Hazardous Materials Overview

These flashcards cover essential vocabulary and concepts regarding hazardous materials, including definitions, safety procedures, and classifications.

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You are going to do great on this test

MSDS

Material Safety Data Sheets, which provide information about hazardous materials.

IDLH

Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health.

Injection

A route of exposure occurring when a person is cut or abraded by a contaminated object.

Effects of hazardous materials events

Can include death, permanent disability, temporary impairment, psychological stress, and PTSD.

Environmental impact

Damage to potable water sources can result from a hazardous material event.

Toxicology

The field of science that studies the nature and actions of poisons.

What general rule explains that any substance can become toxic in the right amount?

The document defines toxicology as the study of adverse effects on living organisms and uses Lethal Dose (Lethal concentration LC50;LD50) to measure the lethality of a given substance.

Routes of exposure

The four primary routes are inhalation, absorption, ingestion, and injection.

NIMS (National Incident Management System)

provides a standardized command structure and unified approach for incident management during an emergency response.

What are the two principles Decontamination principles

dilute and absorb contaminants.

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

Includes nitrile gloves, Level A suits, and other gear used during hazmat incidents.

Radiation types

Alpha, beta, and gamma

Level C protective suit

Includes an air-purifying respirator, chemical resistant clothing, and double-layered gloves.

Safety procedures for responders

Stay uphill and upwind from incidents, and use physical barriers to minimize exposure.

Incident Command System (ICS)

The standard command structure used during incidents for seamless cooperation among agencies.

Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG)

A guide that helps classify hazardous materials and provides initial isolation distances.

What is an acronym for a CBRNE event response:

RAIN: Recognize, Avoid, Isolate, Notify.

How many DOT hazard classifications exist

There are nine

Unsafe practices in hazmat response

Using improper PPE, such as any device above gloves and a mask unless directed by Incident Command.

Impact of hazardous material exposure

Can include psychological stress.

How to minimize hazards when removing citizens

Limit spread of contamination and establish safe travel routes.

Sources for identifying hazardous materials

On-site info can include shipping manifests and placards.

List two benefits of the national incident management systems (NIMS)

Unified approach.

Standardized command structure.

List two procedures responders should use to minimize health hazards at a hazmat scene

Stay uphill and upwind from the incident.

Use distance and physical barriers to protect yourself from exposure.

List two behaviors that increase the risk of hazardous material exposure

Failing to stay upwind of the incident.

Failing to stay outside of the designated perimeter.

List two practical guidelines for law enforcement first responders during a hazmat incident

Shorter times in a HAZMAT zone are ALWAYS better.

Distance and upwind location from a HAZMAT zone are ALWAYS better.

What is one example of a route of exposure

Inhalation

Name one potential health effect of hazardous material exposure?

Temporary impairment.

List two examples of injection exposure

Puncture.

Cut/abrasion.

During a hazmat truck rollover, list three individuals that officers may interview for info

Driver.

Witnesses.

Victims

What is the highest level of PPE used?

Level A

What type of protective equipment covers the entire body and provides respiratory protection?

Level A (fully-encapsulated).

Lowest level of PPE?

Level D (uniform, gloves, mask, etc)

Which agency provides the definition for hazardous materials used in commerce?

The United States Department of Transportation (DOT).

DOT’s NINE hazard classification types

Explosives

Gases

Flammable liquid and combustible liquid

Flammable solid, spontaneously combustible, and dangerous when wet

Oxidizers and organic peroxide

Poison toxic inhalation hazard

Radioactive

Corrosive

Miscellaneous

The emergency response guide (ERG) ____ pages are informational pages are informational pages

white

The emergency response guide (ERG) ____ pages are materials by numerical ID numbers

YELLOW

The emergency response guide (ERG) ____ pages are alphabetical chemical names

BLUE

The emergency response guide (ERG) ____ pages are initial isolation distances

GREEN

US DOT defines hazardous material as:

a substance or material capable or posing an unreasonable risk to health, safety, or property when transported in commerce