aco-3 rescue and firefighting personnel safety

Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting

6th Edition

Chapter 4 — Safety and Aircraft Hazards

Identify components of an airport safety program.

Learning Objective 1

4–2

Each airport authority should implement a Safety Management System (SMS).

4–3

A risk/benefit matrix helps determine to what extent responders should be exposed.

4–4

REVIEW QUESTION

What is the purpose of a Safety Management System (SMS) or

risk management program?

4–5

Recognize the importance of firefighter safety as it relates to aircraft fire fighting.

Learning Objective 2

4–6

All personnel are responsible for creating a “safety culture” at the station as well as on scene.

4–7

Vehicle safety is vital to emergency response and scene management.

4–8

The most common method of organizing an ARFF incident is to establish three operating zones.

4–9

A personnel accountability systems identifies and tracks all personnel working at an incident.

4–10

Personnel decontamination is always necessary at a crash site.

4–11

Courtesy of B

rian Canady/D

FW-FR

D

All personnel should be monitored for signs of PTSD.

4–12

REVIEW QUESTION

What is the importance of a personnel accountability system?

4–13

Describe the various types of personal protective equipment with

which ARFF firefighters are equipped.

Learning Objective 3

4–14

WARNING

Firefighters must properly wear PPE and SCBA during all aircraft fire fighting, rescue, and overhaul operations.

4–15

Normal work uniforms are not intended to be used by themselves as protective clothing.

4–16

Full structural PPE and SCBA properly protect a firefighter from all but the most extreme conditions.

4–17

Courtesy of R

osenbauer Am

erica

Proximity protective clothing is designed for close proximity exposure to high radiant heat.

4–18

Courtesy of B

rian Canady/D

FW-FR

D

Firefighters must understand what substances will require specialized chemical protective clothing.

4–19

Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) must be worn at all aircraft fires.

4–20

PASS devices, and hearing and eye protection should also be worn.

4–21

Courtesy of James Nilo

REVIEW QUESTION

How do fire conditions affect the type of PPE ARFF firefighters

wear?

4–22

Discuss the different types of hazards associated with aircraft emergencies.

Learning Objective 4

4–23

All aircraft accidents should be considered and treated as potential hazardous material incidents.

4–24

All personnel should monitor hazardous conditions and act to protect responders and victims.

4–25

Courtesy of James Nilo

Aircraft fuel is the primary hazard to firefighters.

4–26

WARNING

ARFF personnel should avoid inhaling jet fuel vapors and smoke. Jet fuels are known carcinogens and can cause chemical pneumonia.

4–27

Fuel can be delivered to aircraft in one of two ways.

4–28

Static charges between aircraft and fueling vehicles can ignite vapors.

4–29

Fires inside aircraft frequently involve ordinary combustible materials.

4–30

WARNING

ARFF personnel should avoid contact with exposed electrical wires. Transport aircraft usually have 115-volt AC electrical systems and 24- or 28-volt DC electrical systems which pose an electrocution hazard.

4–31

Other aircraft components and materials can present unique hazards.

4–32

WARNING

Pressures in excess of 3,000 psi (21 000 kPa) generate enough energy to sever body parts or cause fatal injury. ARFF personnel should stay clear of ALL moving parts when working around an aircraft.

4–33

The propellers of reciprocating engines produce significant hazards.

4–34

WARNING

Even if a propeller has stopped, do not move it under any conditions. Piston engines that have recently stopped can sometimes cycle, rotate violently, or restart if the propeller is moved.

4–35

4–36

(Cont.)

Jet engines pose numerous hazards including exhaust, intake suction, and the engine itself.

CAUTION

After an accident, a jet engine may continue to run if fuel is still being supplied to it. Even after shutdown, jet engines retain sufficient heat to ignite spilled flammable materials for up to 20 minutes. Also, the rotation of the engine may draw in vapors from spilled fuel and ignite them. When possible, cordon off the area around the engine, establish a safety zone, and keep all personnel clear of this area.

4–37

NOTE

The red beacons on the top and bottom of the aircraft will be lit when the engines are running. Smaller aircraft may have one beacon on top of the vertical stabilizer.

4–38

Some aircraft are equipped with air driven generators (ADG) or ram air turbines (RAT).

4–39

Aircraft wheel assemblies and components may disintegrate explosively.

4–40

Helicopters and their rotors must be approached with caution.

4–41

(Cont.)

WARNING

The debris rendered airborne by the helicopter rotors can cause bodily harm. When around helicopters with running engines, firefighters should wear appropriate PPE to include helmet, eye and hearing protection, coat or jacket, and bright colored or reflective clothes.

4–42

Helicopters and their rotors must be approached with caution.

4–43

Ballistic recovery system can present extreme hazard to ARFF personnel.

4–44

WARNING

Ballistic recovery parachutes can be fired vertically or horizontally and are not always readily visible on the aircraft or location from where they are fired. Do not use ordinary bolt cutters or side cutters to cut the cable housing. These tools are not effective for cutting the cable housing.

4–45

Aircraft cargo may be classified as hazardous or dangerous.

4–46

Courtesy of John Demyan, LVI Airport

NFPA® 472 lists nine classes of dangerous goods.

4–47

CAUTION

Use caution when attempting a rescue through the forward area of cargo-carrying aircraft because of the area’s close proximity to any hazardous cargo.

4–48

NOTE

Certain substances may be shipped only on cargo aircraft and not on passenger aircraft. A package labeled “CARGO AIRCRAFT ONLY” or “DO NOT LOAD ON PASSENGER AIRCRAFT” found aboard an aircraft should alert ARFF personnel that the material is extremely hazardous.

4–49

Dangerous cargo can be identified in a variety of ways.

4–50

Verification and information gathering are crucial for PPE selection and mitigation planning.

4–51

The type of PPE used at dangerous goods emergencies depends upon certain factors.

4–52

Units responding to dangerous goods incidents must isolate the scene and deny entry.

4–53

Aircraft lavatory waste spills are a biohazard.

4–54

Agricultural chemical can be applied by fixed- or rotary-wing aircraft.

4–55

Courtesy of P

aul Pestel

REVIEW QUESTION

What hazards are associated with aircraft cargo?

4–56

Identify special hazards of military aircraft.

Learning Objective 5

4–57

Even short hydrazine exposure is extremely dangerous.

4–58

WARNING

Always wear full protective clothing to include SCBA when dealing with hydrazine emergencies as it may be absorbed through the skin. Even short exposures may have serious effects on the nervous and respiratory systems.

4–59

Both chaff and flares pose serious hazards to ARFF personnel.

4–60

Courtesy of LC

PL A

ndrew W

illiams (U

SM

C),

Defense V

isual Information C

enter (DV

IC)

Pyrotechnics may be found in different locations on many aircraft.

4–61

Other special hazards associated with military aircraft include the following.

4–62

Accidental activation of ejection systems is extremely hazardous.

4–63

WARNING

Ejection system rockets can reach temperatures of 25,000°F (14 000°C). The exhaust of these rockets can cause severe burns or ignite surrounding materials.

4–64

WARNING

Safetying an ejection system is a hazardous operation. Rescue personnel should not attempt to safety an ejection system if they do not have the proper training and equipment necessary for the specific model of aircraft.

4–65

Canopies or hatches should be jettisoned only if absolutely necessary.

4–66

CAUTION

Jettisoning the canopy may ignite fuel vapors. When jettisoning the canopy, follow the directions that are printed on the side of the aircraft.

4–67

Propellant actuating devices contain explosive charges.

4–68

Courtesy of SSgt Bennie J. Davis III (USAF), Defense Visual Information Center (DVIC)

NOTE

During high-impact crashes and total breakup of military aircraft, all the dangerous components discussed may by scattered throughout the impact area or crash path.

4–69

Other emergency systems contain hazards for ARFF personnel.

4–70

WARNING

ARFF apparatus should NOT be driven or parked in front of a fighter aircraft during an incident or crash.

4–71

Weapons and weapon systems should be considered armed until proven otherwise.

4–72

WARNING

Do not attempt to fight a fire in which a weapon is involved if it is not possible to extinguish the fire quickly. All firefighters should withdraw at least 2,000 feet (600 m) because of the likelihood of detonation. If a rescue is in progress, continue to apply water (not foam) in copious amounts until the rescue is complete.

4–73

A military explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) team must deal with explosives.

4–74

Do not position personnel or apparatus in the line of fire of munitions.

4–75

WARNING

Military ammunition rounds are fired electrically. Ammunition found laying at the site of a crash can be fired by the static charge of picking up the round and should not be handled except by EOD personnel. ARFF responders should contact military EOD for material removal.

4–76

Military aircraft may also other weapons and weapons systems.

4–77

REVIEW QUESTION

What specific hazards to military aircraft create for ARFF personnel?

4–78

Identify indications of a possible terrorist incident.

Learning Objective 6

4–79

Airports are prime targets for terrorist attacks.

4–80

ARFF personnel must know possible indications of terrorist attacks.

4–81

(Cont.)

ARFF personnel must know possible indications of terrorist attacks.

4–82

Follow preset procedures for terrorist incidents.

4–83

REVIEW QUESTION

What are some indications of a possible terrorist incident?

4–84

• To be able to perform their jobs safely, airport firefighters should be trained in the types and uses of personal protective equipment including self-contained breathing apparatus, personal alert safety systems, and other types of personal protective clothing and equipment.

Summary

4–85

(Cont.)

• They should be thoroughly familiar with firefighter safety while at the fire station, responding to, and at the scene of an emergency.

• ARFF personnel should anticipate the need to protect mutual aid firefighters that automatically respond to an accident or alert at the airport.

Summary

4–86

(Cont.)

• ARFF personnel should be well versed in the general hazards associated with ARFF and the specific hazards aircraft pose to the airport firefighters including the dangers posed by aircraft systems, materials, and cargo.

Summary

4–87

(Cont.)

• ARFF personnel should have working knowledge of military aircraft hazards.

• Finally, airport firefighters should be able to identify and respond to terrorist incidents.

Summary

4–88