Contents >> 4.0 HAZARD MATERIALS INCIDENT CLEARANCE COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS Show
4.0 HAZARD MATERIALS INCIDENT CLEARANCE COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTSIn addition to being able to recognize the types of hazardous materials that might be at the incident site, the responders must be aware of the pertinent regulations covering the handling and disposal of the identified materials. Because of the potential harmful nature of these materials, safety regulations are in place to ensure that only those that do so are properly trained in the handling and disposal requirements of the hazardous substances. These regulations:
Safety RegulationsFirst and foremost, safety regulations put in place to protect the responders are vital to safely mitigating a hazardous material spill. Employees responding to a hazardous material spill must comply with the
HAZWOPER RequirementsThe HAZWOPER Standard applies to five distinct employer groups and their employees. Transportation department employees are included in these groups since their job duties associated with incidents may fit within one of the following categories:14, 15
HAZWOPER Training RequirementsThe training requirements for hazardous materials response are mandated by law. Response personnel at the scene of a traffic incident must have HAZWOPER training which fits their role and responsibilities. In general, most responders fall into the awareness level or operations level categories. However, some firemen, DOT personnel, and police officers should be trained as hazardous materials technicians for quick intervention of vehicular or small cargo spills. Table 5. Training Requirements for Hazardous Materials Response Personnel
All employees trained in accordance with the Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response standards must “receive annual refresher training of sufficient content and duration to maintain their competencies, or shall demonstrate competency in those areas at least yearly. 14 Medical Surveillance RequirementThe medical surveillance requirement for hazardous materials workers is mandated by law. Personnel involved in hazardous materials operations should participate in a medical surveillance program as stipulated in the HAZWOPER regulations. Members of an organized and designated hazardous materials (HAZMAT) team and the hazardous materials specialists are required to receive a baseline physical examination and be provided with medical surveillance. In addition, any emergency response employees who exhibit signs or symptoms, which may have resulted from exposure to hazardous substances during the course of an emergency incident, either immediately or subsequently after, shall be provided with medical consultation.14 Respiratory Protection RequirementsRespirators may be necessary to protect workers against inhalation hazards, such as dusts, fumes, and vapors. Respirators are categorized into two basic types, air-supplied and air-purifying. Air-supplied respirators provide breathing air from a source other than the surrounding atmosphere. Air-purifying respirators remove contaminants from the ambient air through the use of filters or cartridges. The respiratory protection requirement for the use of respirators is not only mandated by law, it is a necessity due to the hazardous nature of the work and the likelihood for improper use. Factors, such as facial hair, weight loss/gain, and dental care, can each have a major impact on proper fit. Therefore, it’s important for personnel involved in hazardous materials operations to participate in a respirator protection program based on requirements as stipulated in the HAZWOPER regulations.14 National Tow Truck Driver CertificationTowing & Recovery Association of America (TRAA) represents the towing and recovery industry on a national level. This group has recognized that the tow truck driver can also be a valuable contributor to the safe, quick clearance of an incident. With proper training and certification, they can provide help with the clean-up and handling of typical vehicle fluids at an incident. Because they are often the first at the scene, this assistance serves to reduce the clean-up time and allows for lanes to be opened in a more timely fashion. Through a grant from the DOT, TRAA established national standards for tow truck operators and developed the National Driver Certification Program. This program is based upon light, medium, and heavy duty towing and recovery, and covers the following areas:
When assisting with traffic incident clean-up involving a hazardous material, the type of requirements for tow truck drivers will depend on the type of incident, the severity of the spill, and the location of the spill relative to the damaged vehicles. More information on the levels and curriculum topics, including handling of hazardous material, is available on the TRAA Web site at http://www.towserver.net/certification.htm.19 The applicable levels for TRAA tow truck driver certification when dealing with hazardous materials are: Level 1: For most vehicular spills (car wreck) with only minor amounts of hazardous material spilled, Level I (Light Duty) requirements should be sufficient, provided that tow truck operators are not coming in contact with the spilled material. Level II: For vehicular spills (medium-heavy duty truck wreck) with moderate amounts of hazardous material spilled (partial saddle tank emptied), Level II (Medium Duty) requirements should be sufficient, provided that tow truck operators minimize their time near the spilled material. Level III: For large vehicular spills (tanker spill, blood-borne pathogens, etc.), Level III (Heavy Duty) requirements will be necessary to ensure tow truck driver safety. Response Management and Clean-up RegulationsThe regulations dealing with response management, including handling, reporting, and mitigation procedures of hazardous spills, are founded in a number of federal statues rather than just one source. It is important, especially for responders in charge, to know the origin of the various requirements, including the mandated reporting procedures and ensure the proper implementation. In the U.S., the response to an incident is regulated under many statues and many government agencies. It is important for responders to at least understand the basis of these regulations because they dictate everything, from how they manage a spill to the disposal of the spilt material. These regulations stipulate who should be notified and when it is not necessary, as well as what resources or assistance are available to local and state entities if the containment of a spill is beyond their capabilities. Therefore, some of the major federal laws that responders should have knowledge of are listed in Table 6. Responders should be aware of any local and state regulations that also apply to hazardous materials handling, reporting, and disposal in their jurisdictions. Table 6. Major Federal Hazardous Materials Incident Regulations
Sizing-up a SpillOnce a spill occurs along a roadway, it’s important for response personnel to identify the hazardous substance and prevent the spill from spreading. Initial response personnel should only attempt to determine the extent of the release by gathering and analyzing information. This is called a size-up strategy, and is a non-invasive attempt to get a general picture or impression of the nature and severity of the event In general, responders should use a size-up strategy to obtain and evaluate the following information:
A number of methods can be used to collect information for a size-up strategy. For the most part, responders should use visual observations to assist in detecting the presence or release of hazardous chemicals. Visual methods that may be utilized include the following:
At other times, it may be necessary for first responders to utilize quantitative methods (monitoring, sampling, hazard characterization, etc.) to assist in detecting the presence or release of hazardous chemicals. Quantitative methods that are cost-effective and may be utilized at a traffic incident include the following:
Containment and ConfinementUpon identifying an incidental hazardous substance release, first responders may perform limited clean-up activities provided that the mitigation follows a standard operating procedure and the responder has received adequate training (See previous section on training requirements). Incidental releases should not have the potential for safety or health hazards, such as fire, explosion, or chemical exposures in excess of an OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL), or exceed the immediately dangerous to life and health level. For first responders to a small spill, limited clean-up activities may entail basic containment and confinement techniques. Spill containment involves methods used to restrict the material to its original container (e.g. plugging, patching, overpacking, etc.). Spill confinement involves methods to limit the physical size of the area of the release (e.g. mist knockdown/vapor suppression, diversion, diking, booming, absorbing, fencing, and damming). Both methods can be very effective at controlling a hazardous release, if used appropriately. However, response personnel should not utilize either method without appropriate protection and regard for safety. For small vehicular spills that occur along a roadway, one of the easiest ways to control a spill is the use of granular absorbents, oil absorbent pads, or universal absorbent pads for non-petroleum products. These items are readily available and very effective for remediation of small spills. However, response personnel should understand the properties associated with each, standard operating procedures for utilizing them, and the correct collection and storage methods for contaminated absorbents. Disposal GuidelinesOnce hazardous materials are spilled, the material becomes contaminated and should be either recycled or disposed of properly. Typically, first responders to a traffic incident do not possess the appropriate licenses to perform transportation and disposal of hazardous waste. Professional licensed firms should be contracted to perform this task following the regulations established under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.16 First responders can improve the disposal process by mitigating the spill following a standard operating procedure (SOP). The SOP should account for how to:
More importantly, the SOP should provide first responders with guidance on how to minimize roadway congestion by conducting hazard recognition to determine the hazards presented to the general public. What is the recommended minimum number of personnel needed to manage a hazardous materials incident safely quizlet?What is the recommended minimum number of personnel needed to manage a hazardous materials incident safely? Eight. The five phases of a hazardous material's life does not include production, transportation, storage, elimination, and disposal.
What is the 5 step hazmat process?Steps to mitigate a hazmat incident
Identify the problem. Information management and resource coordination. Hazard assessment and risk evaluation. Select protective clothing and equipment.
What is required for all first responders who have been exposed or potentially exposed to hazardous materials?evidentiary issues. What is required for all first responders who have been exposed or potentially exposed to hazardous materials? The chronology of events, activities that occurred during an incident, and decon procedures must be documented in the: activity log.
What are the priorities for all hazardous materials incidents?These priorities include life safety, hazard control, and protecting the environment. Life safety at a hazmat incident begins with a safe assessment of the situation.
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