SOP C1, C2 & C3

Question 1

C1 - What is the predetermined attendance at an incident involving Carbon Monoxide?

Answer 1

Nearest pumping appliance and HAZMAT Officer (with gas monitoring equipment)

Question 2

C1 - What are the hazards associated with Carbon Monoxide?

Answer 2

● Flammable
● Toxic
● May react violently with other substances
● Presence of high levels of Carbon Monoxide may indicate slow burning fire
● Low level long term exposure can lead to long term health issues

Question 3

C1 - What are the physical properties of Carbon Monoxide?

Answer 3

● Lighter than air
● Colourless
● Odourless
● Gas at ambient temperatures

Question 4

C1 - What PPE must be worn by responders in Carbon Monoxide incidents?

Answer 4

● BA (Must not be dust mask as offers no protection)

● Carbon Monoxide Detector

Question 5

C1 - What are the alarms levels for Carbon Monoxide detectors?

Answer 5

The personal carbon monoxide alarms will sound at 35PPM (parts per million) and again at 100 ppm and staff should consider further venting or the use of Breathing Apparatus.

Question 6

C1 - What is the workplace exposure limit for CO for an 8 hour period?

Answer 6

35ppm

Question 7

C2 - What is the maximum exposure time in the risk area when wearing GTS (Gas Tight Suits)?

Answer 7

20 Minutes working, from after being briefed to arrival at the decontamination point.

Question 8

C2 - What is the minimum pressure required when returning to decontamination point?

Answer 8

140bar

Question 9

C2 - What method is used to decontaminate members of the public’s skin?

Answer 9

Rinse wipe rinse

Question 10

C2 - What are the 4 different types of decontamination?

Answer 10

● emergency decontamination;
● interim / improvised decontamination (this is an effective means that allows personnel to be deployed before the arrival of specialised assets and will enable the incident plan to be operated in a timely manner;
● full decontamination (mass decontamination falls into this category)
● clinical decontamination.

Question 11

C2 - What pressure would require connection to emergency air supply?

Answer 11

70 bar

Question 12

C2 - How should contaminated Fire Kit (Not including boots and helmet) be bagged?

Answer 12

● Placed in Dissolvo bag, goose necked and cable tied
● Dissolvo bag placed inside clear polythene bag gooseneck and cable tied
● Sticky Label with words ‘Contaminated Fire Kit’, UN Number (if available) and persons name and service number

Question 13

C3 - What does NAIR scheme stand for?

Answer 13

National Arrangement For Incidents Involving Radiation

Question 14

C3 - What is NAIR?

Answer 14

Assistance scheme providing experts on two levels - Two stages;
Stage 1 - Radiation expert
Stage 2 - Radiation team

Question 15

C3 - What is contamination?

Answer 15

Transfer of radioactive material to the skin or clothes of a firefighter (including ingestion)

Question 16

C3 - What is irradiation?

Answer 16

The effect of proximity to a radiation source on a firefighters body.

Question 17

C3 - What level of PPE is required for a radiation incident?

Answer 17

Sealed Source - Fire Kit BA, Gauntlets and EPD, survey meter

Unsealed source - GTS, BA Survey meter

Question 18

C3 - What are the 3 thing you can do to protect against Radiation?

Answer 18

● Time – keep exposure time as short as possible.
● Distance – keep as far away as possible from the source.
● Shielding – shield body from source wherever possible.

Question 19

C3 - What is the radiation dose annual legal limit for all firefighters?

Answer 19

20mSv

Question 20

C3 - What is the legal limit for a radiation dose for a female firefighter in a three month period?

Answer 20

13mSv

Avon Fire & Rescue Service policy: do not commit female firefighters

Question 21

C3 - What is the dose constraint per incident where life-saving actions are not required?

Answer 21

5mSv

this is an advisory limit not a legal limit

Question 22

C3 - What is the exceptional dose limit for an informed volunteer, in order to save life or maintain critical infrastructure, at a licensed nuclear site or incident involving transport by rail.

Answer 22

100 mSv

Must be authorised by the AFRS Hazmat Adviser

Question 23

C3 - What is the tone of the EPD when low level radiation is detected? (Initial dose rate)

Answer 23

Fast intermittent double beep, high tone;
Above 100 μSv/hr
Report level to IC, await instructions..

Question 24

C3 - What is the tone of the EPD when the advisory dose limit is reached? (Dose constraint alarm)

Answer 24

Continuous slow dual high tone
Above 5 mSv
Report level to IC.
Withdraw (unless life saving or maintaining critical infrastructure).

Question 25

C3 - What is the tone of the EPD when the exceptional dose limit is reached? (Exceptional dose alarm)

Answer 25

Continuous single high tone
Above 100 mSv
Withdraw immediately, decontaminate,
go to hospital.

Question 26

C3 - Where should appliances be located when dealing with Radiation incidents?

Answer 26

● 45m away

● Upwind

Question 27

C3 - What on site specialist may be available at radiation incidents?

Answer 27

■ RPA – radiological protection advisor.

■ RPS – radiological protection supervisor.

Question 28

C3 - When should EPD readings be recorded and checked?

Answer 28

● Recorded in and out of risk area

● Checked every 5 minutes