HAZMATS: PN796 Flashcards
1.1 This policy defines hazardous materials
(HAZMATS) as any item or agents which have the potential to cause harm to humans, animals or the environment either by itself or interaction with other factors. The risks posed from the hazardous material can depend upon the type of material, quantity involved, its concentration and the context in which it is found. It is therefore important to apply an appropriate risk based approach to HAZMATS incidents.
1.2 The responsibility of the London Fire Brigade (LFB) is to
control any spillage or release of HAZMATS to mitigate harm to the public and the environment. Any controlled or nonemergency situation remains the responsibility of the owners or occupiers of the premises where the HAZMATS incident has taken place.
2.1 The hazards presented by these materials fall into the following categories:
• Chemical hazards: − Toxic. − Corrosive. − Flammable. − Asphyxiant. − Explosive Policy number 806 – Fireworks and explosives – incidents and fires involving explosive materials. − Oxidizing agents.
• Physical hazards:
− Very cold – cryogenics. − Very hot. − Pressurised vessels Policy number 376 – Cylinder procedure
Radioactive hazards
Radioactive hazards Policy number 602
– Incidents involving ionising radiation:
− Ionising radiation.
− Contamination with radioactive material.
• Biological hazards
• Biological hazards Policy number 98 – Incidents involving biological risks.
2.2 Exposure to HAZMATS can lead to death, acute or chronic injury and disease e.g. cancer through:
- The inhalation of toxic substance or dusts.
- The ingestion of toxic substances through eating and drinking contaminated material.
- Chemical or heat/cold burns through physical contact with the hazardous substance.
- Absorption of toxic substances through the skin.
- Absorption across mucous membranes e.g. mouth and eyes.
- Injection.
3.3 When gathering information, personnel must consider:
- Size – both of the premises and the amount of stored HAZMATS
- On site sources of information such as specialists, signage or Materials Safety Data Sheets
3.4 This information should be gathered from:
- 7 (2) (d) visits.
- Local knowledge.
- Operational Risk Database (ORD) on the Mobile Data Terminal (MDT).
- On site specialist /responsible person / other Specialist advice.
- CHEMDATA via the Info tab on the MDT
COMAH stand for?
control of major accident hazards
5.4 The IC must send the appropriate message to Control
what is it to include?
- Confirmation of type of incident and the level where appropriate (See Appendix 1).
- CHEMDATA in use, detailing the HAZMATS information retrieved.
- Proposed emergency action code (EAC) and decontamination method.
- Specific operational procedures implemented.
Tactical mode.
(i) Hot Zone
This is the contaminated area(s) where the initial release occurs or disperses to. It will be the area likely to pose an immediate threat to the health and safety of all those located within it and is the area of greatest risk. It is located within the inner cordon and is part of the hazard zone.
(ii) Warm Zone
The area uncontaminated by the initial release of a substance, which may become contaminated by the movement of people or vehicles. It is surrounded by the inner cordon and is part of the hazard zone but usually contains lower risks than the hot zone.
(iii) Cold Zone
This is the uncontaminated area between the inner cordon and the outer cordon. It is the area within which key operational command positions and other essential activities will be set up. The Police Service, in liaison with the Fire and Rescue Service and the Ambulance Service, should decide whether members of the public need to be evacuated from the cold zone
(iv) Inner Cordon
The inner cordon surrounds the area where potentially hazardous activity may be conducted and encompasses both the hot and warm zones. It is used to control access to the immediate scene of operations. Access to the area controlled by an inner cordon, which by definition is the hazard zone, should be restricted to the minimum numbers required for work to be undertaken safely and effectively
(v) Outer Cordon
The outer cordon designates the controlled area into which unauthorised access in not permitted. It encompasses the inner cordon and the hot, warm and cold zones. It should be established and maintained by the Police Service