chapter 1 introduction to hazardous materials

Student Notes Introduction to Hazardous Materials 1-1

Chapter 1 Introduction to Hazardous Materials

Lesson Goal

After completing this lesson, the student shall be able to differentiate between a hazardous materials incident and other emergencies, describe the roles and responsibilities of the first responder, and describe the many different types of hazardous materials hazards. In addition, the student shall be able to describe the regulations and definitions determined by their AHJ.

Objectives

Upon successful completion of this lesson, the student shall be able to: 1. Distinguish between hazardous materials incidents and other emergencies. [NFPA® 472,

4.2.1(4)] 2. Discuss the roles of Awareness-Level personnel and Operations-Level responders. [NFPA®

472, 4.4.1(2), 5.4.3(1)] 3. Describe the various types of hazardous materials hazards. [NFPA® 472, 4.4.1(3)(c),

5.2.2(3)(a), 5.2.2(8), 5.2.3(1)(a)(iii), 5.2.3(1)(a)(x), 5.2.3(1)(b)(ii-vi), 5.2.3(7), 5.2.3(8)(a-j)] 4. Explain each of the routes of entry. [NFPA® 472, 4.4.1(3)(d)] 5. Describe the U.S., Canadian, and Mexican hazardous materials regulations and definitions.

[NFPA® 472, 4.2.1(1)] 6. Discuss hazardous materials incident statistics.

Time Section/Activity Outline Pages

Text Pages

Section I: Introduction to Chapter 1

Section II: First Responder Roles 1-6 – 1-10 11-15

Section III: Hazardous Materials Hazards 1-11 – 1-27 15-32

Section IV: Routes of Entry 1-28 – 1-30 32-33

Section V: Hazardous Materials Regulations and Definitions

1-31 – 1-46 34-50

Section VI: Hazardous Materials Incident Statistics

1-47 – 1-48 51-58

Section VII: Summary and Review

Chapter 1 Quiz / Test

Section I: Introduction to Chapter 1

I. INTRODUCTION TO CHAPTER 1

A. Lesson Goal


1. Chapter 1 lesson goal — After completing this lesson, the student shall be able to differentiate between a hazardous materials incident and other emergencies, describe the roles and responsibilities of the first responder, and describe the many different types of hazardous materials hazards. In addition, the student shall be able to describe the regulations and definitions determined by their AHJ.

B. Objectives

1. Distinguish between hazardous materials incidents and other emergencies.

2. Discuss the roles of Awareness-Level personnel and Operations-Level responders.

3. Describe the various types of hazardous materials hazards.

4. Explain each of the routes of entry.

5. Describe the U.S., Canadian, and Mexican hazardous materials regulations and definitions.

6. Discuss hazardous materials incident statistics.

pp. 9-10 Objective 1 — Distinguish between hazardous materials incidents and other emergencies.

A. Hazardous Materials Incident

1. An emergency involving a substance that poses an unreasonable risk to people, the environment, and/or property

2. May involve substance that has been or may be released from a container or a substance that is on fire

3. May be result of accident or deliberate

4. Different from other emergencies

a. Hazardous materials can be dangerous in many different ways

b. May be extremely difficult to contain and/or control

c. May require specialized equipment, procedures, and personal protective equipment (PPE)

d. May be difficult to detect

Review Question: How are hazardous materials incidents different from other types of emergencies? See pages 9-10 of the manual for answers.


Section II: First Responder Roles

II. FIRST RESPONDER ROLES

pp. 11-15 Objective 2 — Discuss the roles of Awareness-Level personnel and Operations-Level responders.

A. Training Requirements

1. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) — Title 29 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 1910.120, Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER)

2. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) — Title 40 (Protection of Environment) CFR 311, Worker Protection

3. National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®)

a. NFPA® 472, Standard for Professional Competence of Responders to Hazardous Materials/Weapons of Mass Destruction Incidents

b. NFPA® 473, Standard for Competencies for EMS Personnel Responding to Hazardous Materials/Weapons of Mass Destruction Incidents

4. Canada

a. Regulated by Ministry of Labour or Workers Compensation Board (WCB)

b. Train to NFPA® 472

5. Mexico — No current national laws

B. Levels of Training

1. NFPA® regulations

a. Awareness

b. Operations — Core competencies or beyond, incorporating mission-specific competencies

i. Personal protective equipment

ii. Mass decontamination

iii. Technical decontamination

iv. Evidence preservation and sampling

v. Product control


vi. Air monitoring and sampling

vii. Victim rescue and recovery

viii. Response to illicit laboratory incidents

c. Hazardous Materials Technician

d. Hazardous Materials Branch Officer

e. Hazardous Materials Branch Safety Officer

f. Hazardous Materials Incident Commander

g. Private Sector Specialist Employee

2. OSHA regulations

a. Awareness

b. Operations — Core competencies or beyond incorporating mission-specific competencies

c. Hazardous Materials Technician

d. Hazardous Materials Specialist

e. On Scene Incident Commander

C. Duties

1. Awareness and Operations Core — Perform only defensive tasks

2. Operations Missions-Specific — Defensive and limited offensive actions

D. Awareness-Level Personnel Responsibilities

1. Recognize the presence or potential presence of a hazardous materials

2. Recognize the type of container at a site and identify the material in it if possible

3. Transmit information to an appropriate authority and call for appropriate assistance

4. Identify actions to protect themselves and others from hazards

5. Establish scene control by isolating the hazardous area and denying entry

E. Operations-Level Responders Responsibilities

1. Include all Awareness-Level responsibilities


2. Identify the hazardous material(s) involved in an incident if possible

3. Analyze an incident to determine the nature and extent of the problem

4. Protect themselves, nearby persons, the environment, and property from the effects of a release

5. Develop a defensive plan of action to address the problems presented by the incident (plan a response)

6. Implement the planned response to control a release from a safe distance and keep it from spreading

7. Evaluate the progress of the actions taken to ensure that response objectives are safely met

Review Question: What are Awareness-Level personnel’s responsibilities at a hazardous materials incident? What are Operations-Level responders’ responsibilities at a hazardous materials incident? See pages 13-15 of the manual for answer.

Section III: Hazardous Materials Hazards

III. HAZARDOUS MATERIALS HAZARDS

pp. 15-32 Objective 3 — Describe the various types of hazardous materials hazards.

A. Definitions

1. Acute

2. Acute health effects

3. Chronic

4. Chronic health effects

5. Hazard

B. Thermal Hazards

1. Cold temperatures — Danger when working with cryogenic and liquefied gases

a. Liquefied gas — One that the charging pressure is partially liquid at 70°F (21°C)

b. Cryogen — Gas that turns into a liquid at or below -130°F (-90°C) at 14.7 psi (101 kPa) {1.01 bar}


Ask Students: What are some examples of cryogenic materials?

Briefly discuss answers with students. Answers include liquid oxygen (LOX), nitrogen, helium, hydrogen, argon, and liquefied natural gas (LNG).

c. Have ability to instantly freeze materials

d. May pool and transition from liquid state to vapor state

e. Can boil into a much larger vapor cloud

WARNING! Any clothing saturated with a cryogenic material may be removed immediately. This action is particularly important if the vapors are flammable or oxidizers. A first responder could not escape flames from clothing-trapped vapors if they were to ignite.

2. Elevated temperatures

a. Examples

i. Molten sulfur

ii. Molten aluminum

b. Require extreme caution

c. Can ignite flammable and combustible materials

d. Can increase the heat effects of wearing personal protective equipment

e. U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) definition of elevated-temperature material

i. Liquid phase at a temperature at or above 212°F (100°C)

ii. Liquid phase with a flash point at or above 100°F (38°C) that is intentionally heated and offered for transportation or transported at or above its flash point

iii. Solid phase at a temperature at or above 464°F (240°C)

C. Radiological Hazards

1. Exist at incidents at medical centers, certain industrial operations, nuclear power plants, research facilities, and at terrorist attacks

2. Alpha particles


a. Energetic, positively charged alpha particles emitted from the nucleus during radioactive decay that rapidly lose energy when passing through matter

b. Commonly emitted in the radioactive decay of the heaviest radioactive elements

c. Lose energy rapidly in matter and do not penetrate very far

d. Can cause damage over their short path through human tissue

e. Usually completely blocked by outer dead layer of human skin

f. Not a hazard outside the body

g. Can be harmful if ingested or inhaled

h. Can be stopped completely by a sheet of paper

3. Beta

a. Fast-moving, positively or negatively charged electrons emitted from the nucleus during radioactive decay

b. From manufactured and natural sources such as tritium, carbon-14, and strontium-90

c. More penetrating than alpha particles but less damaging over equally traveled distances

d. Capable of penetrating skin and causing radiation damage

e. Generally more hazardous when inhaled or ingested

f. Travel appreciable distances in air (up to 20 feet [6 m])

g. Can be reduced or stopped by a layer of clothing or by less than .08 an inch (two or three millimeters) of a substance such as aluminum

4. Gamma

a. High-energy photons

b. Often accompany the emission of alpha or beta particles from a nucleus

c. Have neither a charge nor a mass

d. Very penetrating

e. Sources in environment – Potassium-40

f. Industrial sources – Cobalt-60, iridium-192, cesium-137


g. Can easily pass completely through the human body or be absorbed by tissue, thus constituting a radiation hazard for the entire body

h. Requires at least two feet (0.6 m) of concrete, several feet (meters) of earth, or two inches (50 mm) of lead to stop

5. Neutron

a. Ultrahigh energy particles that have a physical mass but have no electrical charge

b. Highly penetrating

c. Produced by fission reactions (along with gamma radiation)

d. Difficult to measure in the field; usually estimated based on gamma measurements

e. Common source – Soil moisture density gauges used at construction sites

f. May be encountered in research laboratories or operating nuclear power plants

g. Cause the release of secondary radiation when they interact with the human body

Review Question: What are the four types of ionizing radiation? Describe each briefly. See pages 18-21 of the manual for answers.

6. Radiation health hazards

a. Effects of ionizing radiation occur at the cellular level

b. Ionizing radiation can affect the normal operation of cells and organs inside the body

c. Radiation may cause damage to any material by ionizing the atoms in that material – changing the material’s atomic structure

d. Radiation can damage a cell by ionizing the atoms and changing the resulting chemical behavior of the atoms and/or molecules in the cell

e. Acute radiation doses

i. Exposure to radiation received in a short period of time

ii. Some are permissible and have no long term health effects

iii. Some can produce serious health effects


iv. Extremely high levels can result in death within a few hours, days, or weeks

f. Chronic radiation doses

i. Small amounts of radiation received over a long period of time

ii. The body is better equipped to handle than acute dose

iii. Do not result in same detectable health effects as acute dose

iv. Can cause cancer

v. Examples – Everyday doses received from natural background radiation and those received by workers in nuclear and medical facilities

D. Asphyxiation Hazards

1. Asphyxiants – Substances that affect the oxygenation of the body and generally lead to suffocation

2. Simple asphyxiants

a. Gases that displace the oxygen necessary for breathing

b. Dilute or displace the oxygen concentration below the level required by the human body

3. Chemical asphyxiants

a. Substances that prohibit the body from using oxygen, and some of these chemicals may be used by terrorists for an attack

b. Starve the cells of the body for oxygen

E. Chemical Hazards

1. Likelihood of an adverse health effect occurring and the severity of the effect depend on:

a. Toxicity of the chemical

b. Pathway or route of exposure

c. Nature and extent of exposure

d. Factors that affect the susceptibility of the exposed person such as age and the presence of certain chronic diseases

2. Toxic/Poisonous chemicals


a. Local toxic effect – Chemical injury at the site of contact

b. Systemic effect – Chemical absorbed into the bloodstream and distributed to other parts of the body

c. Many have fast-acting, acute toxic effects while others have chronic effects that are not manifested for many years

d. Exposure may result in single systemic effect, multiple systemic effects, or combination of systemic and local effects

e. Exposure can cause damage to organs or other parts of the body and may even cause death

f. Methods by which poisons attack the body vary depending on type of poison

i. Irritants and chemical asphyxiants interfere with oxygen flow to lungs and blood

ii. Neurotoxins act on body’s nervous system by disrupting nerve impulses

3. Highly toxic materials may cause death or severe illness

4. Corrosives

a. Chemicals that destroy or burn living tissues and have destructive effects by virtue of their corrosivity

b. Comprise largest usage class in industry

c. Acids

i. Any chemical that ionizes to yield hydrogen ions in water

ii. Have pH values of 0 to 6.9

iii. May cause severe chemical burns to flesh and permanent eye damage

iv. Contact typically causes immediate pain

v. Examples – Hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, and sulfuric acid

d. Bases

i. Water-soluble compound that breaks apart in water to form a negatively charged hydroxide ion

ii. React with an acid to form a salt by releasing an unshared pair of electrons to the acid or by receiving a proton from the acid

iii. Have pH values of 8 to 14


iv. Breaks down fatty skin tissues and can penetrate deeply into the body

v. Can cause severe eye damage; adhere to tissues in the eye

vi. Does not normally cause immediate pain

vii. Common sign of exposure – Greasy or slick feeling of the skin

viii. Examples – Caustic soda, potassium hydroxide

e. Can cause a fire or explosion if come in contact with combustibles

f. Some acids can react with metal to form hydrogen gas

g. Acids and bases react violently when mixed together or when water is added

h. Can be toxic, flammable, reactive, and/or explosive

i. Some are oxidizers

Review Question: The likelihood and severity of an adverse health effect resulting from chemical exposure are dependent upon which factors? What is the difference between an acid and a base? See pages 23-27 of the manual for answers.

5. Irritants

a. Toxins that cause temporary but sometimes severe inflammation of the eyes, skin, or respiratory system

b. Often attack the mucous membranes of the body

6. Convulsants

a. Toxic materials that can cause convulsions

b. Examples – Strychnine, organophosphates, carbamates, and infrequently used drugs such as picrotoxin

c. Death can result from asphyxiation or exhaustion

7. Carcinogens

a. Cancer-causing agents

b. Examples – Polyvinyl chloride, benzene, asbestos, some chlorinated hydrocarbons, arsenic, nickel, some pesticides, and many plastics


c. Unknown level and duration or dose of exposure needed for individual chemicals to cause cancer

d. Disease and complications can occur as long as 10 to 40 years after exposure

8. Sensitizers/Allergens

a. Allergens – Substances that cause allergic reactions in people or animals

b. Sensitizers – Chemicals that cause a substantial proportion of exposed people or animals to develop an allergic reaction after one or more exposures to the chemical

c. Examples – Latex, bleach, urushiol (poison oak, ivy)

d. Etiological/Biological Hazards

9. Microorganisms that may cause severe, disabling disease, or illness

10. Viral agents

a. Simplest types of microorganisms that can only replicate themselves in the living cells of their hosts

b. Do not respond to antibiotics

11. Bacterial agents

a. Microscopic, single-celled organisms

b. Most do not cause disease in people; when they do, they invade the tissues or produce poisons

12. Rickettsias

a. Specialized bacteria that live and multiply in the gastrointestinal tract of arthropod carriers

b. Smaller than most bacteria; larger than viruses

c. Have properties that are similar to bacteria and viruses

d. Single-celled organisms with own metabolisms

e. Susceptible to broad-spectrum antibiotics

f. Only grow in living cells

g. Spread through bite of infected arthropods, not through human contact


13. Biological toxins

a. Poisons produced by living organisms

b. Some manufactured synthetically and/or genetically altered

c. Examples – Botulinum toxin and ricin

14. Infectious diseases

a. Caused by growth of microorganisms in the body

b. May or may not be contagious

c. Examples – Malaria, AIDS, tuberculosis, typhoid

15. Exposure may occur in biological and medical laboratories or when dealing with people who are carriers

16. First responders may be exposed when agents are used as weapons in terrorist attacks and criminal activities

a. Smallpox (virus)

b. Anthrax (bacteria)

c. Botulism (toxin)

F. Mechanical Hazards

1. Can cause trauma that occurs as a result of direct contact with an object

2. Striking – Result of explosion, bomb, or IED

3. Friction – Occurs as result of portions of body rubbing against abrasive surface

4. Hazards caused by explosions

a. Blast pressure wave (shock wave)

i. Gases being released rapidly create shock wave that travels outward from the center

ii. As wave increases in distance, strength decreases

iii. Primary reason for injuries and damage

b. Shrapnel fragmentation

i. Small pieces of debris thrown from container or structure that ruptures


ii. May be thrown over wide area and great distances

iii. Can result in bruises, punctures, or avulsions

c. Seismic effect

i. Earth vibration similar to earthquake

ii. Air blast creates ground shock or crater

iii. Distance traveled depends on type and size of explosion and type of soil

d. Incendiary thermal effect

i. Thermal heat energy in the form of a fireball

ii. Result of burning combustible gases or flammable vapors and ambient air at very high temperatures

iii. Present for limited time after explosive event

Review Question: Describe different types of etiological hazards. What four hazards can be caused by an explosion? See pages 29-32 of the manual for answers.

Section IV: Routes of Entry

IV. ROUTES OF ENTRY

pp. 32-33 Objective 4 — Explain each of the routes of entry.

A. Inhalation

1. Taking in materials by breathing through the nose or mouth

2. Requires respiratory protection

Ask Students: What types of hazardous products may be inhaled into the body?

Briefly discuss answers with students. Explain that hazardous vapors, smoke, gases, liquid aerosols, fumes, and suspended dusts may be inhaled into the body.

B. Ingestion

1. Taking in materials through the mouth by means other than inhalation

2. Examples


a. Chemical residue on the hands can be transferred to food and then ingested while eating

b. Particles of insoluble materials become trapped in mucous membranes and are swallowed after being cleared from the respiratory tract

C. Skin Contact

1. Taking in materials when a chemical or hazardous material contacts the skin or exposed surface of the body

2. Easier if skin is damaged, abraded, or wet

3. When contact occurs, one of four things is likely to occur

a. Skin and associated film of lipid act as barrier against penetration, injury, or disturbance

b. Substance reacts with skin surface and causes irritation or dermatitis

c. Substance penetrates skin and conjugates with tissue protein, resulting in skin sensitization

d. Substance penetrates skin, enters blood stream, and acts as potential systemic poison through one of two pathways:

i. Skin cells

ii. Hair follicles and sweat glands

Review Question: What are the three main routes of entry as defined by the CDC? See pages 32-33 of the manual for answers.

Ask Students: Why is it important to know these?

Briefly discuss answers with students. Explain that many chemicals may have multiple routes of entry. First responders need to be aware of the fact that certain chemicals may be hazardous in more than one way.

Section V: Hazardous Materials Regulations and Definitions

V. HAZARDOUS MATERIALS REGULATIONS AND DEFINITIONS

pp. 34-50 Objective 5 — Describe the U.S., Canadian, and Mexican hazardous materials regulations and definitions.

A. Department of Transportation (DOT)


1. Issues transportation regulations in Title 49 CFR

a. Legally binding; enforced at the federal, state, and local levels

b. Sometimes referred to as Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR)

c. Address transportation of hazardous materials in all modes

d. Provide adequate protection in transporting hazardous materials in commerce

e. Carried out by DOT Research and Special Programs Administration

B. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

1. Responsible for researching and setting national standards for environmental programs

2. Delegates responsibility for issuing permits, monitoring, and enforcing compliance to states and tribes

3. Works closely with other agencies, governments, and tribes to develop and enforce regulations under existing environmental laws

4. Works with industries and government on pollution prevention and energy conservation

5. Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)

a. Superfund Act

b. Created tax on chemical and petroleum industries

c. Provided federal authority to respond directly to releases or threats of releases of hazardous substances

d. Established prohibitions and requirements concerning closed and abandoned hazardous waste sites

e. Provided for liability of persons responsible for releases of hazardous waste at these sites

f. Established a trust fund to provide for cleanup when no responsible party could be identified

g. Authorizes two kinds of response actions:

i. Short-term removals where actions may be taken to address releases or threatened releases requiring prompt response


ii. Long-term remedial response actions that permanently and significantly reduce the dangers associated with releases or threats of releases of hazardous substances that are serious, but not immediately life-threatening

h. Enabled the revision of the National Contingency Plan (NCP)

6. Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA)

a. Amended CERCLA

b. Reflected EPA’s experience in administering Superfund program

c. Stressed the importance of permanent remedies and innovative treatment technologies in cleaning up hazardous waste sites

d. Required Superfund actions to consider the standards and requirements found in other state and federal environmental laws and regulations

e. Provided new enforcement authorities and settlement tools

f. Increased state involvement in every phase of the Superfund program

g. Increased the focus on human health problems posed by hazardous waste sites

h. Encouraged greater citizen participation in making decisions on how sites should be cleaned up

i. Increased the size of trust fund to $8.5 billion

7. Environmental Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA)

a. National legislation on community safety

b. Required each state to appoint a State Emergency Response Commission (SERC)

c. States divided into Emergency Planning Districts

d. Each district names Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC)

i. Consist of broad representation

ii. Structured in many different ways

iii. Can be at the local or state level

iv. Often assume planning and/or correlation of emergency activities


v. Benefits – Opening the line of communication between private and public sector

8. Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)

a. Gives EPA the authority to control hazardous waste and hold the responsible party accountable for the hazardous materials they produce

b. Enables EPA to address environmental problems that could result from underground tanks storing hazardous substances

c. Focuses on active and future facilities; does not address abandoned or historical sites

9. Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)

a. Enacted by Congress to give the EPA the ability to track the 75,000 industrial chemicals currently produced or imported into the U.S.

b. EPA screens chemicals and can require reporting or testing of chemicals that may pose hazards

c. EPA can ban the manufacture and import of chemicals that pose an unreasonable risk

d. EPA can track the thousands of new chemicals that are developed each year and can control them as necessary

e. Supplements other federal statutes

C. Department of Labor (DOL)

1. Responsible for overseeing U.S. labor laws

2. Includes Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

a. Issues legislation relating to worker safety under Title 29 CFR

b. Includes HAZWOPER, Hazardous Communication, and Process Safety Management of Highly Hazardous Chemicals regulations

3. Hazardous Communication Standard (HCS)

a. Designed to ensure that information about chemical hazards and associated protective measures is disseminated to workers and employers

b. Requires chemical manufacturers and importers to evaluate the hazards of the chemicals they produce or import and provide information about them through labels on shipped containers and SDSs


4. Process Safety Management (PSM) of Highly Hazardous Chemicals (HHCs) — Intended to prevent or minimize the consequences of a catastrophic release of toxic, reactive, flammable, or explosive HHCs from a process

Ask Students: What is a process?

Briefly discuss answers with students. Explain that a process is any activity or combination of activities including any use, storage, manufacturing, handling, or on-site movement of HHCs

D. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)

1. Regulates U.S. commercial nuclear power plants and civilian use of nuclear materials

2. Regulates possession, use, storage, and transfer of radioactive materials through Title 10 CFR 20, Standards for Protection Against Radiation

3. Protects the public’s health and safety and the environment from the effects of radiation from nuclear reactors, materials, and waste facilities

4. Information included in Title 10 CFR 20

a. Radiation dose limits for workers and members of the public

b. Requirements for monitoring and labeling of radioactive materials

c. Requirements for posting of radiation areas

d. Requirements for reporting the theft or loss of radioactive materials

e. Tables of individual radionuclide exposure limits

E. Other agencies

1. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

a. Missions

i. Prevent terrorist attacks within the U.S.

ii. Reduce America’s vulnerability to terrorism

iii. Minimize damage from potential attacks and natural disasters

b. Created after September 11, 2001 terrorist attack

c. Assumes primary responsibility for ensuring that emergency response professionals are prepared for any situation in the event of a terrorist attack, natural disaster, or other large-scale emergency


d. Responsibilities include providing a coordinated, comprehensive federal response to any large-scale crisis and mounting a swift and effective recovery effort

e. Includes Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and U.S. Coast Guard

2. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)

a. Oversees and enforces compliance with the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA)

b. Requires that certain hazardous household products carry cautionary labeling to alert consumers to the potential hazards that those products present and inform them of the measures needed to protect themselves from those hazards

c. Has the authority to ban a product if the hazardous substance it contains is so hazardous that the cautionary labeling is inadequate to protect the public

3. Department of Energy (DOE) — Manages the national nuclear research and defense programs, including the storage of high-level nuclear waste

4. Department of Defense Explosives Safety Board (DDESB), Department of Defense (DoD) — Provides oversight of the development, manufacture, testing, maintenance, demilitarization, handling, transportation, and storage of explosives, including chemical agents at DoD facilities worldwide

5. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Department of Treasury — Enforces the federal laws and regulations relating to alcohol, tobacco products, firearms, explosives, and arson

6. Department of Justice (DOJ)

a. Assigns primary responsibility for operational response to threats or acts of terrorism within U.S. territory to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

b. FBI then operates as the on-scene manager for the federal government

c. Duties of the FBI

i. Investigates the theft of hazardous materials

ii. Collects evidence for crimes

iii. Prosecutes criminal violations of federal hazardous materials laws and regulations

Ask Students: What are dangerous goods?


Briefly discuss answers with students. Explain that dangerous goods are the Canadian term for hazardous materials in transport.

F. Canadian Regulations/Definitions

1. Transport Canada (TC)

a. Focal point for national program to promote public safety during the transportation of dangerous goods

b. Transport Dangerous Goods (TDG) Directorate

i. Serves as major source of regulatory development, information, and guidance on dangerous goods transport for the public, industry employees, and government employees

ii. Operates Canadian Transport Emergency Centre (CANUTEC)

2. Environment Canada

a. Shares with Health Canada the task of assessing and managing the risks associated with toxic substances

b. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA)

i. Evaluates potential risks of environmental pollutants and toxic substances

ii. Addresses pollution prevention and the protection of the environment and human health

c. Established substances inventories or lists

i. Domestic Substances List

ii. Export Control List

iii. National Pollutant Release Inventory

iv. Non-Domestic Substances List

v. Priority Substances List

vi. Toxic Substances List

vii. Waste or other matter that may be disposed of at sea

3. Health Canada


a. Provides national leadership to develop health policy, enforce health regulations, promote disease prevention, and enhance healthy living for all Canadians

b. Minister of Health has total or partial responsibility for administration of:

i. Hazardous Products Act — Controls the sale, advertising, and importation of hazardous products used by consumers in the workplace that are not covered by other acts and listed as prohibited or restricted products

ii. Pest Control Products Act — Intended to protect people and the environment from risks posed by pesticides

4. Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC)

a. Watchdog over the use of nuclear energy and materials in Canada

b. Regulates nuclear power plants, nuclear research facilities, numerous other uses of nuclear material

G. Mexican Regulations/Definitions

1. Secretaría de Comunicaciones y Transportes (SCT) — Publishes and maintains official Mexican standards (NOMs)

a. Fairly consistent with UN Recommendations

b. Fairly consistent with U.S. HMR

2. Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (SEMARNAT)

a. Creates state environmental protection policy

b. Oversees Federal General Law of Ecological Equilibrium and the Protection of the Environment (LGEEPA)

3. Secretaría del Trabajo y Previsión Social (STPS)

a. Responsible for labor; have one labor law – Ley Federal del Trabajo (LFT)

b. Regulation for Safety, Health, and Environment in the Workplace (RFSHMAT)

i. System for the Identification and Communication of Hazards and Risks for Dangerous Chemical Substances in the Workplace (NOM-018-STPS-2000) — Sets forth requirements dealing with chemical labels, employee training and communication, and MSDS


ii. Signs and Colors for Safety and Health, and Identification of Risk of Accidents by Fluids Conducted in Pipes (NOM-026-STPS-1998) — Spells out the color and signage requirements for pipelines carrying various hazardous materials

iii. Health and Safety Conditions in the Workplace for the Handling, Transport, and Storage of Hazardous Chemical Substances (NOM-005-STPS-1998) — Details requirements for handling, transport, and warehousing of hazardous materials

c. Regulation for the Inspection and Application of Sanctions for Violations of Labor Legislation

Review Question: What are the main agencies involved in the regulation of hazardous materials in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico?

See pages 38-50 of the manual for answers.

Section VI: Hazardous Materials Incident Statistics

VI. HAZARDOUS MATERIALS INCIDENT STATISTICS

pp. 51-53 Objective 6 — Discuss hazardous materials incident statistics.

A. Hazardous Materials Incident Statistics

1. Incidents are not infrequent

2. Certain hazardous materials are more likely to be involved in incidents and accidents

a. Flammable/combustible liquids

b. Corrosives

c. Anhydrous Ammonia

d. Chlorine

3. Many incidents occur while hazardous materials are being transported

Ask Students: Which mode of transportation is MOST likely to have a haz mat transportation incident?

Briefly discuss answers with students. Explain that the majority of haz mat transportation incidents occur while being transported via highway rather than by air, rail, or water.

4. Releases at fixed facilities and pipelines


5. U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) — Maintains the Hazardous Substances Emergency Events Surveillance (HSEES) database

Section VII: Summary and Review

VII. SUMMARY AND REVIEW

A. Chapter Summary

1. First responders must understand their roles and limitations at haz mat emergencies. These roles are discussed in various government laws, including CFR 1910.120, and NFPA® standards.

2. Numerous government agencies and government regulations play important roles in how hazardous materials are manufactured, used, transported, and disposed of.

3. Haz mat incidents typically involve certain types of materials, but first responders must be prepared to deal with any emergencies.

B. Review Questions

1. How are hazardous materials incidents different from other types of emergencies? (9-10)

2. What are Awareness-Level personnel’s responsibilities at a hazardous materials incident? (13-15)

3. What are Operations-Level responders’ responsibilities at a hazardous materials incident? (13-15)

4. What are the four types of ionizing radiation? Describe each briefly. (18-21)

5. The likelihood and severity of an adverse health effect resulting from a chemical exposure are dependent upon which factors? (23-27)

6. What is the difference between an acid and a base? (23-27)

7. Describe the different types of etiological hazards. (29-32)

8. What four hazards can be caused by an explosion? (31-32)

9. What are the three main routes of entry as defined by the CDC? (32-33)

10. What are the main agencies involved in the regulation of hazardous materials in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico? (38-50)

chapter 1 introduction to hazardous materials

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