1. 4
Estimating Potential Harm and Planning a Response

2. 4
Objectives (1 of 5)
Estimate the potential harm or severity of a hazardous materials/WMD incident.
Use resources to determine the size of and incident.
Describe exposure protection.
Report the size and scope of an incident.

3. 4
Objectives (2 of 5)
Use available resources to determine the concentration of a hazardous material.
Identify skin contact hazards.
Know how to plan an initial response.
Describe the potential for secondary attacks/devices.

4. 4
Objectives (3 of 5)
Select appropriate PPE for hazardous materials/WMD incidents.
Identify purpose, advantages, and limitations of:
Street clothing and work uniforms
Structural firefighting protective clothing
High temperature–protective clothing and equipment
Chemical-protective clothing and equipment

5. 4 Objectives (4 of 5) Discuss respiratory protection needs.
Discuss the levels of hazardous materials/WMD PPE.

6. 4
Objectives (5 of 5)
Describe physical capabilities required and limitations of personnel working in PPE.
Describe the importance of having a plan in place to decontaminate a victim.

7. Responder’s Priorities at a Hazardous Materials/WMD Incident4
Responder’s Priorities at a Hazardous Materials/WMD Incident
Ensure your own safety at scene
Address potential life safety of those persons affected by the incident

8. Estimating Potential Harm or Severity of Incident (1 of 4)
Threshold limit value (TLV)
Permissible exposure limit (PEL)
Threshold limit value/short-term exposure limit (TLV/STEL)
Threshold limit value/time-weighted average (TLV/TWA)

9. Estimating Potential Harm or Severity of Incident (2 of 4)
Threshold limit value/ceiling (TLV/C)
Threshold limit value/skin
Recommended exposure level (REL)
Immediately dangerous to life and health (IDLH)
Requires use of self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA)

10. Estimating Potential Harm or Severity of Incident (3 of 4)
Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG)
Gives evacuation distances
Gives basic action plans

11. Estimating Potential Harm or Severity of Incident (4 of 4)
Images: Courtesy of the U.S. Department of Transportation
Instructions and example pages from the Initial Isolation Protective Action Distances table found in the ERG.

12. 4 Exposures (1 of 3) Isolation of hazard area Denial of entry
Evacuation
Sheltering-in-place

13. 4 Exposures (2 of 3) Report size and scope of incident
Thermal imaging cameras “see inside” containers.
Determine concentration and pH (litmus paper) of released hazardous material
Determine skin contact hazards.

14. 4
Exposures (3 of 3)
Image: © Sabine Kappel/Shutterstock, Inc.
Litmus paper (pH strips) is used to determine the hazardous material’s pH.

15. Approach Hazardous Materials Incident Cautiously4
Approach Hazardous Materials Incident Cautiously
Approach a hazardous materials incident cautiously.

16. Response Depends on Material State4
Response Depends on Material State
The response to a spill of a solid hazardous material will differ from the response to a liquid-release or vapor-release incident.

17. 4
Response Objectives
Measurable
Flexible
Time sensitive

18. Secondary Attacks and Devices (1 of 2)4
Secondary Attacks and Devices (1 of 2)
Must be acknowledged in response objectives
Evaluate scene for likely placement areas
Check operating areas before providing patient care.
Avoid touching or moving anything.

19. Secondary Attacks and Devices (2 of 2)4
Secondary Attacks and Devices (2 of 2)
Designate and enforce scene control zones.
Evacuate victims, other responders, and nonessential personnel.

20. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) (1 of 3)4
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) (1 of 3)
Selection based on:
Hazardous material involved
Specific hazards present
Physical state of material
Consult OSHA HAZWOPER, 29 CFR for guidance.

21. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) (2 of 3)4
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) (2 of 3)
Chemical-protective clothing
Respiratory protection also important
Not a suit of armor

22. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) (3 of 3)4
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) (3 of 3)
Specific types:
Street clothing and work uniforms
Structural firefighting protective clothing
High temperature–protective clothing and equipment
Chemical-protective clothing and equipment
Respiratory protection

23. Street Clothing and Work Uniforms (1 of 2)4
Street Clothing and Work Uniforms (1 of 2)
Least amount of protection
Worn only away from contaminated areas

24. Street Clothing and Work Uniforms (2 of 2)4
Street Clothing and Work Uniforms (2 of 2)
Image: Courtesy of The DuPont Company
A Nomex jumpsuit.

25. Structural Firefighting Protective Clothing (1 of 2)4
Structural Firefighting Protective Clothing (1 of 2)
Not chemical-protective
Suitable for support functions

26. Structural Firefighting Protective Clothing (2 of 2)4
Structural Firefighting Protective Clothing (2 of 2)
Standard structural firefighting gear.

27. High Temperature–Protective Clothing and Equipment (1 of 2)4
High Temperature–Protective Clothing and Equipment (1 of 2)
A level above structural firefighting gear
Affords short-term high-temperature protection
No protection from hazardous materials/WMD

28. High Temperature–Protective Clothing and Equipment (2 of 2)4
High Temperature–Protective Clothing and Equipment (2 of 2)
Image: © Photodisc
High temperature–protective equipment protects the wearer from high temperatures during a short exposure.

29. Chemical-Protective Clothing and Equipment4
Chemical-Protective Clothing and Equipment
No garment protects from everything.
Chemical-resistant materials designed to resist passage of chemicals
Permeation
Penetration
Degradation

30. Vapor-Protective Clothing (1 of 2)4
Vapor-Protective Clothing (1 of 2)
Full body protection
Requires supplied-air respiratory protection devices
Increases possibility of heat-related emergencies

31. Vapor-Protective Clothing (2 of 2)4
Vapor-Protective Clothing (2 of 2)
Image: Image © Lakeland Industries Inc. All rights reserved
Vapor-protective clothing retains body heat and increases the possibility of heat-related emergencies.

32. Liquid Splash–Protective Clothing (1 of 2)4
Liquid Splash–Protective Clothing (1 of 2)
Protects from chemical splashes
No protection from gases or vapors

33. Liquid Splash–Protective Clothing (2 of 2)4
Liquid Splash–Protective Clothing (2 of 2)
Liquid splash–protective clothing must be worn when there is the danger of chemical splashes.

34. Chemical-Protective Clothing Ratings4
Chemical-Protective Clothing Ratings
Level A (highest)
Level B
Level C
Level D (lowest)

35. 4 Level A Ensemble (1 of 2) Fully encapsulating garment SCBA or SAR
Vapor-protective chemical-resistant suit
Chemical-resistant gloves
Chemical-resistant safety boots/shoes
Two-way radio

36. Level A ensemble envelops the wearer in a totally encapsulating suit.4
Level A Ensemble (2 of 2)
Level A ensemble envelops the wearer in a totally encapsulating suit.

37. 4 Level B Ensemble (1 of 2) Chemical-protective: SCBA or SAR
Clothing
Boots
Gloves
SCBA or SAR
Two-way radio

38. 4
Level B Ensemble (2 of 2)
A Level B ensemble provides a high level of respiratory protection but less skin protection.

39. 4 Level C Ensemble (1 of 2) Full-face APR Chemical-resistant:
Clothing
Gloves
Boots/shoes
Two-way radio

40. 4
Level C Ensemble (2 of 2)
Image: Courtesy of The DuPont Company
A Level C ensemble includes chemical-protective clothing and gloves as well as respiratory protection.

41. 4 Level D Ensemble (1 of 2) Minimal protection Includes: Coveralls
Safety boots/shoes
Safety or chemical-splash goggles
Hard hat

42. 4
Level D Ensemble (2 of 2)
The Level D ensemble is primarily a work uniform that includes coveralls and provides minimal protection.

43. Respiratory Protection4
Respiratory Protection
Physical capability requirements
Medical surveillance once or twice/year
Medical monitoring on the scene
Positive-Pressure Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA)
Supplied-air respirators (SARs)

44. Positive-Pressure Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (1 of 2)4
Positive-Pressure Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (1 of 2)
Closed-circuit SCBA
Air-purifying respirators (APRs)
Powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs)
Commonly provided by SCBA
Prevents both inhalation and ingestion exposures

45. Positive-Pressure Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (2 of 2)4
Positive-Pressure Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (2 of 2)
SCBA carries its own air supply, a factor that limits the amount of air and time the user has to complete the job.

46. Supplied-Air Respirators (SARs) (1 of 2)4
Supplied-Air Respirators (SARs) (1 of 2)
External air source
Connected by hose to face piece
Provides air for about 5 minutes
Length of hose limits movement
Hazardous material may damage hose

47. Supplied-Air Respirators (SARs) (2 of 2)4
Supplied-Air Respirators (SARs) (2 of 2)
A supplied-air respirator is less bulky than an SCBA but is limited by the length and structural integrity of the air hose.

48. Closed-Circuit Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA)4
Closed-Circuit Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA)
Commonly called “rebreather”
Exhaled air is:
Scrubbed free of carbon dioxide
Supplemented with oxygen
Rebreathed
Used for long work periods

49. Air-Purifying Respirators (APRs) (1 of 2)4
Air-Purifying Respirators (APRs) (1 of 2)
Filter particulates, vapors, and contaminants
Must be sufficient oxygen in atmosphere

50. Air-Purifying Respirators (APRs) (2 of 2)4
Air-Purifying Respirators (APRs) (2 of 2)
Image: Courtesy of Sperian Respiratory Protection
Air-purifying respirators can be used only where there is sufficient oxygen in the atmosphere.

51. Powered Air-Purifying Respirators (PAPRs)4
Powered Air-Purifying Respirators (PAPRs)
Like APRs, but include small fan
Diminish work of breathing
Reduce fogging in the mask
Provide flow of cool air across face

52. 4
Decontamination
Emergency decontamination
Secondary contamination

53. Emergency Decontamination (1 of 2)4
Emergency Decontamination (1 of 2)
Rapid removal of bulk of contaminants
Without formal establishment of decontamination corridor

54. Emergency Decontamination (2 of 2)4
Emergency Decontamination (2 of 2)
Emergency decontamination involves the immediate removal of contaminated clothing.

55. Secondary Contamination4
Secondary Contamination
Also called cross-contamination
Caused by contact with:
Contaminated victim
Contaminated object
Establishing control zones helps prevent

56. 4 Summary (1 of 3) Ensure your own safety.
Response priorities based on need to protect lives, property, critical systems, and the environment
Gather information to obtain a clear picture of the incident.

57. 4
Summary (2 of 3)
Immediate protective actions: Denial of entry, evacuation, and sheltering-in-place
Tactical control objectives: Prevent further injury, control/contain spread of release
Response objectives: Measurable, flexible, time sensitive, based on chosen strategy

58. 4
Summary (3 of 3)
Defensive actions: Dike, dam, absorb or adsorb, stop remotely (valve, shut-off), dilute or divert, suppress or disperse
Use risk-benefit analysis during response
PPE required is specific to incident
Respiratory protection is key PPE element