Hazmat Flashcards
Types of Hazardous Atmospheres
Flammable environments
Oxygen enrich environments
Low oxygen environments
Toxic Chemicals
High temperatures
Radioactive environments
Particulates (dusts)
Describe a Gas and Examples
Gases are substances that are too volatile to exist as a liquid or solid at typical air temperatures and pressures.
Gases can be liquefied if their temperature is decreased and/or the external pressure acting on them is increased.
hydrogen (H2), helium (He), methane (CH4)
Describe a Vapour and examples
Vapours are generally the evaporative product of volatile
acetone, petrol, benzene, styrene, and ethanol.
3 Units of measurements
Oxygen Levels - Volume % = V/V%
Flammability - % of LEL
Toxicity - Parts per million = PPM
What is the acceptable range O2
19.5% - 23.5%
Oxygen outside of this range is considered Hazardous
Describe UEL
Highest concentration of a gas or vapor in air that can burn or explode if ignited
Describe LEL
Lowest concentration of a gas or vapor in the air that can ignite and burn
Describe Exposure Standards
Time-Weighted Average (TWA)
- An averaged concentration workers may be repeatedly exposed to without adverse effect.
Based on 8-hour working day, 5-day working week.
Short-Term Exposure Limit (STEL)
- A concentration to which workers can be exposed for up to 15 minutes, four times a day, with at least an hour break in-between without suffering irritation, irreversible tissue damage or narcosis.
Peak Limitation Value (PLV)
-A concentration that, if exceeded, indicates the atmosphere is considered occupationally unacceptable
4 Main routes of Exposure
Inhalation
Ingestion
Absorption
Injection
What is Odour Threshold
Level at which you can smell a hazard
What is LDHL
Immediate Danger to Life and Health is an atmospheric concentration that
poses an immediate threat to life
or would cause irreversible or delayed adverse health effects
or would interfere with an individual’s ability to escape from a dangerous atmosphere
What is acute toxicity
Acute toxicity describes the adverse effects of a substance that result from a single exposure or from multiple exposures in a short period of time (typically less than 24 hours)
- Burns
- Vomiting
- Dizziness
- Central nervous system
damage
What is chronic toxicity
Chronic toxic effects cause long term health damage, typically after repeated exposure to low concentration levels. Generally, workers notice little or no health impairment at the time, with major health problems presenting themselves months or years later
- Cancer
- Birth defects
- Respiratory diseases
- Dermatitis
- Cirrhosis of the liver
What is 1% in PPM?
1% = 10,000 ppm
10% = 100,000 ppm
The Microrae table
Explain Bump Test
First dayshift and as a part of a six monthly service to confirm the accuracy of the detectors readings
Explain Calibration of Microrae
Performed as a part of an annual service schedule, where the monitor is returned to the manufacturer for sensor testing and calibration. A monitor that fails challenge/bump tests will also be returned for calibration
Supporting Agencies of Hazmat incidents
ACTAS
AFP
Environment Protection Agency (ACT)
WorkSafe
CROIERG
ActewAGL
ICON Water
Zinfra (Natural Gas)
Technical Specialist
State Emergency Service
Department of Defence
Roads ACT
Locations Hazardous Materials are found
- Transport vehicles carrying materials (ranging from petrol to toxic chemicals);
- Chemical plants;
- Transport depots;
- Manufacturing facilities;
- Potentially hazardous enterprises (such as electroplating works);
- Hospitals;
- Universities
- Laboratories.
Hazardous materials can present a number hazards, such as
Toxic
Flammable
Corrosive
Reactive
Where can you find the ANZERG book?
Red Sachel for Hazmat in the appliance
What are the 9 Classes of Explosive goods?
Class 1 Explosives
Class 2 Gases (Flammable, Non-Flammable Compressed, Toxic)
Class 3 Flammable Liquids
Class 4 Flammable Solids
Class 5 Oxidising Substances and Organic Peroxides
Class 6 Toxic and Infectious Substances
Class 7 Radioactive Material
Class 8 Corrosive Substances
Class 9 Miscellaneous Dangerous Substances
List 8 sections of a SDS
4 General precautions at a Hazmat Incident
- Look for the HAZCHEM sign
- Identify the materials from a distance (use binoculars)
- During identification, remember that spelling and product details are crucial
- Do not guess – only use the information that is at hand
What are the Control Zones?
Hot zone
Warm zone
Cold zone
Note: The actual layout of the zones will be determined by wind direction, topography and the physical layout of the site.
Describe the Hot zone
The hot zone is identified as an area of isolation where contaminant levels are considered sufficiently high to threaten life and safety. Only personnel equipped with the appropriate PPE and other equipment may enter.
Describe the Warm zone
The warm zone is identified as an area of immediately surrounding the hot zone and is where decontamination commences. Near the boundary of the hot zone contaminants may still be at a level that can pose an exposure risk to unprotected personnel.
Describe the Cold zone
The cold zone is a support area immediately surrounding the warm zone. Access to the cold zone is restricted to support agencies. Site control, casualty treatment area and marshalling/assembly areas are generally established in the cold zone.
