1. Hazardous Materials: Recognizing and Identifying the Hazards

2. 29
Objectives (1 of 3)
Describe occupancies that may contain hazardous materials.
Describe how your senses can be used to detect the presence of hazardous materials.
Describe specific containers and container shapes that might indicate hazardous materials.
Describe tanks that could hold hazardous materials.

3. 29
Objectives (2 of 3)
Describe apparatus that can transport hazardous materials.
Describe how to identify the product, owner, and emergency telephone number on a pipeline marker.
Describe how to identify a placard and label.

4. 29
Objectives (3 of 3)
Describe how to use the North American Emergency Response Guidebook
Describe the NFPA 704 hazard identification system.
Describe the material safety data sheets (MSDS) and shipping papers.
Describe CHEMTREC.

5. Introduction (1 of 2) Scene size-up is important in any emergency.29
Introduction (1 of 2)
Scene size-up is important in any emergency.
Even more vital in a hazardous materials incident
Situational awareness
Ability to read the scene is a critical skill.
Must be able to identify sensory clues to be useful and safe.

6. 29
Introduction (2 of 2)
Not always possible to know the whole story before action is required
May be possible to identify a hazardous materials incident based on:
Information from the dispatcher
Knowledge of response area
Visual, auditory, or olfactory clues
SOPs and your training level should guide any initial actions.

7. 29
Hazardous Material
Any material that poses an unreasonable risk of damage or injury to persons, property, or the environment if it is not properly controlled during handling, storage, manufacture, processing, packaging, use and disposal, or transportation

8. Recognizing a Hazardous Materials Incident (1 of 2)29
Recognizing a Hazardous Materials Incident (1 of 2)
Use binoculars and view the scene from a safe distance.
Question anyone involved in the incident.

9. Recognizing a Hazardous Materials Incident (2 of 2)29
Recognizing a Hazardous Materials Incident (2 of 2)
Scan the scene and interpret visual clues.
Dead animals near the release
Discolored pavement
Dead grass
Visible vapors or puddles
Identifying labels

10. Occupancy and Location (1 of 2)29
Occupancy and Location (1 of 2)
Not confined to chemical facilities or nuclear power plants
Can occur almost anywhere
Hazardous materials are stored in:
Warehouses
Hospitals
Industrial occupancies

11. Occupancy and Location (2 of 2)29
Occupancy and Location (2 of 2)
Any response could have a hazardous materials component.
A fire in a pesticide storage facility could release dangerous chemicals.
Location and type of occupancy are two indicators of the presence of hazardous materials

12. Senses Another way to detect the presence of hazardous materials29
Senses
Another way to detect the presence of hazardous materials
Must be done carefully to avoid exposure
Getting close enough to exercise these senses may expose you.
Clues that are seen or heard provide warning information from a distance, enabling you to take precautionary steps.

13. 29
Containers
Any vessel or receptacle that holds material including storage vessels, pipelines, and packaging

14. Container Characteristics29
Container Characteristics
Container type, size, and material provide important clues about the nature of the substance inside.
Do not rely solely on the type of container when making a determination about hazardous materials.
Sulfuric acid could be found in a drum or a 1-gallon amber glass container.

15. Container Types Steel or plastic drums High pressure cylinders29
Container Types
Steel or plastic drums
High pressure cylinders
Railroad tank cars
Plastic buckets
Above-ground and underground storage tanks
Truck tankers
Pipelines
Dewar containers

16. Container Volume (1 of 5) Bulk storage containers Amount requirements29
Container Volume (1 of 5)
Bulk storage containers
Includes fixed tanks, large transportation tankers, totes, and intermodal tanks
Large volume containers
Amount requirements
Liquids: more than 119 gallons
Solids: more than 882 pounds
Gases: more than 882 pounds

17. 29
Container Volume (2 of 5)
Bulk storage containers found in occupancies that need to store large quantities of a chemical
Secondary containment
An engineered method to control spilled or released product if the main containment vessel fails

18. Container Volume (3 of 5) Large-volume horizontal tanks29
Container Volume (3 of 5)
Large-volume horizontal tanks
ASTs (Above-ground storage tanks)
USTs (Underground storage tanks)
Can hold a few hundred gallons to several thousand gallons of product
Usually made of aluminum, steel, or plastic

19. 29
Container Volume (4 of 5)
USTs and ASTs can be pressurized and nonpressurized.
Difficult to relieve internal pressure on these tanks
Dangerous when exposed to fire
Typically hold flammable or combustible materials

20. 29
Container Volume (5 of 5)
Pressurized horizontal tanks have rounded ends and large vents or pressure-relief stacks.
Most above-ground pressurized tanks are liquid propane and liquid ammonia tanks.
Can hold a few hundred gallons to several thousand gallons
Contain small vapor space

21. 29
Tote
Portable plastic tanks surrounded by a stainless steel web that adds both structural stability and protection
Can hold a few hundred gallons of product and may contain any type of chemical
Shipping and storing can be hazardous.

22. Intermodal Tanks Shipping and storage vehicles29
Intermodal Tanks
Shipping and storage vehicles
Can hold 5,000-6,000 gallons of product
Can be either pressurized or nonpressurized
Often shipped to a facility and then returned to the shipper for refilling
Are surrounded by or are part of a box-like steel frame-work for shipping

23. Intermodal Tanks: IM-101 Have a 6,000-gal capacity29
Intermodal Tanks: IM-101
Have a 6,000-gal capacity
Internal working pressures psi
Typically carry mild corrosives, food-grade products, and flammable liquids

24. Intermodal Tanks: IM-102 Have a 6,000-gal capacity29
Intermodal Tanks: IM-102
Have a 6,000-gal capacity
Internal working pressures psi
Primarily carry flammable liquids and corrosives

25. Intermodal Tanks: IMO Type 529
Intermodal Tanks: IMO Type 5
High-pressure vessels with internal pressures of several hundred psi
Carry liquefied gases like propane and butane

26. Nonbulk Storage Vessels29
Nonbulk Storage Vessels
Drums
Bags
Carboys
Compressed gas cylinders
Cryogenic containers

27. Drums Barrel-like container Used to store a wide variety of substances29
Drums
Barrel-like container
Used to store a wide variety of substances
Material type depends on use.

28. Drum Construction Steel utility drums Polyethylene drums29
Drum Construction
Steel utility drums
Hold flammable liquids, cleaning fluids, oil, other noncorrosive chemicals
Polyethylene drums
Hold corrosives
Stainless steel
Hold highly aggressive materials
Cardboard
Hold solid materials such as soap flakes

29. 29
Drum Openings
Closed-head drums have a permanently attached lid with one or more small openings called bungs.
Usually have one 2" bung and one 3/4" bung
Open-head drum
Removable lid fastened to the drum with a ring

30. Bags 29 Commonly used to store solids and powders
Made of plastic, paper, or plastic-lined paper
Come in different sizes and weights
Pesticide bags must be labeled with specific information.

31. Pesticide Bags Warning Label Information29
Pesticide Bags Warning Label Information
Includes:
Name of product
Statement of ingredients
Total amount of product in container
Manufacturer’s name and address
Practical first aid treatment description
Storage and disposal information
Keep out of reach of children.

32. 29
Carboys (1 of 2)
Transport and store some corrosives and other types of chemicals
Made of glass, plastic, steel container
Holds 5-gal to 15-gal of product

33. 29
Carboys (2 of 2)
Often have a protective wood or fiberglass box to help prevent breakage
Nitric, sulfuric, and other strong acids are transported and stored in thick glass carboys
Protected by a wooden or Styroform crate to shield the glass container

34. 29
Cylinders (1 of 3)
Several types of cylinders are used to hold liquids and gases.
Uninsulated compressed gas cylinders
Used to store gases such as nitrogen, argon, helium, and oxygen

35. Cylinders (2 of 3) Oxygen cylinder29
Cylinders (2 of 3)
Oxygen cylinder
Has a pressure reading of 2,000 psi
Very large compressed gas cylinders found at a fixed facility
May have pressure readings of 5,000 psi or greater

36. 29
Cylinders (3 of 3)
High pressures exerted by some cylinders can be dangerous.
Rapid release of compressed gas turns the cylinder into a missile.
If heated rapidly, it could explode.
Compressed gas cylinders have pressure-relief valves.
May not be sufficient to relieve the pressure caused by a fast-growing fire
Result is a catastrophic explosion

37. Low-Pressure Dewar Thermos-like vessels designed to hold cryogens29
Low-Pressure Dewar
Thermos-like vessels designed to hold cryogens
Gaseous substances that have been chilled until they liquefy
Include oxygen, helium, hydrogen, argon, and nitrogen
Under normal conditions, each substance is a gas.
Complex process turns them into liquids.

38. 29
Cryogens
Pose a substantial threat if the Dewar fails to maintain the low temperature
Have large expansion ratios even larger than the expansion ratio of propane
Has an expansion ratio of approximately 750 to 1
Usually have two pressure-relief devices
A pressure-relief valve
Frangible (easily broken) disk

39. Transporting Hazardous Materials29
Transporting Hazardous Materials
Highway transportation of hazardous materials is very common.
Vehicles often carry the shipments from the station, airport, or dock to the factory or plant.

40. MC-306 Flammable Liquid Tanker (1 of 2)29
MC-306 Flammable Liquid Tanker (1 of 2)
Also known as the DOT-406 or gasoline tanker
Typically carries gasoline or other flammable and combustible materials
Oval-shaped tank pulled by a diesel tractor

41. MC-306 Flammable Liquid Tanker (2 of 2)29
MC-306 Flammable Liquid Tanker (2 of 2)
Carries between 6,000-gal to 10,000-gal
Nonpressurized
Usually made of aluminum
Offloaded through valves at the bottom of the tank
Common highway sight
Reliable way to transport chemicals

42. MC-307 Chemical Hauler Round or a horseshoe-shaped tank29
MC-307 Chemical Hauler
Round or a horseshoe-shaped tank
Typically carries 6,000 to 7,000-gal
Used to transport flammable liquids, mild corrosives, and poisons
Tanks that transport corrosives may have a rubber lining.

43. 29
MC-312 Corrosives Tanker
Used for concentrated sulfuric and nitric acids and other corrosive substances
Has a smaller diameter than either the MC-306 or the MC-307
Characterized by several reinforcing rings around the tank
Rings provide structural stability.
Operates at approximately 75 psi
Holds approximately 6,000-gal

44. MC-331 Pressure Cargo Tanker29
MC-331 Pressure Cargo Tanker
Carries materials like ammonia, propane, and butane
Tank has rounded ends.
Typically a pressurized vessel
Commonly constructed of steel with a single tank compartment
Operates at approximately 300 psi
Could be a significant explosion hazard if it accidentally rolls over or threatened by fire

45. MC-338 Cryogenic Tanker Operates like the Dewar containers29
MC-338 Cryogenic Tanker
Operates like the Dewar containers
Carries similar substances
Low-pressure tanker
Relies on tank insulation to maintain low temperature for cryogens
Box-like structure containing the tank control valves typically attached to the rear of tanker
Special training is required to operate valves on this and any other tanker.

46. 29
Tube Trailers (1 of 2)
Carry compressed gases such as hydrogen, oxygen, helium, and methane
High-volume transportation vehicles compromised of several individual cylinders banded together and affixed to a trailer
Much like smaller compressed gas cylinders
Large-volume cylinders operate at 3,000 psi to 5,000 psi

47. 29
Tube Trailers (2 of 2)
One trailer may carry several different gases in individual tubes.
Typically there is a valve control box toward the rear of the trailer.
Each individual cylinder has its own relief valve.
Can frequently be seen at construction sites or at facilities that use great quantities of these materials

48. Dry Bulk Cargo Tanks Commonly seen on the road29
Dry Bulk Cargo Tanks
Commonly seen on the road
Carry dry bulk goods such as powders, pellets, fertilizers, or grain
Not pressurized
May use pressure to offload product
Generally V-shaped with rounded sides that funnel the contents to the bottom-mounted valves

49. Railroad Transportation29
Railroad Transportation
Railroads move almost 2 million carloads of freight.
Relatively few hazardous materials incidents occur.
Carry volumes up to 30,000-gal
Have the potential to create large leaks or vapor clouds
Hazardous materials incidents involving railroad transportation are dangerous.

50. Railroad Tank Cars Three basic railcar configurations29
Railroad Tank Cars
Three basic railcar configurations
Nonpressurized
Pressurized
Special use
Usually labeled with the volume and maximum working pressure inside the tank
Dedicated haulers often have the chemical name clearly visible.

51. Nonpressurized Railcars29
Nonpressurized Railcars
Carry general industrial chemicals and consumer products
Includes flammable and combustible liquids and mild corrosives
Easily identified by looking at the top of the car
Have visible valves and piping without a dome cover

52. Pressurized Railcars Have an enclosed dome on the top of the railcar29
Pressurized Railcars
Have an enclosed dome on the top of the railcar
Transport materials such as propane, ammonia, ethylene oxide, and chlorine
Have internal working pressures ranging from 100 psi to 500 psi
Equipped with relief valves
High volumes carried in these cars can generate long-duration high-pressure leaks that may be impossible to stop.

53. Special Use Railcars (1 of 2)29
Special Use Railcars (1 of 2)
Includes box cars, flat cars, cryogenic corrosive tank cars, and high-pressure compressed gas tube cars

54. Special Use Railcars (2 of 2)29
Special Use Railcars (2 of 2)
The hazard will be unique to the particular railcar and its contents.
Do not assume that only the chemical tank cars pose a threat.
Until you know what is in a particular car, assume it is a hazardous situation.

55. 29
Pipelines (1 of 4)
High volume pipeline rarely involved in emergencies
Large-diameter pipelines transport natural gas, gasoline, diesel fuel, and other products from delivery terminals to distribution facilities.

56. Pipelines (2 of 4) Often buried underground Pipeline right of way 29
May be above ground in remote areas
Pipeline right of way
An area, patch, or roadway that extends a certain number of feet on either side of the pipe itself
Maintained by the company that owns the pipeline
Company also responsible for placing warning signs

57. Pipelines (3 of 4) Pipeline warning signs include:29
Pipelines (3 of 4)
Pipeline warning signs include:
Warning symbol
Pipeline owner’s name
Emergency contact phone number
Pipeline emergencies are complicated events that require specially trained responders.
If you suspect a pipeline emergency, contact the owner immediately.

58. 29
Pipelines (4 of 4)
Information about the pipe’s contents and owner is also found at the vent pipes.
Inverted J-shaped tubes
Provide pressure relief or natural venting during maintenance and repairs
Vent pipes are clearly marked and are approximately 3' above the ground.

59. DOT System Characterized by a system of labels and placards29
DOT System
Characterized by a system of labels and placards
North American Emergency Response Guidebook (NAERG)
Also a part of the system
Offers a certain amount of guidance for fire fighters operating at a hazardous materials incident

60. Placards Diamond-shaped indicators Measures 10 3/4” on a side29
Placards
Diamond-shaped indicators
Measures 10 3/4” on a side
Must be displayed on all four sides of vehicle carrying hazardous materials

61. Labels Smaller version of placards 4" diamond-shaped indicators29
Labels
Smaller version of placards
4" diamond-shaped indicators
Used on the four sides

62. 29
Placards and Labels
Intended to give fire fighters a general idea of the hazard inside a particular container
Placard may identify the broad hazard class that a tanker contains.
Labels on a book inside a delivery truck relate only to the potential hazard inside that package.

63. DOT Response Guidebook (NAERG)29
DOT Response Guidebook (NAERG)
Can be used during the initial phase of the hazardous materials incident
Book organizes chemicals into 9 basic hazard classes or families
Each exhibits similar properties.
Dangerous placard indicates more than one hazard class is contained in the same load.
DOT system is a broad-spectrum look at chemical hazards.

64. Nine Chemical Families29
Nine Chemical Families
Class 1 – Explosives
Class 2 – Gases
Class 3 – Flammable combustible liquids
Class 4 – Flammable Solids
Class 5 – Oxidizers
Class 6 – Poisons
Class 7 – Radioactive Materials
Class 8 – Corrosives
Class 9 – Other Regulated Materials (ORM)

65. 29
Other Considerations
DOT system does not require that all chemical shipments be marked with placards or labels.
In most cases, the package or tank must contain a certain amount of hazardous material before a placard is required.

66. Using the NAERG NAERG is a preliminary action guide.29
Using the NAERG
NAERG is a preliminary action guide.
Useful during the initial 10 to 15 minutes of an incident
Cannot be used to create a comprehensive action plan
Divided into four sections: yellow, blue, orange, green

67. 29
Yellow Section
Chemicals are listed in this section numerically by their four-digit UN number.
Use when the UN number is known or can be identified.
Entries include the name of the chemical and the emergency action guide number.

68. Blue Section Chemicals are listed alphabetically by name.29
Blue Section
Chemicals are listed alphabetically by name.
Entry will include the emergency action guide number, the identification number.
The same information, organized differently, is in both the blue and yellow sections.

69. Orange Section Contains the emergency action guides29
Orange Section
Contains the emergency action guides
Guide numbers are organized by general hazard class and indicate what basic emergency actions should be taken, based on hazard class.

70. 29
Green Section
Organized numerically by UN identification number and provides the initial isolation distances for certain materials
Chemicals included in this section are highlighted in the blue or yellow sections.

71. NFPA System (1 of 5) Designed for fixed facility use29
NFPA System (1 of 5)
Designed for fixed facility use
Found on the outside of buildings, on doorways to chemical storage areas, and on fixed storage tanks

72. 29
NFPA System (2 of 5)
Fire fighters can use the NFPA diamonds to determine a course of action at a hazardous material incident.
NFPA 704 hazard identification system uses a diamond-shaped symbol of any size.

73. 29
NFPA System (3 of 5)
Broken into four smaller diamonds, each representing a particular property or characteristic
Blue diamond indicates the health hazard posed.
Red diamond indicates flammability.
Yellow diamond indicates reactivity.
White diamond is used for special symbols and handling instructions.

74. 29
NFPA System (4 of 5)
Blue, red, and yellow diamonds each contain a numerical rating of 0-4.
0 is the least hazardous.
4 is the most hazardous.

75. 29
NFPA System (5 of 5)
White quadrant will not have a number but may contain special symbols.
Burning O symbolizes oxidizing capability.
Three-bladed fan symbolizes radioactivity.
A W with a slash through it symbolizes water reactive.

76. 29
HMIS Marking
Program for communication of chemical use and hazards to employees
Established in 1983 by OSHA
Uses diamonds similar to NFPA 704
Voluntary program
Intended for employee of a facility
Not a response information tool

77. Other Reference Sources29
Other Reference Sources
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
Shipping Papers
CHEMTREC
National Response Center

78. MSDS (1 of 4) Provides basic information about:29
MSDS (1 of 4)
Provides basic information about:
The chemical make-up of a substance
The potential hazards it presents
Appropriate first aid in the event of an exposure
Other pertinent data for safe handling of the material

79. MSDS (2 of 4) Generally an MSDS will include:29
MSDS (2 of 4)
Generally an MSDS will include:
Physical and chemical characteristics
Physical hazards of the material
Health hazards of the material
Signs and symptoms of exposure
Routes of entry
Permissible exposure limits

80. MSDS (3 of 4) Generally an MSDS will include:29
MSDS (3 of 4)
Generally an MSDS will include:
Responsible party contact
Precautions for safe handling
Applicable control measures, including personal protective equipment
Emergency and first-aid procedures
Appropriate waste disposal

81. 29
MSDS (4 of 4)
When responding to a hazardous materials incident at a fixed facility, ask the site manager for an MSDS for spilled material.
All facilities are required by law to have an MSDS on file.
MSDS is not a definitive response tool, but it is a piece of the puzzle.

82. 29
Shipping Papers
Are required whenever materials are transported from one place to another
Include:
Names and addresses of the shipper and the receiver
Identify the material being shipped
Specify the quantity and weight of each part of the shipment

83. Bills of Lading Shipping papers for road and highway transportation29
Bills of Lading
Shipping papers for road and highway transportation
Located in the cab of the vehicle
Drivers transporting chemicals are required by law to have a set of shipping papers.
May have additional information about a hazardous substance such as its packaging group designation

84. Packaging Group Designation (1 of 2)29
Packaging Group Designation (1 of 2)
Another way used by shippers to identify special handling requirements or hazards
Some DOT hazard classes require shippers to assign packaging groups based on the material’s flash point and toxicity.
May signal that the material poses a greater hazard than similar materials in a hazard class

85. Packaging Group Designation (2 of 2)29
Packaging Group Designation (2 of 2)
Packaging group I: high danger
Packaging group II: medium danger
Packaging group III: minor danger

86. Waybills Shipping papers for railroad transportation29
Waybills
Shipping papers for railroad transportation
List of every car on the train is called a consist.
Conductor, engineer, or a designated member of the train crew will have a copy of both the waybill and the consist.

87. Dangerous Cargo Manifest29
Dangerous Cargo Manifest
Shipping papers on a marine vessel
Generally kept in a tube-like container in the wheelhouse in the custody of the captain or master

88. Air Bill Shipping paper for air transport29
Air Bill
Shipping paper for air transport
Kept in the cockpit and is the pilot’s responsibility

89. Chemical Transportation Emergency Center29
Chemical Transportation Emergency Center
CHEMTREC
Located in Arlington, VA
Established by the Chemical Manufacturer’s Association
Clearinghouse of emergency response information
Phone number

90. Calling CHEMTREC (1 of 2) Have the following information ready:29
Calling CHEMTREC (1 of 2)
Have the following information ready:
Name of the caller and call back telephone number
Location of the actual incident or problem
Shipper or manufacturer of chemical (if known)
Container type

91. Calling CHEMTREC (2 of 2) Rail car or vehicle markings or numbers29
Calling CHEMTREC (2 of 2)
Rail car or vehicle markings or numbers
The shipping carrier’s name
Recipient of material
Local conditions and exact description of the situation

92. 29
CHEMTREC
Free service that connects fire fighters with chemical manufacturers, chemists, and other product specialists
Canadian equivalent of CHEMTREC is known as CANUTEC
Mexican equivalent is SETIQ

93. National Response Center29
National Response Center
NRC
Operated by the U.S. Coast Guard
Central notification point not guidance center
After notification NRC will contact necessary government agencies.
NRC must be notified if a spill possibly may enter a waterway.
Phone number

94. 29
Radiation (1 of 4)
You must be able to recognize where radioactive materials might be encountered.
Typical industries that routinely use radioactive materials include:
Food testing labs, hospitals, medical research centers, biotechnology facilities, construction sites

95. 29
Radiation (2 of 4)
Often there will be signs or placards that indicate the presence of radioactive substances.
Not always the case
If you suspect a radiation incident at a fixed facility, ask for the radiation safety officer of the facility.

96. 29
Radiation (3 of 4)
If the incident is not at a fixed site, the presence of radiation may never be apparent.
Radioactive isotopes are not detected by the senses.
Call a hazardous materials team.

97. 29
Radiation (4 of 4)
Significant incidents involving radiation are few and far between.
Most incidents you may encounter will involve low-level radioactive sources and can be handled safely.
These low-level sources are typically found in Type A packaging.

98. 29
Type A Packaging
Has an inner containment vessel of glass, plastic, or metal and packaging materials made of polyethylene, rubber, or vermiculite
Designed to protect the contents from damage during normal shipping and handling

99. Type B Packaging (1 of 2) More dangerous radioactive sources29
Type B Packaging (1 of 2)
More dangerous radioactive sources
Contains materials such as spent radioactive waste and other high-level emitters

100. 29
Type B Packaging (2 of 2)
Designed to protect the contents from greater exposure
Amount of protection is based on the potential severity of the hazard.
Includes small drums and heavily shielded casks weighing more than 100 metric tons

101. 29
Summary (1 of 3)
Fire fighters should use all available resources to provide a greater degree of safety and improve their ability to mitigate the incident.
Many resources are readily available and will provide initial guidance for handling the incident.

102. 29
Summary (2 of 3)
Fire fighters should know where to obtain this initial information and how best to use it.
Fire fighters should know how to obtain MSDS from various sources, including their department, the scene of the incident itself, or the manufacturer of the material.

103. 29
Summary (3 of 3)
Fire fighters should be able to demonstrate proficiency in determining a proper guide to use when using the NAERG.
Fire fighters should be able to name, understand, and locate the various types of shipping papers on various modes of transportation.