Fires In Waste Management Sites

Question 1

List the hazards associated with fires in waste management sites. (12)

Answer 1

Inaccurate situational awareness
Thermal radiation
Hidden or rapid fire growth
Stacked materials
Access and egress
Unstable ground
On~site machinery
Pressurised containers, aerosols and gas cylinders
Hazardous materials, including biological hazards
Landfill gas or biogas
Impact on the environment and health
Running or pooling fuel fires

Question 2

Fires in waste sites are often difficult to extinguish, needing a lot of resources for long periods, and can have serious effects on public health, the environment, safety to firefighters and local communities. Impacts may be short term or long term, including: (6)

Answer 2

Public health impacts on responders and communities
The public being evacuated or sheltering in place Environmental impacts Pollution of surface and groundwater
Road closures
High demand on fire and rescue services and other agency resources
Large-scale financial losses and disruption

Question 3

Examples of hazardous waste

Answer 3

Asbestos Chemicals, such as brake fluid or print toner Batteries
Solvents
Pesticides
Oils
Equipment containing ozone depleting substances, such as fridges
Hazardous waste containers

Question 4

Factors that may lead to inaccurate situational awareness

Answer 4

Illegal waste sites
Stockpiling - SSRI may not reflect current hazards
Illegal activities should be considered a possibility eg explosives
Fires in stacks - large volumes of water polluted run off - need foam
Landfill sites; deep seated fires that have been burning for months

Question 5

To gain situational awareness incident commanders must

Answer 5

So that fire and rescue service personnel can operate safely and effectively at incidents involving fires in waste sites, they should develop an appropriate understanding of site design and layout, the type of materials being stored and the method of storage (for example, stacked and on-site processes).
They should also appreciate the effects of the fire and of firefighting activity on the material involved, the local community and the environment.

Question 6

Tactical actions incident commanders must take to improve situational awareness

Answer 6

Incident commanders should:
Consider site use and occupancy
Consider the local community and their need to shelter in place or evacuate
Consider the responsible person (or appointed competent person) for the site
Consider the outcomes from scene surveys - refer to National Operational Guidance: Fires
and firefighting - Scene survey
Access and secure CCTV footage for subsequent investigations and debriefs
Consider liaison and information sharing with others, for example:
Environmental agency
Environmental health
Local authority
Police
Ambulance service
Public health agency
Site operator

Question 7

Regarding SSI incident commanders should

Answer 7

Access and review any onsite environmental and fire prevention and mitigation plans
Consider other site-specific information that may be available through other agencies, such as environmental agencies or local authority
Obtain a site manifest and any Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) documentation

Question 8

When implementing cordons on waste sites incident commanders should consider

Answer 8

The height of any stacked materials The stability of stacked materials The type of waste and predicted firespread The presence of:
Overhead cables Substations Transmission towers Oil or gas pipelines
Weather conditions, which could:
Contribute to firespread Dampen the waste, making it more prone to collapse
Ground conditions

Question 9

Incident commanders can seek specialist assistance from:

Answer 9

Waste fire tactical adviser
Responsible person or site specialist
Environmental agency
Public health agency
Local authority
Industry experts

Question 10

If there is high voltage equipment eg pylons over head cables

Answer 10

Appropriate exclusion and safety corridors should be established
Precautionary measures should be taken
Advice and assistance should be requested from the electricity supplier

Question 11

IC tactical actions at waste fires

Answer 11

Establish and maintain cordons and safe access and egress routes for a fire in a waste site
Consider seeking specialist advice or assistance for determining appropriate cordons and safe access and egress routes for a fire in a waste site
Restrict the number of personnel in the hazard area for a fire in a waste site
Record all access and egress into and out of the inner cordon, for personnel and other emergency responders at a fire in a waste site
Restrict access on or over waste or landfill sites to the minimum personnel, vehicles and equipment
Prevent personnel from walking across stacked waste or unstable ground at a fire in a waste site
Provide a safety briefing to all personnel undertaking tasks within the waste site
Consider appointing a safety officer to control cordons and monitor ground and stack conditions at a fire in a waste site
Request police attendance to manage cordons outside of the waste site boundary

Establish appropriate exclusion and safety corridors if there is any high-voltage equipment in the vicinity of the waste site
Request advice and assistance from the electricity supplier if there is any high-voltage equipment in the vicinity of the waste site
Request advice and assistance from the fuel supplier if there are any oil or gas pipelines in the vicinity of the waste site
Ensure all emergency responders are aware of the emergency evacuation or tactical withdrawal for the fire in a waste site

Question 12

What is the pollution control hierarchy

Answer 12

At source
Close to source
On the surface
In drainage or along a pathway
Contain, manage, treat pollution at the receptor

Question 13

What specialist advice might be beneficial to the IC

Answer 13

Environment agencies
Public health agencies
Detection, identification and monitoring (DIM) teams
Site owners
Hazardous materials advisers
Specialist advisers for ammunition
Scientific advisers

Question 14

Incident commanders should seek specialist advice and;

Answer 14

Seek specialist advice
Obtain a site manifest
Obtain any Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) documentation held on-site
Implement an appropriate level of personal protective equipment (PPE) and respiratory
protective equipment (RPE) to deal with identified or suspected hazardous materials
Deploy the minimum number of personnel required to safely complete the tasks required
Fully brief all personnel entering the inner cordon on all known or suspected hazards
Ensure that a clean area for resting and standby teams has welfare and hygiene provision -
refer to National Operational Guidance: Operations for further information
Ensure appropriate health and safety monitoring during and after the incident
Document any exposure

Question 15

Thermal radiation has two key effects:

Answer 15

It makes it difficult for firefighters to get close enough to effectively apply extinguishing media

It can also cause firespread to other parts of the waste site, structures on or around the site and to vehicles, cylinders, fuel stores and other machinery

Question 16

Hazard - On-site machinery

Answer 16

Some industries use the word ‘plant’ to indicate specialist equipment, machinery or industrial premises. For the purposes of this guidance, the word ‘plant’ has purposely been avoided and is referred to as ‘on-site machinery’, ‘on-site vehicles’, ‘sites’ or ‘facilities’.
Machinery can present many types of hazards including:
Drawing in
This content is only valid at the time of download - 9-09-2023 10:32
94 of 174
Entanglement Friction and abrasion Cutting or shearing Stabbing or puncturing Impact or crush injuries Hazardous substances and emissions Noise and vibration Pressure or vacuum Extreme temperatures Electrocution Damage to eyes by intense ultraviolet light from welding equipment Damage to skin from ultraviolet (UV) radiation present in welding equipment Epidermal injection (hydraulic fluid)