1. Operational Level Lesson 1 Presentation
Hazardous Materials for First Responders, 3rd Ed.

2. Operational-Level Training Requirements
Awareness-Level competencies of NFPA 472
Operational-Level competencies of NFPA 472
Additional training as required by DOT, EPA, and OSHA requirements
Local and state/provincial occupational health and safety requirements
Operational Level

3. Primary Responsibilities
Identifying the hazardous material(s) involved in an incident if possible
Analyzing an incident to determine the nature and extent of the problem
Protecting first responders, nearby persons, the environment, and property from the effects of a release
(1 of 2)
Operational Level

4. Primary Responsibilities
Developing a defensive plan of action to address the problems presented by the incident
Implementing the planned response to control a release from a safe distance and keep it from spreading
Evaluating the progress of the actions taken to ensure that response objectives are safely met
(2 of 2)
Operational Level

5. Emergency Response Centers
Look in the current Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG) to find phone numbers
Operational Level

6. Information to be Furnished to an Emergency Response Center
Your name, callback phone number, and FAX number
Location and nature of problem (spill, fire, etc.)
Name and identification number of material(s) involved
Shipper/consignee/point of origin
Carrier name, railcar, or truck number
(1 of 2)
Operational Level

7. Information to be Furnished to an Emergency Response Center
Container type and size
Quantity of material transported/released
Local conditions (weather, terrain, proximity to schools, hospitals, waterways, etc.)
Injuries and exposures
Local emergency services that have been notified
(2 of 2)
Operational Level

8. Assistance Provided by Emergency Response Centers
Confirming that a chemical emergency exists
Recording details in writing and on tape
Providing immediate technical assistance to the caller
Contacting the shipper of the material or other experts
Providing the shipper/manufacturer with the caller’s name and callback number so that the shipper/manufacturer can deal directly with the party involved
Operational Level

9. Properties of Hazardous Materials
Solid — Substance that has both a specific shape (without a container) and volume
Liquid — Fluid that has no independent shape but has a specific volume; flows according to laws of gravity
Gas — Fluid that has neither independent shape nor volume and tends to expand indefinitely
(1 of 13)
Operational Level

10. Properties of Hazardous Materials
Operational Level

11. Properties of Hazardous Materials
Flash point — Minimum temperature at which a liquid or volatile solid gives off sufficient vapors to form an ignitable mixture with air near its surface
Fire point — Temperature at which enough vapors are given off to support continuous burning
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Operational Level

12. Properties of Hazardous Materials
Autoignition temperature/point — Minimum temperature at which the fuel in air must be heated to initiate self-sustained combustion without initiation from an independent ignition source
Flammable, explosive, or combustible range — The percentage of the gas or vapor concentration in air that will burn or explode if ignited
(4 of 13)
Operational Level

13. Properties of Hazardous Materials
LEL/LFL (Lower explosive limit/Lower flammable limit) — The lowest concentration that will produce a flash of fire when an ignition source is present
UEL/UFL (Upper explosive limit/Upper flammable limit) — The highest concentration that will produce a flash of fire when an ignition source is present
(5 of 13)
Operational Level

14. Properties of Hazardous Materials
Vapor pressure — Pressure exerted by a saturated vapor above its own liquid in a closed container
Expressed in psi, kPa, mmHg, or atm
The higher a substance’s temperature, the higher the vapor pressure
Vapor pressures reported on MSDSs are usually very low
The lower a substance’s boiling point, the higher its vapor pressure
(6 of 13)
Operational Level

15. Properties of Hazardous Materials
Atmospheric pressure — Force exerted by weight of the atmosphere at the earth’s surface
Boiling point — Temperature at which the vapor pressure of a liquid is equal to or greater than atmospheric pressure
Expressed in degrees Fahrenheit or Celsius at sea level air pressure
(7 of 13)
Operational Level

16. Properties of Hazardous Materials
BLEVE (Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion) — Occurs when a liquid within a container is heated, causing the material inside to boil or vaporize beyond the vessel’s ability to relieve the excess pressure
Melting point — Temperature at which a solid substance changes to a liquid state at normal atmospheric pressure
(8 of 13)
Operational Level

17. Properties of Hazardous Materials
Freezing point — The temperature at which a liquid becomes a solid at normal atmospheric pressure
Sublime — To change directly from a solid into a gas without going into a liquid state in between
Vapor density — Weight of a given volume of pure vapor or gas compared to the weight of an equal volume of dry air at the same temperature and volume
(9 of 13)
Operational Level

18. Properties of Hazardous Materials
Solubility — The percentage of a material (by weight) that will dissolve in water at ambient temperature
Non-water-soluble liquids remain separate when combined with water; water-soluble liquids mix easily when combined with water.
Water-soluble agents usually cause upper respiratory tract infection, quickly resulting in coughing and throat irritation.
Partially water-soluble agents penetrate into the lower respiratory systems causing delayed symptoms that include breathing difficulties, pulmonary edema, and coughing up blood.
(10 of 13)
Operational Level

19. Properties of Hazardous Materials
Miscibility/immiscibility — The degree or readiness with which two or more gases or liquids are able to mix with or dissolve into each other
Miscible — Liquids that dissolve into each other
Immiscible — Liquids that do not readily dissolve into each other
Specific gravity — Ratio of the density (heaviness) of a material to the density of some standard material at standard conditions of pressure and temperature
(11 of 13)
Operational Level

20. Properties of Hazardous Materials
Reactivity — A substance’s relative ability to undergo a chemical reaction with another material
Substances referred to as “reactive” commonly react violently with air, water, heat, light, each other, or other materials
(12 of 13)
Operational Level

21. Reactivity Triangle
The reactivity triangle explains the basic components of many chemical reactions.
Oxidizing agent (oxygen)
Reducing agent (fuel)
Activation energy source (often heat)
Operational Level

22. Properties of Hazardous Materials
Polymerization — Chemical reaction in which a catalyst causes simple molecules to combine to form long chain molecules
Inhibitors — Materials that are added to products that easily polymerize in order to control or prevent an undesired reaction
(13 of 13)
Operational Level

23. NFA Categories of Hazardous Materials Hazards
Thermal
Radiological
Asphyxiation
Chemical
Etiological
Mechanical
Psychological
Operational Level

24. Types of Radiation Alpha particles Beta particles Gamma rays X-rays
Neutrons
Operational Level

25. Alpha Particles
Are positively charged particles that lose energy rapidly in matter and do not penetrate very far
Are commonly emitted in the radioactive decay of the heaviest radioactive elements such as uranium and radium as well as by some manmade elements
Are usually completely absorbed by dead outer layer of human skin and so are not a hazard outside the body
(1 of 2)
Operational Level

26. Alpha Particles
Can be very harmful if the material emitting the alpha particles are ingested or inhaled
Can be stopped completely by a sheet of paper
(2 of 2)
Operational Level

27. Beta Particles
Are fast-moving positively or negatively charged electrons
Are emitted from manmade and natural sources such as tritium, carbon-14, and strontium-90
Are more penetrating but less damaging than alpha particles over equally traveled distances
(1 of 2)
Operational Level

28. Beta Particles
Are capable of penetrating the skin and causing radiation damage, but are more hazardous when inhaled or ingested
Can be reduced or stopped by a layer of clothing or a few millimeters of a substance such as aluminum
(2 of 2)
Operational Level

29. Gamma Rays Are high-energy photons
Often accompany alpha or beta particle emissions
Have no charge but are very penetrating, easily passing through the human body and being absorbed by tissue
(1 of 2)
Operational Level

30. Gamma Rays
Require several feet (meters) of concrete or a few inches (millimeters) of lead to stop the more energetic gamma rays
Can easily penetrate standard fire-fighting clothing, which provides no protection from gamma rays
(2 of 2)
Operational Level

31. X-Rays
Are high-energy photons produced by the interaction of charged particles with matter
Have essentially the same properties as gamma rays but differ in origin (originate outside the nucleus while gamma rays originate inside the nucleus)
Are the single-largest source of manmade radiation exposure
(1 of 2)
Operational Level

32. X-Rays
Are generally lower in energy and thus less penetrating than gamma rays
Can be stopped with a few millimeters of lead (medical X-rays)
(2 of 2)
Operational Level

33. Neutrons
Are ultrahigh energy particles that have a physical mass like alpha radiation but no electrical charge
Are highly penetrating
Are produced along with gamma radiation from fission reactions
(1 of 2)
Operational Level

34. Neutrons
Are not a type of radiation commonly used in commercial or industrial operations
Are most likely encountered in research laboratories
Cause the release of secondary radiation and thus are a health hazard
(2 of 2)
Operational Level

35. Radiation Exposure
Occurs when radioactive particles or rays enter the body through one or more routes of entry such as inhalation, ingestion, skin contact, or penetration
Operational Level

36. Radiation Contamination
Occurs when radioactive material is deposited on surfaces, skin, clothing, or any place where it is not desired
External — Radioactive material is on the skin or clothing.
Internal — Radioactive material is breathed in, swallowed, or absorbed through wounds.
Environmental — Radioactive material is spread about or unconfined in the environment thus presenting another potential source for external exposure
Operational Level

37. Routes of Entry
Inhalation
Ingestion
Skin contact
Operational Level

38. Radiation Protection Strategies
Time — The amount of radiation exposure increases or decreases according to the time spent near the source of radiation.
Distance — Farther distances equal smaller doses.
Shielding — Certain materials prevent penetration of some of the radioactive particles.
Operational Level

39. Factors to Consider Regarding Radiation Protection
Time
Shielding
Distance
Operational Level

40. CAUTION!
Wearing personal protective equipment (including self-contained breathing apparatus) generally protects emergency response personnel from external and internal contaminates. It does not protect against exposure to gamma rays.
Operational Level

41. Asphyxiation Terms
Asphyxiants — Substances that affect the oxygenation of the body and generally lead to suffocation
Simple asphyxiants — Gases that displace the oxygen necessary for breathing
Chemical asphyxiants — Substances that prohibit the body from using oxygen
Operational Level

42. Routes by Which People can be Exposed to Hazardous Materials
Inhalation
Ingestion
Skin contact
Operational Level

43. Toxin Categories and Associated Medical Conditions
Asphyxiants — Suffocation
Carcinogens — Cancer
Corrosives — Irreversible destruction or alteration of contacted tissue
Irritants — Reversible inflammation of contacted tissue
Hemotoxins — Cyanosis, loss of consciousness, death
Sensitizers — Allergic reaction
(1 of 2)
Operational Level

44. Toxin Categories and Associated Medical Conditions
Hepatoxins — Liver damage
Nephrotoxins — Kidney damage
Reproductive toxins — Fetal defects, birth defects, sterility
Cutaneous hazards — Defatting of skin, rashes, skin irritation
Eye hazards — Conjunctivitis, corneal damage, visual impairment, blindness
(2 of 2)
Operational Level

45. Toxicity Terms
Lethal dose (LD) — Minimum amount of solid or liquid that when ingested, absorbed, or injected through the skin will kill
Median lethal dose (LD50) — Statistically derived single dose of a substance that can be expected to cause death in 50 percent of animals when administered by the oral route
Lethal dose low (LDLO or LDL) — Lowest administered dose of a material capable of killing a specified test species
(1 of 2)
Operational Level

46. Toxicity Terms
Lethal concentration (LC) — Minimum concentration of an inhaled substance in the gaseous state that will be fatal to the test group
Lethal concentration low (LCLO or LCL) — Lowest concentration of a gas or vapor capable of killing a specified species over a specified time
ID50 — Dose that incapacitates 50 percent of the population of interest
ID10 — Dose that incapacitates 10 percent of the population of interest
(2 of 2)
Operational Level

47. Chemical Effects
Irritants — Toxins that cause temporary but sometimes severe inflammation to the eyes, skin, or respiratory system
Upper irritant — Affects respiratory tract above the voice box
Lower irritant — Affects respiratory tract below the voice box, including the lungs
Convulsants — Toxic materials that can cause convulsions (involuntary muscle contractions)
(1 of 3)
Operational Level

48. Chemical Effects
Corrosives — Chemicals that destroy or burn living tissues and have destructive hazards
Acid — Any chemical that ionizes to yield hydrogen ions in water; has pH value of 0 to 6
Base — Any water-soluble compound that breaks apart in water to form a negatively charged hydroxide ion; has pH value of 8 to 14
Can be toxic, flammable, reactive, and/or explosive
Carcinogens — Cancer-causing agents
(2 of 3)
Operational Level

49. Chemical Effects
Mutagens — Substances or agents that are capable of altering the genetic material in a living cell
Teratogens — Substances or agents capable of causing developmental abnormalities in utero
Allergens — Substances that cause allergic reactions in people or animals
Sensitizers — Chemicals that cause a substantial proportion of exposed people or animals to develop an allergic reaction after repeated exposure to the chemical
(3 of 3)
Operational Level

50. Signs and Symptoms of Hazardous Materials Exposure
Confusion, light-headedness, anxiety, and dizziness
Blurred or double vision
Changes in skin color or blushing
Coughing or painful respiration
Tingling or numbness of extremities
Loss of coordination
Nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramping, and diarrhea
(1 of 2)
Operational Level

51. Signs and Symptoms of Hazardous Materials Exposure
Changes in behavior or mannerisms
Unconsciousness
Burning eyes, throat, or nose
Headache
Irregular heartbeat
Tightness in chest
Abnormal euphoria
(2 of 2)
Operational Level

52. Operational Level Lesson 1 Presentation
Hazardous Materials for First Responders, 3rd Ed.