Awareness-Level Lesson 1 Presentation
Hazardous Materials forFirst Responders, 3rd Ed.
Awareness Level
1–2
Haz Mat Incidents
•Involve a substance that:
–Poses an unreasonable risk to:
–People
–Environment
–Property
–Has been or may be released from a container
–May be on fire
•Will be more complex than a “routine” incident
Awareness Level
1–3
Other Emergencies
•Do not involve the release of a hazardoussubstance
Awareness Level
1–4
Awareness-LevelTraining Requirements
•Governmental agencies
–OSHA and EPA
–U.S. Department of Justice, Office for DomesticPreparedness (ODP)
•Requirements of authority having jurisdiction(AHJ)
(1 of 2)
Awareness Level
1–5
Awareness-LevelTraining Requirements
•NFPA Standards
–NFPA 472, Standard for Professional Competenceof Responders to Hazardous Materials Incidents
–NFPA 471, Recommended Practice forResponding to Hazardous Materials Incidents
–NFPA 473, Standard for Competencies for EMSPersonnel Responding to Hazardous MaterialsIncidents
(2 of 2)
Awareness Level
1–6
Awareness-LevelResponsibilities
•Recognizing the presence or potentialpresence of a hazardous material
•Recognizing container type and identifyingmaterial
•Transmitting information to appropriateauthority and calling for assistance
•Identifying actions to protect self and others
•Establishing scene control
Awareness Level
1–7
U.S. Agencies RegulatingHazardous Materials
•Department of Transportation (DOT)
–Hazardous materials in all modes of transport
•Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
–States and tribes enforce compliance
•Department of Labor
–OSHA issues legislation regarding worker safety
•Nuclear Regulatory Commission
–Regulates nuclear and radioactive materials
Awareness Level
1–8
Canadian Agencies RegulatingHazardous Materials
•Transport Canada (TC)
•Environment Canada
•Health Canada
•Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
Awareness Level
1–9
Products Most OftenInvolved in Haz Mat Incidents
•Flammable/combustible liquids
•Corrosives
•Anhydrous ammonia
•Chlorine
Awareness Level
1–10
Hazardous Materials States
•Hazardous materials may be:
–Elements
–Compounds
–Mixtures
•May be found in gaseous, liquid, or solid statesor a combination of these states
(1 of 2)
Awareness Level
1–11
Hazardous Materials States
(2 of 2)
Awareness Level
1–12
Hazardous Materials Hazards
•May present a direct threat to health or posephysical hazards
•Hazards range from insignificant to catastrophic
•Exposure may be acute or chronic
•Health effects can be acute or chronic
Awareness Level
1–13
Hazardous Materials Behavior
•Behavior of hazardous material — A material’sphysical state, flammability, boiling point,chemical reactivity, and other properties
–Affect how it behaves
–Determine harm
–Influence effects of hazardous material
Awareness Level
1–14
Potential Ignition Sourcesat Haz Mat Scenes
•Open flames
•Static electricity
•Existing pilot lights
•Electrical sources
•Internal combustionengines
•Heated surfaces
•Cutting and weldingoperations
(1 of 2)
Awareness Level
1–15
Potential Ignition Sourcesat Haz Mat Scenes
•Radiant heat
•Heat caused byfriction or chemicalreactions
•Cigarettes
•Cameras
•Road flares
(2 of 2)
Awareness Level
1–16
Potential Ignition Sources inExplosive Atmospheres
•Opening or closing a switch or electrical circuit
•Turning on a flashlight
•Operating a radio
•Activating a cell phone
Awareness Level
1–17
NFA Categories ofHazardous Materials Hazards
•Thermal
•Radiological
•Asphyxiation
•Chemical
•Etiological
•Mechanical
•Psychological
Awareness Level
1–18
NFPA Categories ofHazardous Materials Hazards
•Thermal
•Mechanical
•Poisonous
•Corrosive
•Asphyxiation
•Radiation
•Etiologic
•Psychological
Awareness Level
1–19
Thermal Hazards —Cold Temperatures
•Cryogenic and liquefied gases
–Freeze burns and cold injuries
•Anhydrous ammonia
–Cold injuries
–Vapors are toxic and may catch fire
Awareness Level
1–20
Thermal Hazards —Elevated Temperatures
•A concern when dealing with materials such asmolten sulphur and molten aluminum
–High temperature materials can igniteflammable/combustible materials
–Thermal burn types include first, second, and thirddegree burns
Awareness Level
1–21
Radiological Hazards
•A concern at facilities such as medical centers,industrial operations, nuclear power plants, andresearch facilities, and terrorist attacks
•Damage cells and can cause noticeable healtheffects
Awareness Level
1–22
Asphyxiation Hazards
•Asphyxiants affect the oxygenation of the bodyand lead to suffocation
–Simple asphyxiants — Gases that displace theoxygen necessary for breathing
–Chemical asphyxiants — Substances that prohibitthe body from using oxygen
Awareness Level
1–23
Chemical Hazards
•Produce a wide range of adverse health effectsdepending on:
–Toxicity of the chemical
–Route of exposure
–Nature and extent of exposure
–Factors that affect the susceptibility of the exposedperson
(1 of 2)
Awareness Level
1–24
Chemical Hazards
•Local toxic effect — A chemical injury at thesite of contact
•Systemic effects — Effects produced when atoxic chemical is absorbed into the bloodstreamand distributed to other parts of the body
(2 of 2)
Awareness Level
1–25
Etiological Hazards
•Exposure to a living microorganism thatcauses, or may cause, human disease thatmay be severe and disabling
Awareness Level
1–26
Mechanical Hazards
•Direct contact with an object
–Can be mild, moderate, or severe
–Striking injuries
–Friction injures
(1 of 2)
Awareness Level
1–27
Mechanical Hazards
BLEVEs and other explosions can cause mechanicaltrauma.
(2 of 2)
Awareness Level
1–28
Psychological Hazards
•Acute stress disorder — Symptoms appearwithin the first 30 days and do not last morethan 4 weeks
•Posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms —Occur 30 days to years after the event
Awareness Level
1–29
Routes of Entry
•Inhalation — Breathing through the nose ormouth
•Ingestion — Through the mouth by meansother than simple inhalation
•Injection — Through a puncture or break in theskin
(1 of 3)
Awareness Level
1–30
Routes of Entry
•Absorption — Through the skin or eyes
•Penetration — Radioactive particles andenergy waves
(2 of 3)
Awareness Level
1–31
Routes of Entry
Chemicals often have multiple routes of entry.
(3 of 3)
Awareness Level
1–32
Summary
•Hazardous materials incidents pose significanthazards to first responders. Awareness-Levelfirst responders must know their primaryresponsibilities and their limitations in dealingwith hazardous materials incidents.
•Hazardous materials are regulated in both theU.S. and Canada by a number of agencies.
(1 of 2)
Awareness Level
1–33
Summary
•Hazardous materials may be classified by theirhazard. The NFA and NFPA have categories ofhazardous materials classifications.
•Hazardous materials pose significant healthhazards that can range from minor to severeand even fatal.
•Hazardous materials can enter the bodythrough a number of routes.
(2 of 2)
Awareness Level
1–34
Homework
•1. Which one of the following statements about hazardousmaterials incidents is true?
•A. Hazardous materials incidents are no more complex than routineincidents.
•B. Governmental agencies are not involved in regulating hazardousmaterials.
•C. They do not require any special training for responders to theincident.
•D. They involve a substance that poses an unreasonable risk to people,the environment and/or property.
•2. Which governmental agency requires responders to hazardousmaterials incidents to meet specific training requirements?
•A. Environmental Protection Agency B. Federal Trade Commission
•C. Bureau of Hazardous Materials D. Consumer Product SafetyCommission
•3. What NFPA standard applies to responders to hazardousmaterials incidents?
•A. NFPA 275 B. NFPA 351 C. NFPA 472 D.NFPA 1100
Awareness Level
1–35
Homework
•4.Which of the following is a primary responsibility ofthe Awareness-Level first responder?
•A. Implementing a plan of action
•B. Beginning offensive actions at the incident
•C. Recognizing the presence or potential presence of ahazardous material
•D. Determining the extent of potential harm from the incident
•5.Which of the following products are most likely to beinvolved in a hazardous materials incident?
•A. Organic solids B. Plastics C. Synthetics
•D. Flammable/combustible liquids
•6.Which of the following factors has the greatest impacton the severity of a hazardous materials incident?
•A. Type and quantity of material involved C. Time of release
•B. Location of the release D. Speed of release
Awareness Level
1–36
Homework
•7.Which of the following would be a potentialignition source at a hazardous materials incident?
•A. Synthetic clothing B. Road flares
•C. Debris D. Foam fire extinguishers
•8.Which of the following would not be a potentialignition source in an explosive atmosphere?
•A. Operating a radio B. Turning on a flashlight
•C. Taking off gloves D. Opening or closing a switch
•9.Which of the following NFA categories refers toharm from exposure to a living microorganism?
•A. Etiological B. Thermal C. Radiological D. Chemical
Awareness Level
1–37
Homework
•10. Which of the following NFA categories refers to harmfrom the result of exposure to the extremes of heat andcold?
•A. Etiological B. Thermal C. Radiological D. Chemical
•11. Which of the following are substances that prohibit thebody from using oxygen?
•A. Simple asphyxiants B. Primary asphyxiants
•C. Chemical asphyxiants D.Organic asphyxiants
•12. Which of the following would be the most likely hazardwhen responding to incidents at medical centers andresearch facilities?
•A. Radiological B. Thermal C. Mechanical D. Psychological
Awareness Level
1–38
Homework
•13. Which of the following does not determine the severityof a chemical hazard?
•A. Toxicity of the chemical B. Route of exposure
•C. Nature and extent of exposure D. Time of day
•14. Which of the following routes of entry refers to theprocess of taking in materials by breathing through thenose or mouth?
•A. Ingestion B. Inhalation C. Absorption D. Penetration
•15. Which of the following refers to damage that occurs as aresult of direct contact with an object?
•A. Radiological B. Thermal
•C. Mechanical D. Psychological
Awareness-Level Lesson 1 Presentation
Hazardous Materials forFirst Responders, 3rd Ed.