Essentials of Fire Fighting and Fire Department Operations , 5 th Edition

1. Essentials of Fire Fighting and Fire Department Operations, 5th Edition Chapter 23 — Operations at Haz Mat Incidents Firefighter I

2. Chapter 23 Lesson Goal • After completing this lesson, the student shall be able to summarize the basic operations at haz mat and terrorist incidents and perform emergency decontamination and defensive procedures following the policies and procedures set forth by the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ). Firefighter I

3. Specific Objectives 1. Summarize incident priorities for all haz mat and terrorist incidents. 2. Discuss the management structure at haz mat or terrorist incidents. 3. Describe the problem-solving stages at haz mat and terrorist incidents. (Continued) Firefighter I

4. Specific Objectives 4. Explain how the strategic goal of isolation and scene control is achieved. 5. Explain how the strategic goal of notification is achieved. (Continued) Firefighter I

5. Specific Objectives 6. Explain how the strategic goal of ensuring the safety of responders and the public is achieved. 7. Summarize general guidelines for decontamination operations. 8. Describe the three types of decontamination. (Continued) Firefighter I

6. Specific Objectives 9. Discuss implementing decontamination. 10. Discuss rescue at haz mat incidents. 11. Explain how the strategic goal of spill control and confinement is achieved. (Continued) Firefighter I

7. Specific Objectives 12. Discuss crime scene management and evidence preservation. 13. Explain actions taken during the recovery and termination phase of a haz mat or terrorist incident. 14. Perform emergency decontamination. (Skill Sheet 23-I-1) (Continued) Firefighter I

8. Specific Objectives 15. Perform defensive control functions – Absorption. (Skill Sheet 23-I-2) 16. Perform defensive control functions – Diking. (Skill Sheet 23-I-3) 17. Perform defensive control functions – Damming. (Skill Sheet 23-I-4) (Continued) Firefighter I

9. Specific Objectives 18. Perform defensive control functions – Diversion. (Skill Sheet 23-I-5) 19. Perform defensive control functions – Retention. (Skill Sheet 23-I-6) (Continued) Firefighter I

10. Specific Objectives 20. Perform defensive control functions – Dilution. (Skill Sheet 23-I-7) 21. Perform defensive control functions – Vapor dispersion. (Skill Sheet 23-I-8) Firefighter I

11. Incident Priorities • Life safety • Incident stabilization • Protection of property Firefighter I

12. Management Structure • Firefighters will initiate/operate within their standard incident command system at haz mat incidents; may be some differences from other incidents • Firefighters must operate in accordance with predetermined procedures (Continued) Firefighter I

13. Management Structure • According to 29 CFR 1910.120, Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response, all organizations that respond to haz mat incidents are required to have an emergency response plan Firefighter I

14. Four Elements of Problem-Solving, Decision-Making Models • Information gathering, input, analysis stage • Processing and/or planning stage • Implementation or output stage • Review or evaluation stage Firefighter I

15. Analyzing the Situation • Size-up • Incident levels Courtesy of Tom Clawson, Technical Resources Group, Inc. Firefighter I

16. Planning Appropriate Response • Strategic goals and tactical objectives • Modes of operation • Incident action plans Firefighter I

17. Implementing the IAP • After strategic goals have been selected and IAP formulate, the IC can implement the plan • Strategic goals are met by achieving tactical objectives • Tactical objectives accomplished or conducted by performing specific tasks Firefighter I

18. Reviewing or Evaluating Progress • Final aspect of problem-solving process • If IAP is effective, IC should receive favorable progress and incident should begin to stabilize (Continued) Firefighter I

19. Reviewing or Evaluating Progress • If mitigation efforts failing or situation getting worse, plan must be reevaluated and possibly revised • Plan must be reevaluated as new information becomes available/circumstances change (Continued) Firefighter I

20. Reviewing or Evaluating Progress • If initial plan not working, must be changed by selecting new strategies or changing tactics used to achieve Firefighter I

21. Isolation and Scene Control • One of primary strategic goals at haz mat incidents; one of most important means by which responders can ensure safety of themselves/others • Separating people from potential source of harm necessary to protect life safety of all (Continued) Firefighter I

22. Isolation and Scene Control • Necessary to prevent spread of hazardous materials through cross contamination • Isolation involves physically securing/maintaining emergency scene by establishing isolation perimeters and denying entry to unauthorized persons Firefighter I

23. Isolation Perimeter • Boundary established to prevent access by public and unauthorized persons • May be established before the type of incident/attack is positively identified (Continued) Firefighter I

24. Isolation Perimeter • If incident is inside a building, isolation perimeter might be set at outside entrance, accomplished by posting personnel to deny entry (Continued) Firefighter I

25. Isolation Perimeter • If incident is outside, perimeter might be set at surrounding intersections with response vehicles/law enforcement officers diverting traffic and pedestrians (Continued) Firefighter I

26. Isolation Perimeter • Isolation perimeter can be expanded/reduced as needed; used to control both access and egress from scene (Continued) Firefighter I

27. Isolation Perimeter • Law enforcement officers are often used to establish and maintain isolation perimeters • Once hazard-control zones are established, isolation perimeter is generally considered to be boundary between public and cold (safe) zone Firefighter I

28. Hazard-Control Zones Firefighter I

29. Additional Zones • Additional areas may be required • Decontamination zone • Area of safe refuge • Staging area • Rehabilitation area • Triage/treatment area Firefighter I

30. Notification Process • Emergency response plans must ensure responders understand their role in notification processes and predetermined procedures (Continued) Firefighter I

31. Notification Process • Notification may be as simple as dialing 9-1-1 (in North America) to report an incident and get additional help dispatched (Continued) Firefighter I

32. Notification Process • Strategic goal of notification may also include such items as incident-level identification and public emergency information/notification (Continued) Firefighter I

33. Notification Process • Better to dispatch more resources than necessary in an initial response to ensure appropriate weight of attack to combat incident conditions Firefighter I

34. Other Agencies • Notification involves contacting law enforcement whenever a terrorist or criminal incident is suspected • Notify other agencies that an incident has occurred (Continued) Firefighter I

35. Other Agencies • Procedures will differ between military and civilian agencies as well as from country to country • Always follow SOPs/OIs and emergency response plans for notification procedures Firefighter I

36. Process for Notification • Because some haz mat incidents and terrorist attacks have potential to overwhelm local responders, it is important to know how to request additional resources (Continued) Firefighter I

37. Process for Notification • Process should be spelled out through local, district, regional, state, national emergency response plans (Continued) Firefighter I

38. Process for Notification • In the U.S., notification process is spelled out in National Response Plan (NRP); all local, state, federal emergency response plans must comply with these provisions (Continued) Firefighter I

39. Process for Notification • Local emergency response plan (LERP) should be first resource a responder in U.S. should turn to if they need to request outside assistance Firefighter I

40. Protection • Overall goal of ensuring safety of responders and public • Includes measures taken to protect property and environment • Accomplished through various tactics Firefighter I

41. Protection of Responders • First priority at any incident • Accountability systems • Buddy systems • Evacuation/escape procedures • Safety Officers Firefighter I

42. Protection of the Public • Includes isolating area and denying entry, conducting rescues, performing mass decontamination, providing emergency medical care/first aid • Evacuation • Sheltering in place • Protecting/defending in place Firefighter I

43. Decontamination Operations • Performed at haz mat incidents to remove hazardous materials from victims, PPE, tools, equipment, anything else that has been contaminated • Done to reduce contamination to a level that is no longer harmful (Continued) Firefighter I

44. Decontamination Operations • Prevent harmful exposures and reduce or eliminate spread of contaminants outside hot zone • Provides victims with psychological reassurance Firefighter I

45. Determining Factors for Type of Decontamination Operation • Size of incident • Type of hazardous materials involved • Weather • Personnel available • Variety of other factors Firefighter I

46. Decontamination Rules • Basic principles • Get it off • Keep it off • Contain it • Other decon rules Firefighter I

47. Emergency Decontamination • Removing contamination on individuals in potentially life-threatening situation with or without formal establishment of decontamination corridor (Continued) Firefighter I

48. Emergency Decontamination • Can consist of anything from removing contaminated clothing to flushing a person with water Firefighter I

49. Emergency Decon — Implementation • Goal • May be necessary for victims and rescuers • Victims may need immediate medical treatment • Several situations in which it may be needed (Continued) Firefighter I

50. Emergency Decon — Implementation • Quick fix • Removal of all contaminants may not occur • Can harm environment • Procedures may differ depending on circumstances/hazards present Firefighter I