Haz Mat/WMD First Responder Operations Law Enforcement Field Support Course

1. Haz Mat/WMDFirst Responder OperationsLaw Enforcement Field Support Course Response Actions for Law Enforcement Personnel

2. Response Actions for Law Enforcement Personnel • Safe Response to Weapons of Mass Destruction & Hazardous Materials Incidents • First Operational Thought – Safety • Safety starts with the • First Responder on-scene • Responders must have a • Positive Safety Attitude

3. Response Actions for Law Enforcement Personnel • Three Techniques to Ensure Safety & • a PositiveSafety Attitude • Safe Approach • Safe Assessment • Safety Guidelines

4. Response Actions for Law Enforcement Personnel • Conduct a safe Assessment • (Size-up) • Do not get close enough for positive identification • Slow vehicle down, shut off air/ventilation & observe • Position vehicles headed away from incident • Use binoculars to assess & identify the incident

5. Response Actions for Law Enforcement Personnel • Ten Key Safety Issues • 1. Be cautions – treat all unknown substances as hazardous until proven otherwise • 2. Approach from a Safe direction – remain up-wind, up-grade & up-stream • 3. Keep safe distance until an Identification & Hazard Assessment (IDHA) is complete & risks confirmed

6. Response Actions for Law Enforcement Personnel • Ten Key Safety Issues (cont’d.) • 4. Isolate the scene & Deny Entry • 5. Do not rush to victims without doing a risk assessment (Risk v. Gain) & without wearing proper chemical protective clothing & equipment • 6. Do not touch, taste or breathe unknown released substance • 7. Do not eat, drink or smoke in incident area

7. Response Actions for Law Enforcement Personnel • Ten Key Safety Issues (cont’d.) • 8. Eliminate all sources of ignition near incident area • 9. Establish & observe safety perimeters & control zones • 10. Do not worry about looking foolish (Your health & the health of other is at stake!)

8. Response Actions for Law Enforcement Personnel • Isolate the WMD/Haz Mat Incident Scene • First Operational Priority – Isolate the Scene & Deny Entry • Responders can safely isolate & deny entry by establishing Perimeters and Control Zones • The Dilemma of Distance – Safety v. Isolation (distance is safety’s #1 ally – isolation’s #1 enemy

9. Response Actions for Law Enforcement Personnel • Perimeters & Zones • Purpose – (1) to ensure safety & isolation, (2) control the scene, (3) limit contamination spread, (4) allow for safe work areas • Main Difference – • FRO’s usually delineate initial isolation perimeter • Tech/Spec’s establish Control (work/safety) Zones

10. Response Actions for Law Enforcement Personnel • Perimeter & Zone Terminology • Perimeter – Outside security line and/or line separating Control Zones • Exclusion (Hot) Zone – Area of isolation, the area surrounding the incident, large enough to prevent adverse effects to personnel outside the zone • Contamination Reduction (Warm) Zone – Area between the Exclusion Zone & Support Zone where decon and EZ support activities take place • Support (Cold) Zone – Safe area where CP, medical aid, & support activities take place

11. Response Actions for Law Enforcement Personnel • Perimeter Control Objectives • Control of all entry & access points • Use natural terrain & structural features to enhance perimeter delineation, security & control • Control the perimeter between access points • Control access within the perimeter (including responders)

12. Response Actions for Law Enforcement Personnel • Perimeter Control Tactics • Determine size & extent of perimeter per ERG • Identify & control all entry points • Identify and establish boundaries for perimeter • Un-staffed barricaded and barrier tape are generally ineffective • Be aware of sources of ignition (vehicles, flares, electronic devices) • Observe and reinforce existing barriers, terrain & structural features

13. Response Actions for Law Enforcement Personnel • Perimeter Control Tactics (cont’d.) • Control access to the perimeter: • Deny entry to all unauthorized personnel • Stage all responders without an immediate deployment mission • Establish emergency exit signals & procedures • Haz Mat Group will establish the Control Zones • Be aware of present and future weather conditions

14. Response Actions for Law Enforcement Personnel • Essential Notifications for WMD/Haz Mat Incidents • Generally three types of Notifications: • Mandatory Notifications • Requests for Specialized Resources and Reinforcements • Reports of Conditions (SITREPS)

15. Response Actions for Law Enforcement Personnel • Mandatory Notifications • Responsible Party – Reportable Quantity • Local Dispatch • CUPA or Local Administering Agency • State Warning Center • National Response Center • Investigative Authority – Criminal Acts – (arson, homicide, terrorism, vandalism, clandestine drugs, improvised explosives, vandalism, environmental crime)

16. Response Actions for Law Enforcement Personnel • Resource Requests • Types of Resources – • Agencies & Personnel (Law, Fire, EMS, Health etc.) • Materials & Equipment (Haz Mat Team, Bomb Squad, SWAT etc.) • Facilities & Support (ICP, EOC, shelters, transportation etc.) • Other (EPA, USCG, CST, DOHS, OSHA, OES etc.)

17. Response Actions for Law Enforcement Personnel • Resource Request Criteria • Size, type and nature of incident v. resources immediately available • Availability of trained personnel • Availability of specialized equipment • Amount, type of & access to supplies & expertise • Commercial sources • Professional authorities

18. Response Actions for Law Enforcement Personnel • Know Your Local Resources • Request WMD/Haz Mat Response resources early • Know your area’s mutual aid system • Stage incoming resources until needed • Provide safe access routes to staging or reporting locations • Your are not alone – contact, coordinate & manage resources properly

19. Response Actions for Law Enforcement Personnel • WMD/Haz Mat Response & Scene Management • Incident Command System (ICS) in California is the required scene management system • ICS is an organized system of roles, responsibilities & SOP’s used to manage & direct operations • CCR 5192(q)(3) requires ICS for Haz Mat events • CFR 1910.120 requires the use of a site-specific ICS • CGC 8607 (SEMS) requires the use of ICS in field emergencies involving two or more agencies

20. Response Actions for Law Enforcement Personnel • ICS General Premise & Basic Principles • Customized Organization & • Management Tool – • Incident Operating Procedures • Common Terminology • Structural Organization

21. Response Actions for Law Enforcement Personnel • So Who’s In-Charge at WMD/Haz Mat Incidents? • WMD/Haz Mat incidents require establishing Command early (more like immediately) • Can be a Single Command with many deputies • Can be a Unified Command with many agencies or jurisdictions • The first arriving FRO – • Assumes temporary command • Establishes a temporary command post • Manages the incident until relieved

22. Response Actions for Law Enforcement Personnel • ICS Organization • Critical components: • Unified organization • Clear functional elements • Flexibility & expandability • Unity of command (w/ chain of command) • Manageable span of control • Effective communications & coordination

23. Response Actions for Law Enforcement Personnel • Major ICS Sections & Functions • Command (overall management) • Operations Section (manages tactical operations • Planning/Intelligence Section (does incident action planning) • Logistic Section (procures incident resource needs) • Finance/Administration Section (manages incident financial aspects)

24. Response Actions for Law Enforcement Personnel • Know Where You Fit in the Organization • Assisting Agency – contributes service resources to another agency (Law Enforcement Task Force) • Isolate the incident area • Manage crowd control • Manage traffic control • Manage public protective action • Provide scene management for on-highway incidents • Manage criminal investigations

25. Response Actions for Law Enforcement Personnel

26. Response Actions for Law Enforcement Personnel

27. Response Actions for Law Enforcement Personnel • Protective Actions • Two Key Protective Actions • Evacuation • In-Place Protection • (Shelter-in-Place)

28. Response Actions for Law Enforcement Personnel • Evacuation • Purpose – Remove people from threatened area of hazard to safe area of refuge • Evacuation may be the preferred protective action • But it can be logistically and operationally difficult to execute

29. Response Actions for Law Enforcement Personnel • In-Place Protection (Shelter-in-Place) • Purpose – Keep threatened people inside a protective environment • Sometimes it is the only practical protective action

30. Response Actions for Law Enforcement Personnel • Protective Action Considerations • Materials involved • Population threatened • Responder resources & capabilities • Time factors involved • Current & predicted weather • Ability to communicate with public

31. Response Actions for Law Enforcement Personnel • Protective Action Issues • Coordination with all involved agencies • Clear & concise evacuation message • Traffic control measures specified and in-place • Shelters designated to care for evacuees • Management Problems • Planning Resources • Organizing Resisters • Coordinating Re-entry

32. Response Actions for Law Enforcement Personnel • Special Populations & Protective Actions • Hospitals, high rise building, institutions – • evacuation may not be practical • Issues to address – • Pre-planning • Effective communication with institution • Expect problems • Feeding and securing the population • Shift changes for staff • Shortage of needed supplies • Transportation of residents/patients/inmates

33. Response Actions for Law Enforcement Personnel • Block Summary • Questions • Closing Remarks