Week 4 day 1 Hazardous Materials Resp Flashcards
The cadet will gain the knowledge necessary to recognize a hazardous substance release, take measures to protect themselves and bystanders, and be able to initiate an emergency response sequence by notifying the proper authorities of the release.
The cadet will list the potential risks for common hazardous materials likely to be
encountered at a traffic crash or industrial site release.
♦ Traffic Accident
♦ Accidental Release
♦ Traffic Accident
• Fuels
Gasoline – flammable and possibly explosive. It can burn at a
minimum temperature of -42 degrees Fahrenheit
Diesel Fuel – not easily flammable, but will burn; it will begin to burn
at a temperature of 120 degrees Fahrenheit
Propane – normally stored under pressure and will burn at a minimum
temperature of -44 degrees Fahrenheit
Other fuels used in vehicles include ethanol, natural gas, and butane
Other hazards at an accident scene can include oil spills, broken glass,
battery acid, and fires
Transported materials are also a potential hazard at a traffic crash
• Hazardous materials including chemicals and radioactive substances are
transported through Utah on a regular basis
• Large shipments of these materials are required to be marked with
placards indicating the substance group of material being transported
Not all hazardous materials are placarded
Sometimes the placards can be placed on the wrong shipment
♦ Accidental Release
• Accidental release of hazardous materials can occur anywhere, but are
more common around chemical companies, processing plants, and other
industrial sites
• Hazardous materials at fixed sites should also have placards
• Posted signs and personnel on site are another source of information
• The same rules apply as in traffic accidents. Officer’s primary
responsibility is life safety and you’ll need to station yourself uphill and
upwind from the spill
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS IDENTI FIED CORE. 1 0 5 0 . 1 0 2
The cadet will recall the following clues for identifying the presence of hazardous
materials:
♦ Occupancy and Location ♦ Container Shapes and Sizes ♦ Markings and Colors ♦ DOT Placards and Labels ♦ Shipping Papers and Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) ♦ Physical Senses
♦ Occupancy and Location
- Industrial area
* Individuals in the area using protective equipment, etc.
♦ Container Shapes and Sizes
- Barrels as opposed to boxes
- Tankers as opposed to box trailers
- Container size may give an indication of how much material is present
- Do not assume too much due to shape and size
♦ Markings and Colors
- Printed marking on containers
* Business markings as to the type of business
♦ DOT Placards and Labels
• See hazardous materials guide for specifics
♦ Physical Senses
• Sight – the best way to identify hazardous material
placards
signs
color of smoke
• Smell – not the best way to identify hazardous material
if you’re smelling it, you’re breathing it
• Touch – also not the best way to identify hazardous material
if you’re touching it, you’re probably too close
• Hearing – may be effective
Drivers and witnesses are always a good source for information
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS EXPOSURE CORE. 1 0 5 0 . 1 0 3
The cadet will identify the basic safety procedures to be taken at a hazardous
materials scene to include the following actions:
♦ Prevent the entry of hazardous material into the body through any of the
following common routes:
♦ Take the necessary precautions when rendering emergency medical care to
persons exposed to hazardous materials
♦ Consider decontamination methods that can be taken on scene before a
HAZMAT response team arrives
♦ Decontaminate personal equipment following the hazmat incident
♦ Prevent the entry of hazardous material into the body through any of the
following common routes:
• Absorption – the act of the body taking in substances through the skin
pores
• Inhalation – the act of breathing in air or gasses
• Ingestion – the act of taking in substances through the mouth and/or the
digestive tract
• Injection – the act of taking in substances through an instrument or other
foreign body piercing the skin
♦ Take the necessary precautions when rendering emergency medical care to
persons exposed to hazardous materials
- Protective gloves
- Face masks
- Bio-hazards kit
♦ Consider decontamination methods that can be taken on scene before a
HAZMAT response team arrives
• Dry chemicals – best to wipe chemical off with a rag, stick, etc. Avoid
using water to wash off dry chemicals as it may react with the water and
make the chemical more dangerous
• Wet Chemicals – flush with water, a garden hose or even bottled water
might work if the contamination is small. Fire departments are a good
source for this type of decontamination
• Gases – if you breath in a gas, the best way to decontaminate is to get to
an area with fresh air
• With all contaminations – seek medical attention
♦ Decontaminate personal equipment following the hazmat incident
• Most leather items can’t be decontaminated and must be destroyed
• If a uniform is contaminated, it can be washed alone in a clothes washer
with water only
• It is better to properly dispose of a shirt or trousers rather than take them
home and risk contaminating others
HAZMAT REFERENCE MATERIAL CORE. 1 0 5 0 . 1 0 4
The cadet will list the hazardous materials references that are commonly available at
a hazmat scene, where the references should be located, and define the type of
information available from each resource.
♦ Emergency Response Guide
♦ Shipping Papers / Bills of Lading
♦ Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) Fixed facilit
