Hazards quiz 1

Stafford Act (1988 Amendment)

• originally disaster relief act of 1974

• amended in 1988 and renamed

• created the modern disaster declaration system

• allows the president to declare emergency + major disaster

• triggers federal assistance through FEMA

Emergency Management

the dynamic process of preparing for, mitigating, responding to, and recovering from an emergency

• EX: planning is considered in the mitigation stage

Emergency

federal help supplements state/local response

Major Disaster

severe event beyond state capability (usually requires governor request)

National Framework Response (NRF) ensures..

• basic human needs are met

• critical infrastructure restored

• essential government services restored

National Response Framework (NRF) key concepts

• always in effect

• scalable and flexible

• unity of effort through unified command

chief law enforcement officer designated in NRF

attorney general

Federal leadership (NRF)

• president leads

• DHS coordinates domestic incident management

• FEMA manages preparedness, protection, response, recovery

Emergency Management phases

1. mitigation

2. preparedness

3. response

4. recovery

Mitigation phase of emergency management

• reduce impact before disaster

• structural and non-structural measures

• planning

preparedness phase of emergency management

• training

• exercises

• resource management

response phase of emergency management

• immediate life saving actions

• resource coordination

• scene management

recovery phase of emergency management

• restore infrastructure

• restore housing

• restore economy

• begins immediately after impact

Hazardous Material

substance capable of posing

• health risk

• environmental damage

• property damage

TRACEM - Health risks

• thermal

• radiological

• asphyxiation

• chemical

• etiological (biological)

• mechanical

Levels of HazMat incidents

1. local response

2. major incident

3. disaster

R.A.I.N (first responder rule)

• recognize

• avoid

• isolate

• notify

Control Zones — Hot zone

contaminated area

Control Zones — warm zone

decontamination

Control Zones — cold zone

support operations

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)

Global self-funded nonprofit organization established in 1896, devoted to eliminating death, injury, property and economic loss due to fire, electrical and related hazards

NFPA Hazard Diamond — blue

health

NFPA Hazard Diamond — red

flammability

NFPA Hazard Diamond — yellow

reactivity

NFPA Hazard Diamond — white

special hazards

NFPA Hazard Diamond — scale

• 0 = minimal

• 4 = severe

ERG — white

introduction, instruction, guidance, placards

ERG — yellow

UN/NA 4 digit number

ERG — blue

material name

ERG — orange

provides the 62 response guides – these guide pages provide safety procedures + directions for what to do during the initial response phase of a hazardous materials incident

ERG — Green

illustrates the evacuation + protective action distance when a hazardous material is considered toxic-by-inhalation (TIH)

Materials in the yellow and blue section that are highlighted green refer to this

ERG Placard says dangerous/ no placard

follow guide 111

PPE: Skin

largest organ — major contamination risk

PPE: respiratory system + mucous membranes

highly vulnerable

unknown hazard

use highest level of protection

PPE: low O2 environment

requires SCBA

PPE Level A (Highest protection)

• fully encapsulating suit that protects against chemicals and airborne particles

• SCBA

• protects (from liquids + gases)

  • skin

  • eyes

  • lungs

  • mucous membranes

• used for unknown or high vapor risk

PPE Level B

• SCBA required

• High respiratory protection

• less skin protected than level A

• used when splash hazard present

PPE Level C

• air purifying respirator (APR)

• used when

  • substance known

  • concentration measured

  • adequate oxygen

  • no significant skin hazard

PPE Level D (lowest)

• coveralls

• no respiratory protection

• used when no respiratory/skin hazard exists

• eye protection is still required as a safeguard against splashed or flying objects

When should PPE level suit protection require SCBA

when working in low oxygen environments, such as a confined space

What does a safety officer have authority to do if there is any on scene safety issue?

restrict actions during an emergency incident, including superseding the incident commander when necessary

Heat stroke signs when working in hot environment with level A suit

• hot skin

• core temp > 104 degrees F

• confusion

• seizures

ICS safety officer

• can stop unsafe actions

• may override incident commander if necessary

Chemical attack

intentional release of chemical substance to harm people, cause panic, and damage property

Methods of dissemination

• aerosolizing

• ventilation systems

• food/water contamination

• explosive devices

New agents

• tabun (GA)

• sarin (GB)

• soman (GD)

• VX

Mechanism

Blocks acetylcholinesterase → acetylcholine overstimulation → nervous system overload

SLUDGEM

• salvation

• lacrimation

• urination

• defecation

• GI distress

• emesis

• miosis

Nerve agent symptoms

• pinpoint pupils

• seizures

• respiratory arrest

• cardiac arrest

Decontamination

• BLOT agent

• STRIP clothing (removes 80%)

• FLUSH with water

• COVER

Radiation protection

• time - reduce exposure

• distance - increase from source

• shielding — barriers

Mass causality incidents (MCI)

incident overwhelming available resources

START triage — assess

respirations, pulse, mental status

START Triage: delayed/ yellow

leg injury that prevents from walking/ any major fracture

START Triage: minimal/green

walking but wounded

Organizations to know

• environmental protection agency (EPA)

• Occupational safety + health administration (OSHA)

• department of transportation (DOT)

• nuclear regulatory commission (NRC)

class 1

explosives

class 2

• flammable gases

• non-flammable gases

• inhalation hazards

• oxygen

class 3

• compustable liquids

• flammable liquids

class 4

• flammable solids

• dangerous when wet

• spontaneously combustible

class 5

• oxidizers

• organic peroxide

class 6

• poisons (toxic)

• inhalation hazard

class 7

radioactive materials

class 8

corrosives

class 9

miscellaneous hazardous materials