STEP 1: Site Management & Control
Determine a safe approach to go in and take charge of the impacted site. Evacuate any remaining persons and cordon off the perimeter of the hazard zone. Create a secure staging area for rescuers and other responders who have been alerted to the situation.
STEP 2: Identifying the Problem
Understand what materials are onsite and look for any breaches to containment. Determine where the hazard is emanating from and if it can be controlled. Predict what could occur next based on the nature of the materials, their location, and proximity to workers or the general public.
STEP 3: Hazard & Risk Evaluation
Evaluate the ongoing risk of the spill or leakage including the potential for fire or explosion. Assess any physical symptoms being experienced by individuals who were at the location when the hazard first emerged. This can tell you a lot about the material involved. For example, headaches could be evidence of carbon monoxide. Coupled with a sweet odor, the culprit could be benzene or hydrocarbons. Burning eyes and throat indicate acids of some kind, while a euphoric feeling can point to ketones.
STEP 4: Protective Clothing & Equipment
Closer investigation of any hazardous materials breach requires the use of proper protective gear and equipment. This can include everything from a positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus to a full coverage HAZMAT suit. Monitoring equipment should also be deployed to gauge air quality, radioactivity levels and other environmental quality measures. Thermal imaging cameras and infrared thermometers can also be helpful in scanning a larger area for contaminants.
STEP 5: Information Management & Resource Coordination
Information sharing is critical, both within the organization and with external sources including news media. All available resources should also be mobilized to help keep the hazard area protected from entry by outside parties. Depending on the type of hazard, this area could span up to a 1/3-mile radius. Meanwhile, response teams will need to be directed to the site and given all available information to take the proper actions.
STEP 6: Implementing Response Objectives
Continue to evolve your plan of action based on the knowledge you have gained to this point, and the type of resources available to you. Implement your plan in accordance with local emergency response plans and standard operating procedures for your workplace. Ensure that all measures are being taken to ensure safety while also getting the hazardous materials under control.
STEP 7: Decontamination
The speed and intensity of your decontamination efforts will depend on the severity of the situation. If the hazard is not life threatening, you can take the time to set up a formal decon station. If, however, lives are in peril, do not wait to begin decon efforts. Cut any clothing away from the affected persons and hose them down immediately, doing your best to contain hazardous run-off from the water.
STEP 8: Terminating the Incident
This final step has four components: (1) Incident Debriefing to be conducted immediately after the emergency has passed, before responders leave the scene; (2) Post-Incident Analysis which provides a formal review of the event; (3) Incident Critique which evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of the overall response; and (4) Reporting and Documentation.
The 4 W’s of a Hazardous Materials Incident Response
Hazardous materials are substances, materials and waste that are dangerous if leaked or misused. These include volatile and toxic chemicals, combustible liquids, radioactive materials, oil, explosives and disposed medical waste. Due to their harmful nature, occupational safety specialists and engineers handle hazardous materials with the utmost care and concern. Unfortunately, accidents happen, so workers must be trained to handle these problems should they arise. A hazardous materials incident occurs when caustic materials escape their containers and pose an immediate threat to the surrounding people and environment. Incidents can happen on a large scale and must be contained quickly before permanent damage can occur. Hazardous materials response (HAZMAT) teams are the first line of defense. These teams are professionally trained and certified to decontaminate areas exposed to dangerous materials. One of the most important aspects of the response process is the initial assessment. Before decontamination can begin, there are at least four questions that should be asked to ensure a successful incident response.
Who?
HAZMAT teams may consist of firefighters, but not all firefighters are qualified to be on the HAZMAT team. Extensive training and certification are required to be a part of a HAZMAT team. Conversely, members don’t have to be associated with a fire department or work in the public sector. Companies that work with hazardous materials may hire a private HAZMAT company or have their own department dedicated to handling any incidents. Whether private or public, hazardous material incidents call for quick and thoughtful decontamination.
When?
Although a quick response is optimal, it needs to have direction and focus. When it comes to hazardous materials, safety and awareness always come first. These materials can spread rapidly and can be potentially life-threatening to anyone or anything that they come in direct contact with. Because of the high risk, the HAZMAT team needs to know the specifics and appreciate the scope of potential damage before proceeding. Only once a decontamination operation is established and all available information is gained can a HAZMAT team get started. Decontamination involves first neutralizing the hazardous material and then properly disposing of it. If the HAZMAT team does not understand the full situation, they might exacerbate the incident by implementing an inappropriate plan. Action needs to be rapid, but can’t take place until the incident is understood.
Where?
To protect people and decontaminate properly, control zones and decontamination (decon) lines need to be established. Three control zones should radiate outward from the incident to ensure absolute safety to the public and that stop contaminates from spread further. The nearest zone is known as the “hot zone” or the “exclusion zone”. It should surround the immediate area of the incident and access should be limited. It’s essentially ground zero and is the most dangerous area. The second zone is known as the “warm zone” or the “contamination reduction zone,” and this is where the HAZMAT operation sets up to decontaminate the hot zone and protect the third zone from contamination. The third, furthest zone is known as the “cold zone” or the “support zone”. Its purpose is to support the HAZMAT operation from a contamination-free area.
It acts as the last buffer between the outside environment and the environment. The decon line is an established, secure perimeter that monitors those coming and going from the incident. It’s the last line of defense against further contamination. It needs to be far from the hazard but close enough that victims may be decontaminated and cross over quickly to seek additional medical attention. Hazardous materials can have far-reaching effects that must be contained. Zones and lines help safety professionals maintain external and internal protection.
What?
As previously stated, safety and awareness are paramount when handling hazardous materials. The equipment and procedure used will depend on the incident. Variables such as the type of hazardous material, size, number of people exposed and damage range will determine the best plan of action. Personal protective equipment (PPE) has multiple levels that range from basic protection needs to body suits that fully encapsulate the wearer. Breathing apparatus is a direct aspect of PPE and not a separate aspect of gear.
Often, used PPE is bagged and incinerated along with the hazardous waste as an additional precaution. Hazardous waste disposal can be a delicate challenge. Water, bags, equipment, tarps, tools and pumps that are used to contain or dispose waste must be destroyed or containerized as well.
Within the hazardous waste incident emergency plan a list of those who can assist in disposal will be included. Specifically, used water must be treated or it may contaminate more water and lead to a wider spread.
Become a HAZMAT Team Member
Interested in disposing of volatile and caustic chemicals to prevent mass contamination? You can start with an occupational safety or emergency management degree. Similar to a SWAT team, they are the elite and require experience, training, and certification beyond the basics.
A career path such as a firefighter or occupational safety specialist can put you on the path to decontamination and hazardous waste disposal.
