Hazmat draft Flashcards
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Support agencies at hazmat incident
ACTAS
AFP
Work safe
CROIERG
Environment protection Agency
ActewAGL
Zinfra
Department of defence
Roads ACT
Icon Water
State Emergancy Services (SES)
Locations you would find hazardous materials
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; and
Laboratories.
Four ways hazards can present themselves
Toxic
Flammable
Corrosive
Reactive
Four types of exposure
Inhalation
Ingestion
Absorption
Injection
Inhalation is the most common route of exposure to a chemical toxin, and is often the most damaging.
Ingestion is the introduction of a toxic substance into the body through the mouth.
Absorption is the introduction of a toxic substance into the body through the skin.
Injection is the introduction of a toxic substance into the skin through a syringe or sharp object
Explain TWA
Time-Weighted Average (TWA)
Is the average concentration value of a substance where a worker can be exposed and in theory come to no short or long term harm - 8 hrs 5 days a week.
Explain STEL
Short-Term Exposure Limit (STEL)
Is the concentration workers can be exposed without suffering irreversible health effects - 15 mins, 4 x a day with an hour break in between
Explain PLV
Peak Limitation Value (PLV)
Is a concentration if exceeded has an atmosphere that is considered to be occupationally unacceptable.
What is exposure standards
Exposure Standards are simply given values to indicate when the concentration of a product in an atmosphere is safe, unsafe or dangerous.
it is the safe airborne concentrations of individual chemical substances in a general occupational environment
IDLH
Immediate- Danger to-Life and Health
The level of exposure to cause immediate or delayed permanent illness or interfere with the ability to escape.
Define Gases with 3 examples
Gases are substances which are too volatile to exist as a liquid or solid at typical air temperatures and pressures.
hydrogen, methane, acetylene and propane.
Define vapours with 3 examples
Vapours are generally the evaporative product of volatile liquids such as:
petrol, styrene and ethanol.
Define aerosols with 3 examples
Aerosols are a system consisting of very small solid particles or liquid droplets dispersed in the atmosphere. The particles or droplets are small enough to remain suspended in the air.
Examples are dusts, smoke, mists and fumes. Flour, coal, plastic, saw dust
What is a bump test?
Bump Tests
to confirm the accuracy of the readings of the four heads. First dayshift and as a part of a six-monthly service
What is calibration of a MicroRAE
It calibrates the readings for the Microrae. Calibration happens automatically if the bump test fails. Checked every 6 months
what is ANZERG and where is it found?
Australian & New Zealand Emergency Response Guide Book (ANZERG)
It’s carried in the Red Hazmat Satchel on every ACTF&R appliance in the cabin compartment. Or on the pumper phone and Ipad
Define 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.
Define 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)
is acetalyne is 2.5% how many PPM is that?
25,000
what are the 3 units of measurement and what do they measure
V/V%= Oxygen
% of LEL = Flammability
PPM = Toxicity
6 types of containment strategies
upright falling containers
tightening lids and close valves
plug or patch leaking containers
Damming/Dyking
Retention
Recovery
Termination
What are the 3 control zones and describe those zones
Hot Zone
The hot zone is identified as an area of isolation where contaminant levels are considered sufficiently high to threaten life and safety.
Warm Zone
The warm zone is identified as an area of immediately surrounding the hot zone and is where decontamination commences.
Cold Zone
The cold zone is a support area immediately surrounding the warm zone. Access to the cold zone is restricted to support agencies.
4 general precaution that should be observed at a hazmat incident
Look for the HAZCHEM sign
Identify the materials from a distance
During identification, remember that spelling and product details are crucial
Do not guess – only use the information that is at hand.
control the movement of people
appropriate PPE
what are the 4 stages of Decontamination
Level 1 – Emergency Decontamination
Level 2 – Emergency Services Decontamination
Level 3 – Mass Decontamination
Level 4 – Bulk Decontamination Systems
What are the principles of mass decontamination
- Wet
- Strip
- Wash
- Cover
6 considerations when sitting an appliance
Type of decontamination to be carried out;
Weather conditions, particularly the wind direction;
Location of any drains and water courses (to control run off);
Topography;
Comfort and safety of personnel;
Location of appliances;
Location of water supplies; and
Location of appliance to supply hose lines. Lighting etc.;
Proximity to incident;
Location of entry control point.
what are the two main strategies for containment
Defensive Strategies -
Involve no direct intervention by the firefighter, let it burn or let it vent. less exposure benefit.
Offensive Strategies -
Involve some form of direct intervention, quicker response benefit.
Draw the decontamination corridor
5 types of hazardous atmospheres
flammable environment
oxygen enriched
low oxygen
toxic or corrosive
high temperature
radioactive
particulates
Define UEL
highest explosive volume percentage of gas or vapour in the air if an ignition source is present
Define LEL
lowest explosive volume percentage of gas or vapor in the air if an ignition source was present
Define the flammable range
The Flammable range is the concentration of gas or vapour which will explode if ignition is present between the LEL and UEL
what is the odour threshold
the concentration at which we can smell odours
Microrae capabilities
what acronym is used when sizing up a hazmat incident
I - identify
P - ppe
I - Isolate the area
C - Contain the substance
D - Decontamination
M - Monitor the incident
Draw and label decontamination corridor
