MFRI Hazmat Ops Study Guide

What items are listed on pesticide labels? (pgs 81-83)

1. EPA registration number: proof that the product is registered with the EPA

2. Hazard Statements: Phrase that describes the nature of the hazard (Harmful if swallowed)

3. Pictograms: A symbol inside a diamond with a red border that denotes the hazard class (Acute toxicity)

4. Precautionary statements - Statements that address prevention, response, storage, and disposal of products.

5. Product identifiers - Names or numbers used on a hazardous product label or in a safety data sheet

6. Signal Word - One word used to indicate the relative severity of hazard (Danger)

7. Supplier Identification - Name, address, and telephone number of the manufacturer or supplier of the substance.

Where are the various shipping papers located? (chart pg 85)

Air: Cockpit

Highway: Vehicle Cab

Rail: Engine/Caboose

Water: Bridge/Pilot House

Autoignition temperature

The lowest temperature at which a combustible material ignites in air without a spark or flame.

Boiling point

Temperature at which vapor pressure = atmospheric pressure, rate of vaporization > rate of condensation, more liquid is turning into gas than gas is turning back into liquid.

Concentration

Percentage (mass or volume) of a material dissolved in water (or other solvent). OR Quantity of a chemical material inhaled for purposes of measuring toxicity.

Dose

Quantity of a chemical material ingest of absorbed through skin contact for purposes of measuring toxicity.

Fire point

Temperature at which a liquid fuel produces sufficient vapors to support combustion once the fuel is ignited. Fire point must exceed five seconds of burning duration during the test. The fire point is usually a few degrees above the flash point.

Flash point

Minimum temperature at which a liquid gives off enough vapors to form an ignitable mixture with air near the surface of the liquid.

Ignition temperature

Minimum temperature to which a fuel (other than a liquid) in air must be heated in order to start self-sustained combustion independent of the heating source.

Immiscible

Incapable of being mixed or blended with another substance.

LEL

Lower Explosive Limit. Lower limit at which a flammable gas or vapor will ignite and support combustion; below this limit the gas or vapor is too lean or thin to burn (too much oxygen and not enough gas, so lacks the proper quantity of fuel).

LFL

Lower limit at which a flammable gas or vapor will ignite and support combustion below this limit the gas or vapor is too lean or thin to burn (too much oxygen and not enough gas, so lacks the proper quantity of fuel)

Miscibility

Two or more liquids’ capability to mix together

Nonflammable

Incapable of combustion under normal circumstances; normally used when referring to liquid or gases

Reactivity

Ability of a substance to chemically react with other materials, and the speed with which that reaction takes place.

Saponification

Reaction between an alkaline and a fatty acid that produces soap

Specific Gravity

Mass (weight) of a substance compared to the weight of an equal volume of water at a given temperature. A specific gravity less than one indicates a substance lighter than water; a specific gravity greater than one indicates a substance heavier than water.

Toxicity

Degree to which a substance (toxin or poison_ can harm humans or animals. Ability of a substance to do harm within the body.

UEL

Upper Explosive Limit. Upper limit at which a flammable gas or vapor will ignite. Above this limit, the gas or vapor is too rich to burn (lack the proper quantity of oxygen).

UFL

Upper Flammable Limit. Upper limit at which a flammable gas or vapor will ignite. Above this limit, the gas or vapor is too rich to burn (lack the proper quantity of oxygen).

Vapor Density

Weight of pure vapor or gas compared to the weight of an equal volume of dry air at the same temperature and pressure. A vapor density less than one indicates a vapor lighter than air; a vapor density greater than one indicates a vapor heavier than air.

Vapor Expansion Ratio

The ratio of a volume of a gas or vapor after expansion compared to the initial volume of material.

Vapor Pressure

The pressure at which a vapor is in equilibrium with its liquid phase for a given temperature; liquids that have a greater tendency to evaporate have higher vapor pressures for a given temperature.

Viscosity

Measure of a liquid’s internal friction at a given temperature. This concept is informally expressed as thickness, stickiness, and ability to flow.

What are the three states of matter? 126

Gas, Liquid, Solid

What are pressure and vapor pressure? 131-132

Pressure is the force per unit area applied perpendicular to the surface. Vapor pressure is the pressure exerted by saturated vapor above its own liquid in a closed container.

What units of measurement may be used for vapor pressure? 132

psi, kPa, Bards, mmHg, atm,, hPa, Torr

What is the flammable and explosive range? 146

The percentage of gas or vapor concentration in air that will burn or explode if ignited.

What are the flammable and explosive limits? What can you determine by knowing the LEL and UEL? 146-147

What will stop each level of radiation exposure? Chart on page 149

What is contamination? 154

What is exposure? 154

What are the two most common products of combustion on the fire ground?

What are the three types of container stress? 159

What is the thermal energy/thermal stress and what causes it? 159

What happens when there is thermal stress on a container? 159

What is chemical energy/chemical stress and what causes it? 159-160

What happens when there is chemical stress on a container? 160

What is mechanical energy/mechanical stress and what causes it? 160

What happens when there is mechanical stress on a container? 160-161

What are the different types of breaches? (known what each is) 162

What are the differences between cryogenic liquid tanks, low pressure storage tanks, nonpressure atmospheric storage tanks? (know the storage pressures (184-191)

When would cryogenic containers be prone to BLEVE? 184

What would cause a loss of vacuum in a cryogenic container? 184

What dispersion patten can be associated with liquids? 186

What are the two common shapes for pressure tanks at bulk facilities? 187 (chart)

What are common shapes for low pressure storage tanks? Chart 189

What is the first priority in handling incidents involving low pressure storage tanks? 189

What are common shapes/characteristics for nonpressure tanks? 190-191 (chart)

What type of tank will have the potential for boilovers and slop-overs? 192

What 4 things can common releases in solid holding containers result in? 186-187

What do each of the following typically carry?

• MC-306: Nonpressure cargo tank trucks (bulk cargo tanks) 198-199

• MC-307: Low pressure chemical tank trucks 201

• MC-312: Corrosive liquid tank trucks 201-202

• MC-331: High pressure cargo tank trucks 203

• MC-338: Cryogenic cargo tank trucks 203-204

What compressed gas/tube trailers are used for? 204-205

What do Reporting Marks, Capacity Stencils, and Specification Marks indicate? 214

What an intermodal freight container is used for? 215-216

What are the 5 basic container types for radioactive materials and which are/are not required to be identified? 227-228

Which type of radioactive container provides the most protection against damage? Which provides the least? 227-228

What are the 5 types of nonbulk packaging? 229-230

What are the 4 issues with illegal dump sites? 243

What are common clues to the presence of an illicit lab? 243

What are the differences between terrorism and other types of response? 247

What are the potential terrorism targets? 247-248

What are indicators of terrorism attack? 248

What a secondary device is and what is is used for? 249

What are the 4 issues with illegal dump sites? 249

What are viral agents, bacterial agents, and biological toxins? 250

What are the indicators of a chemical attack? 256

What are the indicators of an explosive and incendiary attack? 261-262

What they are each of the following and what are the difference between them: improvised explosive device, mail or package bomb, person-borne improvised explosive device, vehicle-borne improvised explosive device? 267-269

How does the size up affect the IC’s decisions? 279

What are the six sides of the incident? 280 (chart)

What are the three levels of incidents, and what does each one require? 282-283

When are operational strategies are determined? 284

What are the three strategic modes of operation? 284-286

What period are the strategies, tactics, and support requirements in an IAP good for? 287

What are the basic components of IAP? 288

What incident objective are and who identifies them? 290

What are objectives and what do they provide? 290

What is the difference between strategy and tactics? 290

What three things should responders do to prevent exposure and avoid contamination? 339

What type of PPE is typically worn by awareness and ops personnel initially when conducting decon? 341

When should emergency decon be used? 342-343

What are the general guidelines for decon? 345-346

What is the purpose of decon entry points? 345

How can communication take place with victims concerning the decon process? 345

Where should emergency decon be located? 346

Who can provide guidance to operations level personnel during a hazmat incident for selecting PPE? 353

What is included in the general section criteria for PPE? 355, 357, 358

What are each of the following: permeation, degradation (chemical vs physical), penetration? 358-359

What are the challenges of proceeding through decon while wearing PPE? 384

What is the difference between heat exhaustion and heat stroke? Chart 387

How can cold related injuries be prevented? 390

What must PPE be inspected and tested in accordance with? 392

What are the 5 minimum pieces of information that should be recorded for each PPE inspection? 392

What factors should be considered for PPE storage to prevent damage? 393

Who are operations personnel required to function under the guidance of when completing technical decon?

What guidance does the AHJ provide for implementing technical decon?

What are the responsibilities of responders when performing technical decon?

Operations personnel must have which mission specific training to complete the required reports and paperwork for technical decon?

What is the level of PPE for the decon team compared to the entry team?