Hazmat Flashcards
List examples of hazardous atmospheres
Oxygen Enriched
Oxygen Deficient
Toxic or corrosive
High temperatures
Radioactive
Flammable environments
Explain and list examples of gas
Gases are too volatile to exist as a liquid or a solid at typical temperatures and pressures. Examples are Hydrogen, Methane and Propane.
Explain Flammability range.
Flammability range is the concentration range of a gas or vapour that will burn or explode if an ignition source is present.
Explain LEL
Lower Explosive Limit: is the lowest concentration of gas or vapour in air that will burn with an ignition source present.
Explain UEL
Upper Explosive Limit: is the highest concentration of fuel vapour in air that will ignite. If an ignition source is present.
What are the units of measurement in Hazmat?
V/V% - measure oxygen
PPM - measure toxicity
% LEL - measures flammability
Explain TWA
Time Weighted Average: an average concentration value for a substance, workers may be exposed to, 8 hours a day, 5 days a week.
Explain STEL
Short Term Exposure Limit: are concentrations of a substance that workers can be exposed to for upto 15mins, 4 times a day. With 1 hour breaks between each exposure. Without suffering irreversible tissue damage, irritation/damage to airway and narcosis.
Explain PLV
Peak Limitation Value: a concetration value that if exceeded indicates the atmosphere is considered occupationally unacceptable.
Define Exposure Standards
Exposure Standards indicate safe concentrations of a chemical substance in the general occupational atmosphere.
Define Vapour
Vapours are an evaporative byproduct of volatile liquids. Such as petrol, ethanol and styrene.
Define Aerosol
Aerosols are small solid particles or liquid droplets dispersed in the atmosphere. Particles are small enough to remain suspended in the air. Such as coal dust, saw dust, flour, smoke.
Explain Odour threshold.
The concentration at which you can smell a substance.
Explain IDLH
Immediate Danger to Life and Health: is a concentration of any hazardous substances that poses an immediate threat to life or could cause irreversible adverse health effects and would interfere with an individual’s ability to escape from a dangerous atmosphere.
Describe Acute Effects
Result from either a single exposure or a large dose of a less toxic substance. Effects can show up to 72 hours after exposure.
Describe Chronic effects.
Repeated exposure over a period of time causing long term health effects such as cancers, birth defects and respiratory diseases.
What is 1% of PPM
10,000ppm
What is the difference between a bump test and a calibration in regards to the Micro Rae?
A bump is done to test the monitor works and reads correctly. Done on the 1st day checks. Calibration done if bump fails, it will automatically calibrate to test the accuracy of the readings and the moniter.
What support agencies can attend a Hazmat incident?
AFP
ACTAS
Roads ACT
ACTEW AGL
Icon Water
SES
Zinfra
Defence
Define Hazardous materials
Any hazardous substances or dangerous goods which are hazardous to health and safety and are defined by legislation.
What is the safe oxygen range?
19.5 v/v% to 23.5 v/v%
List the properties of a hazardous materials
Toxicity
Flammability
Reactivity
Corrosiveness
What ways can a hazardous material enter the body?
Inhalation
Ingestion
Absorption
Injection
Categories of hazardous materials
Explosive Gases
Flammable Liquids
Flammable Solids
Oxidising
Substances and organic peroxides
Toxic and infectious substances
Radioactive Material
Corrosive
Miscellaneous
General precautions for hazmat
Control the movement of people
Identify materials at a distance
Don’t guess, make sure information is accurate
Appropriate PPE
Avoid unnecessary exposure
What are the 3 control zones?
Hot - an area of isolation where contaminant levels are deemed sufficiently high. PPE required.
Warm - where decon commences. May still be levels of threat from contaminant exposure.
Cold - restricted to support agencies, casualty treatment, marshalling and assembly areas.
What are the methods of containment?
Uprighting
Closing valves
Isolating
Plugging
Damming
Absorbents
Closing lids
What are the two strategies for hazmat?
Defensive - involves no direct contact. Safer due to less exposure. Let it burn or allow leak to finish.
Offensive - Direct intervention, turning off valves, isolating. Minimise damage. Can have quicker results/ resolutions.
What are the four levels of Decon?
Level 1: Emergency Decon (HP Line)
Level 2: Emergency Services Decon
Level 3: Mass Decon
Level 4: Bulk Decon
What does level 3 Decon involve?
Wet, strip, wash, cover.
Considerations for siting at a hazmat incident?
Wind direction
Topography
Water access
Water run off
Comfort and safety of personnel
Proximity to incident
Weather conditions
Type or level of Decon
Micro Rae chart levels
LEL - flammable gas - % of LEL - Low Alarm 5 - high alarm 10
O2 - v/v% - low alarm 19.5 - high alarm 23.5
CO - PPM - low alarm 30 - high alarm 50
H2S - PPM - low alarm 10 - high alarm 20
What does IPICDM stand for?
I - Identify the hazard
P - Select and wear PPE
I - Isolate the area
C - contain the substance
D - decontamination
M - monitor the incident
Components of the Decon corridor
Hot Zone - Collection Crew
Warm Zone - holding area, shuffle pit, cleaners, dam, shower, kill bucket, soap bucket, inspection officer.
Cold Zone - BA entry/exit, BA Control, Decon officer, entry/exit officer, safety officer. Robing area, disrobing area, back up crew.
Define a dangerous good
Dangerous goods are substances that are considered to present a risk to the health and safety to the public if not correctly controlled during handling, transportation or storage.
Define Hazardous substances
Hazardous substances are materials that have potentially harmful effects on health.
Locations where hazardous materials may be found.
Chemical plants
Transport depots
Manufacturing facilities
Hospitals
University’s
Laboratories
What is flash point in regards to flammable liquid?
The flash point of a flammable liquid is the minimum temperature at which sufficient vapour is generated from the liquid to momentarily flash but not continue to burn if an ignition source is applied.
What is Wet and Dry Decon?
Wet Decon: water used to stop contaminants from aerosolising or evaporating and for washing contaminants off a casualties body provided contaminate is not reactive to water.
Dry Decon: dry agents are used to neutralise any water reactive contaminates when contaminants are water reactive or can be readily absorbed by dry agents.
Wet/Dry Decon: Dry first, then water used to rinse.
What is ANZERG?
Aust NZ emergency response guide, found in red satchel behind SO seat aswell as on iPad or appliance phone.
Consideration for atmosphere reading 13% oxygen?
There’s not enough O2 for combustion in the micro Rae to take place there for unit will not operate correctly.
