VDEM Flashcards

1
Q

OSHA 1910.120 (q) (6) (iii)

A

Hazardous Material Technicians (HMT) are individuals who respond to releases or potential releases for the purpose of stopping the release. They assume a more aggressive role than the first responder at the operations level in that they will approach the point of release in order to plug, patch or otherwise stop the release of a hazardous substance.

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2
Q

NFPA 472 Chapter 7

A

The Hazardous Material Technician (HMT) shall be that person who responds to hazardous material/WMD incidents using a risk-based response process by which he or she analyzes a problem involving hazardous material/WMD, selects applicable decontamination procedures, and controls a release using specialized protective clothing and control equipment.

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3
Q

The HMT shall demonstrate the following competencies:

A
  • Understand the roles and responsibilities of the HMT when responding to and operating at an incident involving hazardous material/WMD.
  • Understand the various terms and definitions used by government agencies to identify and describe hazardous materials.
  • Understand state and federal laws and regulations as they apply to emergency operations at an incident involving hazardous material/WMD.
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4
Q

What are the three major objectives to meet the goals of the Hazardous Materials Technician?

A

Analyze, plan, implement

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5
Q

What does the U.S. DOT Title 49 CFR address?

A

It addresses the domestic transportation of hazardous materials for all forms of transportation to, from, and within the United States.

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6
Q

What kind of position will awareness and operations level responders take?

A

Defensive

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7
Q

What is the resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (RCRA)?

A
  • RCRA established the federal effort in regulating solid and hazardous waste management.
  • Defines solid and hazardous waste
  • Regulates the generation, storage, transportation, treatment and disposal of hazardous waste
  • Establishes a permit program for hazardous waste treatment, storage, and disposal facilities (TSDs)
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8
Q

What is RCRA also known as?

A

RCRA is also known as the “Cradle to Grave Law”. The law exempts actions taken during the immediate response. Transportation, storage, and disposal of material after it is cleaned-up are subject to all RCRA permitting.

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9
Q

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA)

A

CERCLA established the Superfund hazardous substances clean-up program.

  • Requires the clean-up of releases of hazardous substances
  • Authorizes the federal government to respond to spills and other releases
  • Defines “Responsible Parties”
  • The law exempts actions taken by State and local governments from CERCLA liability during an emergency response.
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10
Q

Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA)

A

Title I - 42 U.S.C. section 126
- Requires OSHA to establish health and safety standards for workers who handle or respond to chemical emergencies.

Title III - 42 U.S.C. section 300
- Emergency Planning and community right to know.
- Contingency plans for hazardous substances.

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11
Q

What is a hazardous material and who/what defines it?

A

“A substance or material which has been determined by the Secretary of Transportation to be capable of posing an unreasonable risk to health, safety, and property when transported in commerce, and which has been so designated…”

49 CFR (US DOT)

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12
Q

What is a hazardous substance and who/what defines it?

A

“Any substance designated or listed under paragraphs (a) through (d) of this definition, exposure to which results or may result in adverse effects on the health or safety of employees:
- Any substance defined under Section 101(14) or the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA);
- Any biological agent or other disease causing agent as defined CERCLA
- Any substance listed by the U.S. Department of Transportation as hazardous materials under 49 CFR 172.101

29 CFR (OSHA)

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13
Q

What is an extremely hazardous substance?

A

A term used to describe substances listed in 40 CFR. These chemicals may be subject to emergency planning and, in the event of a release, emergency notification.

EPA

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14
Q

What is hazardous waste?

A

A term for chemicals that are regulated under the Resource, Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) (40 CFR, part 261.33) “Cradle to Grave Law.” Hazardous wastes in transport are regulated by DOT (49 CFR, parts 170-179).

EPA

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15
Q

What are toxic chemicals?

A

EPA term for chemicals whose total emission must be reported annually.

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16
Q

What are highly hazardous chemicals?

A

OSHA term for materials covered under 29CFR 1910.119 ‘Process Safety Management’.

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17
Q

What are dangerous goods?

A

“Outside the United States, the term ‘dangerous goods’ is used as roughly the equivalent to our usage of the term hazardous materials, especially as it relates to regulations governing transportation of materials (goods). The regulations are international and were prepared by the Committee of Experts on the Transportation of Dangerous Goods for the United Nations…”

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18
Q

Weapons of mass destruction

A
  • Any destructive device as defined by section 921 of this title; includes explosives, incendiaries, and projectiles.
  • Any weapon designed or intended to cause death or serious bodily injury through the release, dissemination, or impact of toxic or poisonous chemicals; or their precursors.
  • Any weapon involving a biological agent, toxin or vector.
  • Any weapon that is designed to release radiation or radioactivity at a level dangerous to human life.
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19
Q

Code of Virginia
*44-146.34 of the Virginia Code

A

Hazardous Materials means substances or materials which may pose unreasonable risks to health, safety, property or the environment when used, transported, stored or disposed of, which may include materials which are solid, liquid, or gas. Hazardous materials may include toxic substances, flammable and ignitable materials, explosives, corrosive materials, and radioactive materials, and include
 Those substances or materials in a form of quantity which may pose an unreasonable risk to health, safety, or property when transported, and which the Secretary of Transportation of the United States has so designated by regulation or order;

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20
Q

Weapon of Terrorism, Virginia Code Title 18.2-46.4

A

Any device or material that is designed, intended, or used to cause death, bodily injury or serious bodily harm, through the release, dissemination, or impact of (i) poisonous chemicals; (ii) an infectious biological substance; or (iii) release of radiation or radioactivity.

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21
Q

When judged to be an IDLH and/or to involve an imminent danger condition, who has the authority to alter, suspend, or terminate response activities?

A

The safety officer

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22
Q

Medical Surveillance Program
29 CFR 1910.120 (q) (9) refers to paragraph (f)

A

OSHA 1910.120 requires hazardous materials employees to participate in a medical surveillance both before and during employment.

  • Pre-employment screening
  • Annual medical exams
  • Termination medical exam
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23
Q

Chemical Protective Clothing
29 CFR 1910.120 (q) (10)

A
  • PPE shall be selected and used to protect employees form hazards and potential hazards as identified during the site characterization and analysis.
  • Requires that a Personal Protective Equipment Program shall be established.
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24
Q

What are the 10 components of the Hazardous Material Tactical and Safety Plan?

A
  1. Site Map
  2. Hazard Analysis
  3. Safety and Health Considerations
  4. Tactical Objectives
  5. Scene Control Zones
  6. Tactical Command Structure
  7. Site Communications
  8. Hazard Monitoring
  9. PPE
  10. Decon
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25
Q

What are the ICS functional elements and what are they responsible for?

A

Command- responsible for the overall management of the incident. Develops and implements strategic decisions, approves the ordering and release of resources, responsible for incident safety, staff positions, Safety Officer, Information Officer and Liaison Officer.

Operations- responsible for the direct management of all incident tactical activities

Planning- responsible for the collection, evaluation and dissemination of tactical information, including resource status, situation status, documentation and technical specialist

Logistics- responsible for providing all support services including rehab, comms, supplies and facilities

Finance- responsible for all financial procurement services and cost analysis.

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26
Q

Where does the hazmat branch work?

A

The Hazmat Branch works in the Operations Section.

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27
Q

HAZMAT BRANCH DIRECTOR (GROUP SUPERVISOR)

A

Reports to the Operations Section Chief or the Incident Commander and is responsible for the implementation of the Incident Action Plan that deals with the tactical control of the hazardous material. This includes safety, site control, research, entry and decontamination.

  • Establishes and maintains control zones and access points into the hot zone and the warm zone.
  • Monitors the site for the presence and concentration of hazardous
    materials.
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28
Q

HAZMAT SAFETY OFFICER

A

Coordinates safety related activities relating to the Hazmat Branch and advises the Hazmat Branch Officer on all aspects of health and safety. Has the authority to stop or prevent unsafe acts and is responsible to:

  • Participate in the preparation and implementation of the Incident Tactical/safety plan.
  • Advise the Hazmat Branch Director of deviations from the plan or any dangerous situations.
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29
Q

SITE CONTROL SUPERVISOR (Leader)

A

Responsible for the establishment of the control zones and control of the movement of all people and equipment through designated access routes and the control of contaminants. Site Control Supervisor is responsible to:

  • Control access to the hazard site.
  • Establish and identify the Hot Zone (exclusion area) and the Warm
    Zone (control area).
  • Take appropriate action to prevent the spread of contamination.
  • Ensure that injured or exposed individuals are decontaminated prior to leaving the hazard area.
30
Q

RESEARCH SUPERVISOR (Leader)

A

Provides technical information and advice relative to the chemical hazard. Identifies hazardous materials, collects and interpret information about the physical and chemical hazards to analyze the incident and develop the Tactical/Safety Plan. The Research Supervisor is responsible to:

  • Coordinate with the Planning Section Chief and assist with projecting potential harm.
  • Provide technical support to the Hazmat Branch Director.
  • Provide and interpret detection and monitoring information.
31
Q

ENTRY SUPERVISOR (Leader)

A

Responsible for the overall entry operations in the Hot Zone including:

  • Supervise entry operations including backup teams.
  • Recommend tactical actions to mitigate the situation in the Hot Zone.
  • Carry out tactical assignments to perform rescue operations and mitigate the hazard.
  • Maintain control of the movement of people within the Hot Zone.
32
Q

DECONTAMINATION (DECON) SUPERVISOR (Leader)

A

Responsible for all decontamination functions, including:

  • Establish the Contamination Reduction Corridor(s), decon area.
  • Supervise the decontamination operations
  • Identify contaminated people and equipment.
  • Maintain control of the movement of people in the decon area.
33
Q

Define gas

A

Gas – Any substance that boils at atmospheric pressure at any temperature less than 80 degrees F. DOT defines gases as materials with a boiling point below 68 degrees F. Gases have no fixed volume or shape. They are extremely difficult to control and contain.

34
Q

In storage and transportation gases may be:

A
  • Compressed gas
  • Liquified compressed gas
  • Cryogenic gas
35
Q

Define compressed gas

A

Compressed Gas – material when in a container has an absolute pressure of 40psi @ 70 degrees F or having an absolute pressure exceeding 104psi at 130 degrees F or any liquid having a vapor pressure exceeding 40psi at 100 degrees F.

36
Q

Define liquified compressed gas

A

Liquefied Compressed Gas – gases that become a liquid in a container at normal temperature at pressure from 25 to 2,500 psi.

37
Q

Define cryogenic gas

A

Cryogenic Gas – Liquefied gases with boiling points below -130 F.

38
Q

What will liquids do above their freezing point?

A

Release vapors

39
Q

What is a pure substance?

A

homogeneous material having a constant, fixed chemical composition with no impurities. They may be an element or a compound.

Example: oxygen, chlorine, carbon monoxide, water

40
Q

What is a mixture?

A

Materials that are made from two or more substances in varying proportions that are not chemically combined. These materials can be separated from each other by physical or chemical means (filtering, dissolving, evaporating, etc.)

Example: air, gasoline, brass, wood

41
Q

What is an element?

A

Simplest form of any substance cannot be decomposed into smaller units and remain that element. The smallest unit of an element is an atom.

Example: hydrogen, carbon, oxygen, iron, fluorine

42
Q

What is a compound?

A

A substance composed of two or more elements in chemical combination that has a fixed chemical composition.

Example: methane (CH4), sodium chloride (NaCl), carbon dioxide (CO2)

43
Q

What is a solution?

A

A uniformly dispersed mixture of one or more substances (solute) in one or more other substances (solvent).

Example: liquid in liquid, alcohol-water, solid in liquid, salt-water, gas in liquid, carbon dioxide in water

44
Q

What is a slurry?

A

A pourable mixture of a solid and a liquid.

45
Q

Boiling point

A

Boiling point is the temperature at which the transition from liquid to gaseous occurs. At this temperature, the vapor pressure of a liquid equals the surrounding atmospheric pressure so that the liquid rapidly becomes a vapor.

46
Q

Melting point

A

The temperature at which a solid becomes a liquid.

47
Q

Sublimation

A

When a substance passes directly from a solid state to a vapor state without passing through a liquid state, for example, naphthalene used in mothballs.

48
Q

Vapor pressure

A

Vapor pressure is the pressure exerted on the inside of a closed container by the vapor in the space above the liquid in the container.

49
Q

In what ways are vapor pressure measured?

A
  • Millimeters or inches of mercury – mm Hg / in Hg
  • Pounds per square inch (absolute) – psia
  • Atmosphere (atm)
50
Q

What different values equal the same vapor pressure?

A

760 mm Hg = 14.7 psia = 1 atmosphere (at sea level)

51
Q

Critical temperature and pressure

A

Critical temperature and pressure relate to the process of liquefying gases. The critical temperature is the minimum temperature required to liquefy a gas, no matter how much pressure is applied. The critical pressure is the pressure that must be applied to bring a gas to its liquid state.

52
Q

Can a gas be liquified above its critical temperature if more pressure is applied?

A

No

53
Q

Expansion ratio

A

The expansion ratio is the amount of gas produced by a given volume of liquid at a given temperature. For instance, liquid propane has an expansion ratio of liquid to gas of 270 to 1, while liquefied natural gas has an expansion ratio of 635 to 1.

54
Q

Vapor density

A

Vapor density is the relative density of a vapor compared to air.

55
Q

Specific gravity

A

Specific gravity is the weight of a solid or liquid compared to an equal volume of water.

56
Q

Solubility

A

The ability of a substance to form a solution with water

57
Q

How is solubility expressed?

A
  • Negligible: less than 0.1%
  • Slight: 0.1 to 1.0%
  • Moderate: 1 to 10%
  • Appreciable: More than 10%
58
Q

Miscibility

A

The term miscible refers to the tendency or ability of two or more liquids to form a uniform blend, or to dissolve in each other. Liquids may be totally miscible, partially miscible, or not at all miscible

59
Q

Persistence

A

A material’s ability to remain in the environment chemically unchanged. The more persistent a material is, the greater the propensity for it to remain harmful over a period of time.

60
Q

What will the temperature of a product affect?

A

The temperature of a product will influence the measures taken to control an incident that involves that product.

61
Q

Viscosity

A

The measure of the thickness of a liquid

62
Q

Volatility

A

Volatility describes the ease with which a liquid can pass into the vapor state. The higher a material’s volatility, the greater its evaporation rate.

63
Q

Organic chemistry

A

Organic chemistry is based on substances that contain carbon. Organic materials are derived from materials that are or once were living. Organic compounds contain chains of two or more carbon atoms. An example of an organic compound is propane. Organic materials are significant to the technician, as the majority of them are known to be flammable and many are also toxic.

64
Q

Inorganic chemistry

A

The chemistry of nitrogen, oxygen and other non-carbon materials is the content of inorganic chemistry. Inorganic materials may still contain carbon. However, they lack the characteristic carbon chains found in organic materials. Examples of an inorganic material are nitric acid, sodium bicarbonate and carbon dioxide.

65
Q

Protons

A

Particles that are found in the center, or nucleus, of the atom having a positive charge. They determine the weight of the atom

66
Q

Neutron

A

Found in the nucleus, has no charge

67
Q

Electron

A

Particles found in the space surrounding the nucleus, they have a
negative charge. These spaces are called the electron shells.

68
Q

Where is most of the mass of an atom found?

A

In the nucleus

69
Q

What is an element?

A

An element is a substance of similar atoms with the same atomic number (number of protons). Elements cannot be broken down further by chemical means. An element’s chemical properties are determined by the number of protons in the nucleus and the corresponding number of electrons around the nucleus.

70
Q

What is an isotope?

A

The atoms of an element all have the same number of protons. However, variations in the atomic mass of the atoms can occur. When this occurs, the number of protons stays the same but the number of neutrons changes. When this occurs, the new atom is said to be an isotope of the original atom or element.

71
Q

What happens when an isotope is unstable?

A

Some isotopes are very unstable. As they break down, they release particles and energy. This breakdown is called radioactivity and the particles and energy released are called radiation.

72
Q
A