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HAZWOPER: First Responder. Awareness Level. Session Objectives. You will be able to: Understand your role as a first responder Identify hazardous substances and risks Recognize a hazardous release or spill and potential outcomes Report the spill or release and call for additional resources
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HAZWOPER:First Responder Awareness Level
Session Objectives You will be able to: • Understand your role as a first responder • Identify hazardous substances and risks • Recognize a hazardous release or spill and potential outcomes • Report the spill or release and call for additional resources • Protect yourself and others • Secure the area
Real Chemical Spills and Releases • Ammonia Evacuates Industrial Site • Acid Spill Sends Workers to Hospital • Fuel Spill Contaminates River • Natural Gas Pipeline Ruptures
What Is “HAZWOPER”? • HAZWOPER stands forHazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response • Emergency response rules cover any facility that stores, handles, and uses hazardous chemicals • Defines emergency response procedures
Five Levels of Emergency Response • First Responder Awareness Level • First Responder Operations Level • Hazardous Materials Technician • Hazardous Materials Specialist • Incident Commander
DEFENSIVE ACTIONS ONLY Recognize a chemical release Determine chemical’s identity Protect yourself and others Call for help Secure the area Awareness Level: Your Role
HAZWOPER—Any Questions? • Any questions about HAZWOPER? • Any questions about your role at the First Responder Awareness Level?
Hazardous Substances at Your Workplace • [Name of the hazardous substance] • Physical hazards • Routes of entry • Health effects of exposure • Environmental hazards • Location of potential spill
Recognizing Chemical Substances • Danger, caution, or warning signs • NFPA or HMIS labels • DOT hazard placards
Learn About Chemicals • Flammable or explosive • Reactive • Corrosive • Toxic
Hazardous Chemicals— Any Questions? • Any questions about the hazardous chemicals at our facility?
Recognizing a Significant Chemical Release • Dripping or pool of liquid • Unusual smell • Unusual sound • Loss of pressure or flow
Recognize a Smaller Spill Or Release • Even a small spill can be dangerous • Fires, explosions, and contamination can result • Only trained workers should clean up spills • Everyone must understand potential spill hazards and their role in an emergency
Identify the Chemical From a safe distance: • Find out where the chemical is coming from • Look for labels, signs, and placards • Determine if it is liquid, gas, or solid • Determine its color • Identify any odors
Evaluate Site Conditions • Vapor clouds • Smoke • Injured persons • Surrounding populations • Dispersion pathways • Environmental damage
Nonhazardous Spills • Incidental or small spills • Handled by the employees in immediate area • Get help if you are unsure
Dangers of a Release • Flammable liquids or gases • Toxic cloud • Reaction with nearby chemicals • Irritants • Mild hazards or non-hazardous
How Chemicals Harm You • Skin or eye contact • Inhalation • Swallowing • Avoid contact and evacuate immediately Image Credit: Missouri HHW Project
Response to a Release or Spill—Any Questions? • Any questions about how to recognize a spill or release? • Any questions about how to identify a chemical during an emergency? • Any questions about evaluating site conditions?
Report the Spill • After identifying a spill and evacuating the area: • Contact the emergency response team • Request additional resources if necessary • Ask for instructions
Report Information • Chemical names and hazard information • Locations of release • Quantities of released chemical(s) • Site conditions • Evacuation and victims
Protect Yourself and Others • Report the release to others in the immediate area • Signal an alarm • Retreat to a safe distance, shelter-in-place, or evacuation assembly area
Secure the Area • Keep people a safe distance from the spill • Use caution tape, rope, or cones • Guard the spill scene until trained responders arrive
Emergency Response Plan • Preemergency planning and training • Spill recognition • Evacuation procedures • Emergency response and reporting • PPE and emergency equipment • Decontamination and medical treatment
Other Response Personnel • Analyze the incident • Use proper PPE and equipment • Contain and stop the spill • Clean up the spill • Decontaminate • Report the incident
Reporting, Protecting, and Securing—Any Questions • Any questions about how to report a spill? • Any questions about how to protect yourself and others after a spill? • Any questions on how to secure the site after a spill?
Key Points to Remember • HAZWOPER applies to facilities storing or using hazardous chemicals • Awareness Level—defensive only • Recognize chemicals and identify spills or releases • Evacuate the spill area • Notify spill response team • Secure the area