protection

20. Hazardous Materials Protection (2 of 2)31
Hazardous Materials Protection (2 of 2)
High-Temperature Protective Clothing
Offers protection from high temperatures only

21. Chemical Protective Clothing and Equipment (1 of 2)31
Chemical Protective Clothing and Equipment (1 of 2)
Designed to prevent chemicals from coming in contact with the body
Have varying degrees of resistance
Chemical-resistant materials
Designed to inhibit or resist the passage of chemicals into and through the material

22. Chemical Protective Clothing and Equipment (2 of 2)31
Chemical Protective Clothing and Equipment (2 of 2)
Important Concepts
Penetration
Permeation
Degradation

23. 31
Penetration
Flow or movement of a hazardous chemical through closures, seams, porous materials, pinholes, or other imperfections
Liquids and solids can penetrate.

24. 31
Permeation
Process by which a hazardous chemical moves through a material at the molecular level
Implies the chemical going through the material itself, rather than through an opening in the material

25. 31
Degradation
Physical destruction or decomposition of a material due to chemical exposure, general use, or ambient conditions
Usually evidenced by signs such as charring, shrinking, swelling, color changes, or dissolving

26. Garment Construction Single-piece Multi-piece31
Garment Construction
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

27. Material Used In Construction31
Material Used In Construction
Butyl rubber
Tyvek®
Saranex
PVC
Vitron

28. Liquid Splash-Protective Clothing31
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
May be worn over or under structural firefighting clothing

29. Vapor-Protective Clothing31
Vapor-Protective Clothing
Must be used when hazardous vapors are present
Traps heat and perspiration
Must be used in conjunction with respiratory protection

30. Respiratory Protection Devices31
Respiratory Protection Devices
Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA)
Supplied air respirator (SAR)
Air-purifying respirator (APR)

31. SCBA Prevents exposure through inhalation or ingestion31
SCBA
Prevents exposure through inhalation or ingestion
Should be mandatory for fire service personnel
Fire fighters must know the limitations of SCBA

32. 31
SAR
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.

33. APRs (1 of 2) Filter particulates and contaminants from the air31
APRs (1 of 2)
Filter particulates and contaminants from the air
Should only be used when:
Type and amount of contaminants are known
Atmosphere is not oxygen-deficient

34. APRs (2 of 2) Limitations:31
APRs (2 of 2)
Limitations:
Filtering cartridges are contaminant-specific.
Atmosphere must be continuously monitored.

35. Level A Protection Fully encapsulating suit31
Level A Protection
Fully encapsulating suit
Highest level of protection
Effective against vapors, gases, mists, dusts
Requires SCBA or SAR

36. 31
Level B Protection
Consists of chemical-protective clothing, boots, gloves, and SCBA
Used when high respiratory protection but less skin protection required
Type of gloves and boots worn depends on the chemical involved

37. 31
Level C Protection
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

38. Level D Protection 31 Lowest level of protection Used when:
Atmosphere contains no known hazard.
Work functions preclude splashes, immersion, or potential for inhalation.
Should be used for nuisance contamination only

39. Skin Contact Hazards (1 of 4)31
Skin Contact Hazards (1 of 4)
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.

40. Skin Contact Hazards (2 of 4)31
Skin Contact Hazards (2 of 4)
Skin can absorb harmful toxins without any sensation to the skin itself.
Do not rely on pain or irritation as a warning of absorption.
Some substances are lethal if only a few drops contact the skin.

41. Skin Contact Hazards (3 of 4)31
Skin Contact Hazards (3 of 4)
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.

42. Skin Contact Hazards (4 of 4)31
Skin Contact Hazards (4 of 4)
Corrosives do not have to be absorbed to do damage.
Acids
Have affinity for moisture
Can burn respiratory tract
Alkalis
Cause deep burns
Turns tissue to soapy liquid

43. 31
Safety Precautions
Standard safety precautions for firefighting apply to hazardous materials incidents.
In addition, special attention must be paid to temperature and stress.

44. Excessive Heat Disorders31
Excessive Heat Disorders
Fully encapsulating and chemical-protective suits do not “breathe.”
Personnel in such suits are at greater risk for heat-related emergencies.
Heat-related emergencies:
Heat Exhaustion
Heat Stroke

45. 31
Heat Exhaustion (1 of 2)
Mild form of shock caused by overheating when the body cannot dissipate heat
Signs and symptoms include:
Elevated core temperature
Weakness
Profuse sweating
Dizziness

46. Heat Exhaustion (2 of 2) Emergency Action:31
Heat Exhaustion (2 of 2)
Emergency Action:
Remove victim from the source of heat
Rehydrate
Provide cooling

47. 31
Heat Stroke (1 of 2)
Life-threatening condition resulting from the total failure of the body’s temperature-regulation capacity
Signs and symptoms include:
Reduction or cessation of sweating
Body temperature at or above 105ºF
Rapid pulse

48. 31
Heat Stroke (2 of 2)
This is a true medical emergency requiring immediate transport to a medical facility.

49. Prevention of Heat-Related Emergencies31
Prevention of Heat-Related Emergencies
Prehydrate with 8 to16 oz. of water before donning PPE.
Rehydrate with 16 oz. of water for each SCBA cylinder used.

50. Cold-Related Emergencies (1 of 3)31
Cold-Related Emergencies (1 of 3)
Two types of cold exposure:
Materials-related
Liquified gases and cryogenic materials
Gases released under pressure
Weather-related
Wind speed and temperature

51. Cold-Related Emergencies (2 of 3)31
Cold-Related Emergencies (2 of 3)
Despite temperature, fire fighters will sweat.
Wet clothing extracts heat from the body up to 240 times faster than dry clothing.
May lead to hypothermia

52. Cold-Related Emergencies (3 of 3)31
Cold-Related Emergencies (3 of 3)
Prevention
Wear appropriate, layered clothing.
Warm up in heated shelters or vehicles.
Keep layers next to skin dry.

53. Physical Capability Requirements31
Physical Capability Requirements
Hazardous materials responses are physically and psychologically stressful.
A health and safety management program is needed to ensure responders are capable of meeting challenges of the work.

54. Medical Surveillance Program (1 of 2)31
Medical Surveillance Program (1 of 2)
Part of the health and safety management program.
Includes:
Fitness for duty determinations
Detection of changes in body systems due to physical and/or chemical exposures

55. Medical Surveillance Program (2 of 2)31
Medical Surveillance Program (2 of 2)
Pre-entry values should be attained within 15 to 20 minutes after leaving environment.
Treat and transport anyone who does not return to normal values within 20 minutes.

56. Response Safety Procedures31
Response Safety Procedures
Actions for Awareness-level responders
Isolate and deny entry.
Try to identify products.
Follow the NAERG.
Follow SOPs.
Eliminate possible ignition sources.

57. 31
Control Zones (1 of 2)
Designated areas at a hazardous materials incident based upon safety and the degree of hazard
Types:
Hot zone
Warm zone
Cold zone

58. 31
Control Zones (2 of 2)

59. Hot Zone Area immediately around the incident site31
Hot Zone
Area immediately around the incident site
Contains personnel and equipment needed to control the release
Is contaminated
Access is limited.
Entries and exits are logged.

60. Warm Zone Staging area for entering and leaving the hot zone31
Warm Zone
Staging area for entering and leaving the hot zone
Contains an access corridor and a decontamination corridor
Only essential personnel allowed.
Personnel must be in appropriate PPE.
Generally one level below what is used in the hot zone

61. Cold Zone Safe area where special protective clothing is not needed31
Cold Zone
Safe area where special protective clothing is not needed
Restricted area
Cold zone operations include:
Personnel staging
Command post
Medical support area

62. Isolation Techniques (1 of 2)31
Isolation Techniques (1 of 2)
Approach from uphill.
Resist the urge to rush in.
Establish a perimeter.
Ensure perimeter control devices do not impede rapid evacuation.

63. Isolation Techniques (2 of 2)31
Isolation Techniques (2 of 2)

64. Buddy System and Back-up Personnel31
Buddy System and Back-up Personnel
Back-up personnel must be ready to respond quickly into the hot zone to rescue any personnel if an emergency occurs.
Work in teams of two.
Do not rely solely on radios for communication in the hot zone.

65. Summary (1 of 4) PPE is product-specific.31
Summary (1 of 4)
PPE is product-specific.
No such thing as generic chemical-protective suit
PPE has limitations; fire fighters must know them.
Four recognized levels of protective clothing
Level A provides the most protection.
Level D provides almost no protection.

66. 31
Summary (2 of 4)
Use of respiratory protection is essential on most hazardous materials incidents
Be aware of and know how to handle both heat- and cold-related emergencies
Monitor responder vital signs before, during, and after a hazardous materials incident.

67. Summary (3 of 4) Resist the urge to rush in.31
Summary (3 of 4)
Resist the urge to rush in.
Only fire fighters trained to the technician or specialist levels should enter the hot zone.

68. Summary (4 of 4) Work in teams of two in the hot zone.31
Summary (4 of 4)
Work in teams of two in the hot zone.
Ensure a back-up team is prepared to enter the hot zone to effect a rescue.