Hazardous Materials and Weapons of Mass Destruction

1. Hazardous Materials and Weapons of Mass Destruction Suggested Operating Guidelines for Snohomish County

2. HazMat incidents are unique event for emergency responders • They are dangerous to: • The Responders • The Public • The Environment (where your food, air and water come from)

3. If proper measures aren’t taken… • It may be very costly • Legal liabilities • Environmental Damage • Injury & Death

4. Who’s in Command? • RCW 70.136.030 • The governing body of each applicable political subdivision of this state shall designate a hazardous materials incident command agency within its respective boundaries…(usually) • The Local Fire Department… • If a political subdivision has not designated an incident command agency… the Washington state patrol shall then assume the role of incident command agency … until a designation has been made. • Otherwise WSP

5. National Incident Management System (NIMS) will be used The Snohomish County HazMat Team will use the Incident Command Protocols adopted by Sno County Fire Chiefs.

6. Hazardous Materials Suggested Operating Guidelines • Created to manage contingencies that occur at an incident. • Guidelines allow the IC to adopt procedures necessary to mitigate the incident. • Provided such modifications aren’t contrary to accepted HazMat Response practices

7. Hazardous Materials • Materials which, if not contained may cause unacceptable risks to human life within a specified area adjacent to the spill, seepage, fire, explosion, or other release, and will, consequently, require evacuation.

8. Hazardous Materials… • Materials that, if spilled, could cause unusual risks to the general public and to emergency response personnel responding at the scene

9. Hazardous Materials… • Materials that, if involved in a fire will pose unusual risks to emergency response personnel

10. Hazardous Materials… • Materials requiring unusual storage or transportation conditions to assure safe containment

11. Hazardous Materials… • Materials requiring unusual treatment, packaging, or vehicles during transportation to assure safe containment

12. ICS will be used at all incidents

13. Command Post will try to be located uphill, upwind and at a safe distance • It used to be the rule of thumb • But use the HazMat rule of the powdered donut… • The scene should fit inside the hole of a donut … • And if you taste sugar, you’re on the wrong side.

14. Initial Precautions • Full PPE before response • Short report from dispatch • Enroute note wind direction and speed • Approach from uphill/upwind if possible • Stop apparatus at a safe distance • SCBA in stand-by mode • Calibrate air monitors

15. Size Up • From Far to Near • C- Container • O - Occupancy / Location • M - Markings / Colors • P - Placards / Labels • A – Appearance • S - Shipping Papers / Materials Data Sheet (MSDS) • S – Senses

16. Container • Low/No Pressure containers • High Pressure Container • Bulk solid • Liquid

17. Occupancy or Location • Occupancy is the structure and its use • Manufacturing; Storage; Industrial • Location is a more general term • Responding to commercial area vs residential area • Transportation corridors

18. Markings or Color • By convention but not always followed

19. Placards or Labels • Placards are found on transportation • Req’d when you have 1000lbs of HazMat • Always when you have Explosive, Radioactive, Poisonous Gases or Dangerous When Wet • Consult your ERG • Labels are found on containers

20. Appearances • What does it look like? • Vapor or Gas? • Liquid • Solid

21. Shipping Papers/Manifests/Consists/MSDS

22. Senses • Usually the most harmful, and most used detection equipment…

23. Notify and Report on Hazardous Material • Establish IC

24. Isolate and Deny Entry • Cones • Tape • Stage incoming units at intersections • Law Enforcement

25. Assess Potential for Harm

26. What do you have? How much is there? 1000L Bulk Container… 20000L Intermodal Container

27. Where is it going?Geography or population at risk? • High consequence areas- • Areas pre-designated as having a greater risk should a release occur. • Schools • Hospitals • Sensitive Infrastructure • This a federally mandated requirement for pipeline operators. • So they’ve preplanned them along their pipes.

28. How’s the weather?

29. Fire or fire potential?

30. Other factors? (WMD)

31. ERG and NIOSH guide

32. What resources do you need?

33. Establish an Isolation Zone • Use the ERG for initial isolation distances • When establishing the initial zone, consider geographic specific items • EG-highways, railroads, waterways, etc.

34. Hot, Warm or Cold zones shall be established by the HazMat Team • Exclusion Zones are no-go sites anywhere • Holes in floor, booby traps, etc. • These are hazards to ALL responders

35. Defensive Tactics • If you are not sure about your PPE and its protection…DO NOT COMMIT personnel. • Remain at a safe distance. • Isolate and deny entry • Rescue should only be attempted without endangering personnel

36. Rescue • Is the victim viable? • Use the buddy system • Your PPE will provide some protection (consult the ERG) • Stand-By team in place • Emergency Decon in place (all victims and rescuers are considered contaminated) • Use Meter Cockpit when you go in…

37. Meter Cockpit • Just like a fighter pilot, your instruments see things you can’t • pH & F paper on SCBA • 4-gas Monitor (O2, CO, H2S, LEL) • Radiation detector (if you have one)

38. Action Levels • These are stop signs to re-evaluate the mission • 10% LEL • 50 ppm on PID • 10 ppm H2S • <19.5 or >23.5 O2 • 35 ppm CO • 2x background Radiation • Any change to pH or F paper, is absolute stop. • Bunker gear won’t help you.

39. Confinement • Slow the spread of the HazMat; protect sensitive geography

44. Cover Solids with tarps

45. Plugging Fuel Tanks • Some engine companies have trained in plugging gasoline or diesel fuel tanks. • Do this only after the following • You have received the proper training • You have the proper PPE • Ignition sources are removed • Defensive action to limit vapors • Avoid contamination of turnouts • Lay a plastic bag down, wear chemical protective gloves, and wear Tyvek suits over bunker gear. • A charged hose line is in place • A Dry Chem extinguisher is manned • You follow the manufacturer’s suggested preparation and procedure for plugging

46. Never assume responsibility for clean-up/Disposal • It’s like an ugly puppy • Don’t take it home, it’ll be yours forever

47. Fire • Sometimes you just gotta let it burn… • It’s safer • Run Off is hazardous waste • Some poisons and pesticides break down faster in fire • Flammable gases that burn don’t accumulate and explode, when burning • Some products react with water, making the fire worse

48. Unless it’s impinging on a pressure container • Then you need to make a decision based on calculated risk • But make sure you’ve got enough water.

49. Pipeline Procedure • We’ve got two major pipelines that run through Sno County

50. BP Olympic is the Flammable Liquid pipeline • There are two pipelines buried side-by-side running N-S through county (line goes from Sumas to Sea-Tac airport) • One 16” and one 20” • They operate at ~1400psi and move fuel along at 3-5 mph • During operation, there is 51,000 gallons/mile in the 16 and 82,000 gals/mile in the 20” • Carries Gas (60%); Jet A; Diesel • Op Center is in Renton • 888-271-8880